A New Journey

[Gyakuto]

So basically, he's Seagal's Glimmer Man. A man of war, who chose to walk a peaceful path, and that path was paved with the blood of his enemies, as he quested to find his true paradise: Russia.

SeaGULL. He’s a big white bird unfairly notorious for stealing one’s chips and ice creams on the seafront. Seagull has stolen a few chips in his time

I was buying some cologne the other day and found one I liked. It was called ‘Russian Leather’ and as a vegetarian, both those words put me off it Looking at my expression, I was quickly informed by the shop assistant, that the word ‘Russian’ was being replaced by ’Dark’ in the next batch.

 

[Gyakuto]

First lesson last night. A great dojo with lovely teacher and students. They had a very special (and expensive) sprung, bouncy matted floor which made me feel like an Apollo astronaut, walking on the moon!

The teaching was excellent and I soon worked out the principles in terms I could comprehend. There was much talk of ‘expanding Ki and ‘pushing energy upwards’ etc but it seemed to me to skilful manipulation of one’s opponent’s centre of gravity (CoG), edging it out of their base and encouraging a rotational torque to flip them over. Forces were applied at a tangent to the opponent to initiate a torquing force whilst simultaneously manipulating their CoG again causing them to flip away! It was lovely to watch and attempt. It seemed the teacher’s real skill was in the timing of application of torque/CoG perturbations to achieve whatever he wanted. Beautiful. It did remind me somewhat of the Wado Ryu Karate I practised (which incorporates Shinzo Yoshin Ryu Ju Jitsu) and the take home message of ‘get out of the way’ was familiar although in Wado Ryu this was often achieved with a twist of the body rather than stepping in and to the side. Thus, I was a little better at the moves than was expected thanks to the brilliant Ohyo Gumite throws we practised in Wado Ryu so it felt somewhat familiar.

The difference between the two arts was the Aikido didn’t work if one even slightly resisted. If you simply let go of the sleeve you were gripping the technique would abort on the spot. If one shuffled along rather than flip oneself over, you could easily remain on your feet to counter. I was told several times not to resist otherwise it would be a case of the strongest person winning “like in Judo”! Yes, there are joint opposition grips that are more likely to compel you to cooperate and throw yourself, but getting to the stage of applying them was a real contrivance requiring you to not let go as the lock was being applied. It seemed more like a beautiful dance, where each person knows what’s coming and how to move accordingly. I certainly saw degrees of freedom, where the receiver could decide which direction he was going to go and the attacker could manipulate that too and it was very skilful indeed. From what I saw (and have seen elsewhere) Aikido did not fulfil the criteria of an effective fighting system, i.e. it would not consistently perform against an uncooperative , fully-resisting, aggressive opponent. This is probably why you don’t see Aikido-based MMA fighters! But I don’t think this is what it’s about. It is more akin to freestyle dancing perhaps where beauty of technique is the physical aim. It is very lovely.

I must point out these are only my limited observations with all my biases accrued through years of experience in other combat sports and in no way a criticism of this clearly wonderful art with dedicated, hard training practitioners.

On a slightly different note, I was very aware that the risk of injury to me, as a beginner, through hitting the ground awkwardly or an overly keen wrist lock, was high. I hit the ground once and saw stars and my neck was painful for a few minutes. Also, little allowance was given to a rotator cuff injury I have and at times I had to point-blank refuse to use the effected side with the teacher which he was slightly reluctant to accept, but I am more than confident enough to stick to my refusal. Since I’m attempting a significant grading examination in my primary art in 7 months time, I feel I should probably wait until after that attempt before returning to Aikido and I will contact the dojo to say as much.

 

[Darren]

First lesson last night. A great dojo with lovely teacher and students. They had a very special (and expensive) sprung, bouncy matted floor which made me feel like an Apollo astronaut, walking on the moon!

