Martially orientated Aikido

[Taiji Rebel]

A few months back I decided to train with a new Chen-style taijiquan class. Whilst there I chatted with the instructor about aikido as it was his main art before turning to taijiquan. Prior to switching to taijiquan he spent 20 or so years in aikido, back then it was the hard-style of the early 1970s and he had trained with many of Ueshiba's direct students. Being based in the UK he was also a part of the dojo run by Sensei Henry Ellis and those guys had a definite martial angle to their training. In his opinion, aikido has lost its way these days. It is no longer taught as an effective martial art, but anyone who has been involved in martial arts or aikido for any amount of time knows this. Does anyone here still practise aikido with a hard martial edge I wonder? Or is anyone familiar with folk like Henry Ellis who took a more serious approach to training aikido?

 

[drop bear]

I think there is a Jitsu that trains with more aliveness.

Tritac look pretty good.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

I think there is a Jitsu that trains with more aliveness.

Tritac look pretty good.

What makes this “street”? That’s a loooong way round the block to get that wrist lock.

 

[drop bear]

What makes this “street”? That’s a loooong way round the block to get that wrist lock.

It is about upgrading your position.

Wrist locks mostly suffer from not intelligently moving through the space to get to the throw.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

It is about upgrading your position.

Wrist locks mostly suffer from not intelligently moving through the space to get to the throw.

Interesting. I wouldn’t use them for a throw.

 

[Same Trick]

I’ll guess today’s aikido isn’t any lesser than yesterday’s if it’s from any of the legitimate aikido linages. What is the martial and hard style one look for in harmonizing energies? And how’s TJQ more martial than Aikido ?

 

[drop bear]

Interesting. I wouldn’t use them for a throw.

It doesn't matter what you use a wrist lock for. You still need to move in to it safely.

 

[Taiji Rebel]

The reference was more orientated toward the physical attributes of dojo members. Techniques and mechanics can be honed and polished of course, but this is true for all martial arts. Our conversation was focused more toward training the body and mind to create strong and balanced martial artists. In conjunction we also spoke about the importance of solid punching and kicking for realistic attacks, plus the benefits of resisting locks and throws rather than allowing yourself to always be thrown, locked and pinned. It's been a fair few years since I last attended a traditional aikido dojo but as with any MA there is no guarantee that traditional equals effective.