Thank you for your nice comments. To Aikidojomofo, Thanks for your comments: I am happy to reply to your comments and questions about the technique shown on the video: First the technique you are referring to is Kokyu Nage from a karate dori grip (if it is the third one down at 2.20), and this a kokyu exercise that Saito Sensei would use a lot to show hips power (Saito was a master of this kind of techniques) and there is no disconnection with my hands, the centre and the power is in my hips (and not in my hands) and my hands are doing 'kokyu' feeling extension from the hips power. If someone was gripping me down it would not make a difference, my hips are settled and I am not losing stability. The person is being thrown down to the ground and it makes no difference if he/she can hold longer or not, as long as the power is in the hips with both feet settled on the ground, my body is a 'rock' at this moment. But if you think about throwing with you hands and 'lift your body up' then you risk losing your balance and your point could be valid if executed incorrectly. I hope I have answered you and convinced you. Something you probably do not know but I used to practice Yoshinkan Aikido with Sensei David Rubens in West Hampstead in early 90's for a few years before changing my Aikido to Iwama Style in 95 and I can tell you that the power of the hips and grips is much more with Iwama Style thanks to the study of weapons. I am not criticising Yoshinkan at all by all means but I can (I think) discuss the difference since I have practiced both and (Aikikai too before doing Yoshinkan Aikido). All the best. Nick
Absolutely! The arms 'extending' when throwing my partner is done as part of the extension of the kokyu power generated from the hips. My position is very stable with feet firmly on the ground and the hands are not disconnected. Yoshinkan way, (as I used to practiced Yoshinkan with Sensei David Rubens) has a different analysis to Iwama Style and this is of no criticism of course, but since I practiced it, I think I can comment on this. The Iwama Style puts the emphasis on 'one against many' in all techniques. So this movement may appears 'odd' to you but it is done with powerful hips movement.
I can answer quite easily these questions as I began practicing Aikikai Aikido (in France) and then when moving to London (continued Aikikai) and studied Yoshinkan Aikido and in 95 I began the study of Iwama Style, to which I am still practicing and teaching this day. So questions about why you do this like this or like that, is not a problem and yes it is quite difficult to understand why there are different styles, but people have practiced Aikido with the founder through different stage of his life and learnt at the time what they were seeing so the young Ueshiba Aikido to the late Ueshiba Aikido differs quite a bit.
Nick, some of your posts are being picked up by the spam filter and need mod approval, probably because they are large paragraphs of text. Please be patient and allow the mods to get round to approving them, rather than reposting them multiple times, as this makes more work for the mods, who have to read them and approve or delete these sorts of posts. Best wishes Frodocious
1. Yes, that can be a bad habit found in some practitioners. However, if your kamae is fixed and strong when executing the throw then your hips should not be left behind. The arms pushing is also an issue if you find yourself in a weak position upon entering. If you enter strongly with your hip and connect with Uke your arms shouldn't have to do very much at all. 2. Again this comes down to kamae, a fixed, strong, unbreakable posture. Also, as the leading hand comes up over Uke's shoulder you can break their grip, or make it almost impossible to hold on before the throw. The zanshin aspect is very interesting, but surely there has to be a "don't get ahead of yourself" rule or idea you practise so you don't take ALL of your focus away from the person you're dealing with?
I know Rubens Sensei and have trained with him on several occasions. You have a varied background which is always good to see. I can't agree enough about the emphasis on weapons in helping with Aikido training, whatever the style. I am very fortunate that my school runs a weapons class. it has done wonders for all the students
dear Aikidojomofo, thanks for your comments. Always nice to share our views. I can also say that when we look aside upon completing the techniques that we are not 'forgetting' our partner either. We are using our Zanchin to extend our awareness at that moment of time. Only when practicing this technique we can understand and I do not mean to say this in the wrong way. Weapons training is very important and having studied Yoshinkan and Iwama, I can honestly say that there is a change of hanmi with Yoshinkan, as when you cut with the sword or when you thrust with the jo, you cannot remain with the same kamae you use for Taijutsu. So this is where it is important to understand that in Iwama style our Hanmi is the same whether you hold the ken or the jo although you can be more sideway (and this is part of the different kamaes that Iwama Aikido has). But my final point is that the weapons practice really interlink with the taijutsu as the hanmi is the same. but Yoshinkan has to make an 'adaptation' when using the weapons. This is the key element we need to be aware of. As I know that the study of weapons in Yoshinkan is not of the same extent as what we can find with Iwama. Again I mean no criticism, and it is a personal journey everyone choses. Like someone said: there are many paths that leads to the top of the mountain...
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YMOLa2f8aY"]Morote dori-hombu vs iwama - YouTube[/ame] This video of Saito Sensei explains very well the morote dori kokyu ho and this one below karate dori kokyu nage with variations to it... [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHWFkHcyCps"]Katate Dori Kokyu Nage - YouTube[/ame]
I recommend short concise paragraphs with a blank line between each paragraph. Makes it all so much easier to read
Dear Dento, While I respect your viewpoint, sorry I cannot agree with our statements.Zanshin [focus ] should extend not just to your opponent but in all directions.To use arm power alone is useless.Total body must be involved.Why would anyone move their hips away from uke during an execution of waza?One other point if you break your partners posture, and you keep a stable base [solid like trunk of a tree ] this makes it extremely difficult for anybody to pull you down.CheErs, J.C.
Dear Nick, I think you vids show Saito Sensei apparently looking at his Uke in a few waza. Cheers, Joe
Dear Sakumeikan (Joe), Thanks for the reply. I was referring to one specific technique when we look away. I think there could be a misunderstanding thinking we always look away when we throw our partners. That is not the case. When you refer to Saito sensei looking at his partner whilst executing a few waza, Saito sensei was executing other techniques than the one we were discussing (karate dori kokyu nage (similar to morote dori kokyu ho, which is a very basic technique that we always train after tai no henko), any other techniques such as irimi nage we look at our partner when throwing. I hope I have clarified this point from now on! Regards, Nick
LOl im kind of confused you disagree with my statement then state all the things im saying are needed? I think you should re read what I wrote.
Wow. You say that as though it just happens. I'm guessing right now it's been a while since you've had a seriously hard practice with uke who actually want to pull you over and knock you down.
Ok then thanks. I can see how easily we can misunderstand someone else statement, so thanks for clarifying Aikiwolfie.
Well, this appeared on Youtube this morning. Mike Tyson visiting the Yoshinkan Hombu dojo. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aobp1CKYERQ"]Gozo Shioda and Mike Tyson - YouTube[/ame]
Well, this appeared on Youtube this morning. Mike Tyson visiting the Yoshinkan Hombu dojo. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aobp1CKYERQ"]Gozo Shioda and Mike Tyson - YouTube[/ame]