The teaching was excellent and I soon worked out the principles in terms I could comprehend. There was much talk of ‘expanding Ki and ‘pushing energy upwards’ etc but it seemed to me to skilful manipulation of one’s opponent’s centre of gravity (CoG), edging it out of their base and encouraging a rotational torque to flip them over. Forces were applied at a tangent to the opponent to initiate a torquing force whilst simultaneously manipulating their CoG again causing them to flip away! It was lovely to watch and attempt. It seemed the teacher’s real skill was in the timing of application of torque/CoG perturbations to achieve whatever he wanted. Beautiful. It did remind me somewhat of the Wado Ryu Karate I practised (which incorporates Shinzo Yoshin Ryu Ju Jitsu) and the take home message of ‘get out of the way’ was familiar although in Wado Ryu this was often achieved with a twist of the body rather than stepping in and to the side. Thus, I was a little better at the moves than was expected thanks to the brilliant Ohyo Gumite throws we practised in Wado Ryu so it felt somewhat familiar.

The difference between the two arts was the Aikido didn’t work if one even slightly resisted. If you simply let go of the sleeve you were gripping the technique would abort on the spot. If one shuffled along rather than flip oneself over, you could easily remain on your feet to counter. I was told several times not to resist otherwise it would be a case of the strongest person winning “like in Judo”! Yes, there are joint opposition grips that are more likely to compel you to cooperate and throw yourself, but getting to the stage of applying them was a real contrivance requiring you to not let go as the lock was being applied. It seemed more like a beautiful dance, where each person knows what’s coming and how to move accordingly. I certainly saw degrees of freedom, where the receiver could decide which direction he was going to go and the attacker could manipulate that too and it was very skilful indeed. From what I saw (and have seen elsewhere) Aikido did not fulfil the criteria of an effective fighting system, i.e. it would not consistently perform against an uncooperative , fully-resisting, aggressive opponent. This is probably why you don’t see Aikido-based MMA fighters! But I don’t think this is what it’s about. It is more akin to freestyle dancing perhaps where beauty of technique is the physical aim. It is very lovely.

I must point out these are only my limited observations with all my biases accrued through years of experience in other combat sports and in no way a criticism of this clearly wonderful art with dedicated, hard training practitioners.

On a slightly different note, I was very aware that the risk of injury to me, as a beginner, through hitting the ground awkwardly or an overly keen wrist lock, was high. I hit the ground once and saw stars and my neck was painful for a few minutes. Also, little allowance was given to a rotator cuff injury I have and at times I had to point-blank refuse to use the effected side with the teacher which he was slightly reluctant to accept, but I am more than confident enough to stick to my refusal. Since I’m attempting a significant grading examination in my primary art in 7 months time, I feel I should probably wait until after that attempt before returning to Aikido and I will contact the dojo to say as much.

Sparred with a Aikido guy once, it was beautifully the way he slipped my punches of course he was also a black belt in kenpo so don’t know how much extensive knowledge he had in other arts but it must have been two truck loads the way he moved!! Just beautiful!!!! Interesting what ya posted above enjoy the journey!!!!! And good luck!!!!!

 

[Mider]

I’ve finally decided to try Aikido after years of turning my nose up at because of the sight of people seemingly throwing themselves around and, of course, because of Steven Seagulls

I watched an NHK Spiritual Explorers episode about it (not a very good one) and this prompted me do a search for a local dojo. After a couple of emails from the teacher asking about my motivations, health etc,he invited me along this coming Thursday. I’m looking forward to it.

Good luck, hope you find a good dojo

 

[Gyakuto]

I sent an email to the Aikido teacher saying “I’ll be back” (after my next significant grading examination) and he was appreciative that I hadn’t just disappeared.

 

[Gyakuto]

I went to a nice and different veggie restaurant to my usual haunt in Totnes, for lunch yesterday. As I walked in the person behind the counter said, “Well hello, Gyakuto, fancy seeing you here!” I was very confused. Who is this person who knows me but I don’t recognise? I delivered a fishing reply, “ Oh hello….<pause>…when did I last see you?” he replied with a chuckle, “Oh I think you we’re looking up at me from the mat after I threw you!” He was the Aikido dojo teacher but I didn’t recognise him out of the dojo context!

We had a nice chat, I felt a bit awkward that he was serving me my food (), and he said he was keen to maybe have a joint Aikido/Iaido dojo in the future.

