O'Malley
2nd Black Belt
Happy new year MT!
I've recently found this demo of one of the first aikido instructors who spread the art in France (along with Minoru Mochizuki and Tadashi Abe). When you look at the demo, you see a lot of features that aren't typically associated with aikido dojos anymore. Although the training is cooperative, it is vigorous and just chaotic enough to force the demonstrator to adjust in real time. The movements are fast and require quick reactions. The demonstrator's strikes are controlled but not half-hearted or superficial as you see too often. And hell, that guy's fitness puts 99% of modern aikido instructors to shame. He even demonstrates some body skills for giggles.
Perhaps the most egregious difference is the type of audience the demo attracts, compared to modern aikido. In addition to the rise of competing activities (including combat sports but also other hobbies) I think most aikido dojos would struggle appealing to young men in the way that demo did at the time.
I've recently found this demo of one of the first aikido instructors who spread the art in France (along with Minoru Mochizuki and Tadashi Abe). When you look at the demo, you see a lot of features that aren't typically associated with aikido dojos anymore. Although the training is cooperative, it is vigorous and just chaotic enough to force the demonstrator to adjust in real time. The movements are fast and require quick reactions. The demonstrator's strikes are controlled but not half-hearted or superficial as you see too often. And hell, that guy's fitness puts 99% of modern aikido instructors to shame. He even demonstrates some body skills for giggles.
Perhaps the most egregious difference is the type of audience the demo attracts, compared to modern aikido. In addition to the rise of competing activities (including combat sports but also other hobbies) I think most aikido dojos would struggle appealing to young men in the way that demo did at the time.