I’m pleased I’d done the polite thing and told him of my plans in an email the night before!

 

[_Simon_]

I sent an email to the Aikido teacher saying “I’ll be back” (after my next significant grading examination) and he was appreciative that I hadn’t just disappeared.

HEY! I'm circling back, did you end up going back to the aikido dojo??

Aaand you didn't tell us of your significant grading (which was awhile ago now..)!! How did it go?????

 

[Gyakuto]

HEY! I'm circling back, did you end up going back to the aikido dojo??

I didn’t. I now have a right rotator cuff injury (caused by doing a particular exercise to prevent rotator cuff injuries…the irony ). It’s so severe I cannot practise and haven’t for quite some time. Physiotherapy has been useless (‘insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results’) although I’m seeing another specialist physio next week Just slightly lying on my right side causes pain that disturbs my sleep. Thus the thought of landing on it after a throw is not appealing.

Aaand you didn't tell us of your significant grading (which was awhile ago now..)!! How did it go?????

I had to cancel and delay it because of the above.

Thank you for asking

How’s your first few weeks as a shodan, been? Can you levitate yet?

 

[_Simon_]

I didn’t. I now have a right rotator cuff injury (caused by doing a particular exercise to prevent rotator cuff injuries…the irony ). It’s so severe I cannot practise and haven’t for quite some time. Physiotherapy has been useless (‘insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results’) although I’m seeing another specialist physio next week Just slightly lying on my right side causes pain that disturbs my sleep. Thus the thought of landing on it after a throw is not appealing.

I had to cancel and delay it because of the above.

Thank you for asking

How’s your first few weeks as a shodan, been? Can you levitate yet?

Ahhh geez, sorry to hear that mate, that's a real bugger. Hoping you find an answer and healing soon!

Good! I'm being taught the pre-levitation cues, you know, visualising light things: feathers, helium balloons etc, whilst clicking the ring fingers in a very specific sequence and succession. That's the part I'm struggling most with! Ah well I'll get there #firstworldproblems

 

[Gyakuto]

Ahhh geez, sorry to hear that mate, that's a real bugger. Hoping you find an answer and healing soon!

I’m reliably informed, recovery is often spontaneous, so I’m just waiting….

Good! I'm being taught the pre-levitation cues, you know, visualising light things: feathers, helium balloons etc, whilst clicking the ring fingers in a very specific sequence and succession. That's the part I'm struggling most with! Ah well I'll get there #firstworldproblems

You will float when you finally do not think of light things. Zen an’ all that sh*te…

 

[Hanshi]

That's great. Aikido is fun and NOT boring. To me, the falls in aikido are potentially rougher and more demanding than in judo. I'm ranked in both and have taught both and more injuries occurred in aikido that ever in judo class. Also much care must be taken with the joint locks as bad injuries are only a fraction of an inch from mild discomfort.

 

[isshinryuronin]

skilful manipulation of one’s opponent’s centre of gravity (CoG), edging it out of their base

I think this is the fundamental idea behind aikido, taking control of the opponent's motion and extending it beyond his center of gravity. At this point you also have control of the opponent, himself. IMO, a most useful self-defense skill.

real skill was in the timing of application of torque/CoG perturbations to achieve whatever he wanted.

Agree. This art is a subtle (and beautiful) one and has a small margin of error in the timing (and motion). I think this is why it takes longer to get really proficient. Karate and other MA can work within a larger margin of error and have more potential to overcome mistakes in execution.

Aikido didn’t work if one even slightly resisted.

This is a generally accepted weakness in the art from a combat perspective, though some schools have set ups to mitigate this. Of these, some have borrowed outside techniques, but some schools have them in the system.

, it was beautifully the way he slipped my punches of course he was also a black belt in kenpo

While aikido itself may not be the best art for real combat, some of its principles can be applied to other arts and add to their effectiveness. Smooth aikido-like motion IMO is valuable in many MA. While having some brief, high-level exposure to aikido in the 70's, it led me to the opinion that its study would be a good secondary art for a karate practitioner for the reasons I've talked about here. I just never got around to real study of it but applied its principles in teaching self-defense.