Sweet story! I teach what Sensei Hans has always taught me, hands up, palms to the opponent, the universal sign of non-aggression. Well maybe not, but at least our hands are up read in case anything comes for our face Well, I teach kihon from yoi, read posture, fists by your side just like karate. Then I teach self defence as Sensei Hans taught me, putting the palms up. Then I teach a right hanmi fighting posture for combat purposes. Regards,
Control the distance , if he comes within striking range you either strike first or present an impenetrable defence. Do not listen to what people say WATCH what they do and find the answers for yourself. regards koyo
This is difficult when a person in trying to intimidate you by being in your space... The idea of striking first in this situation will get you in more trouble then them.
That's where the impenetrable defence comes in. Since kokoro and katachi kamae are one confidence and awareness SHOULD be the answer. regards koyo Edit kokoro kamae attitude of mind katachi kamae body alignment
Unfortunately chemical enhancements tend to make some people over confidence, which is why you would end up in this situation. In both of my self defence situations I have been able to manage to keep my distance, so all I need to do was block and move. I guess when a drunk fool gets in my face without throwing a punch, I will be able to tell you what I did, and I will be able to tell my self what I could, should, would have done. Regards,
This post is because I read posts by Kogusoku and Fifth Chamber wherein they said that Koryu arts are NOT for everyone and that the main thrust should be in preserving the integrity of the arts. I am in complete agreement with this. If someone appoiaches an art simply out of interest and is not prepared to dedicate themself to years of hard training without wishing to change the art they shall gain little of true value from it. Although aikido is not a koryu the art is now in danger of losing it's essence. I also post in this thread because it has come to my attention that someone who claims to speak for the aiki kai has stated that aikido is not/ no longer a martial art. If this is indeed the thrust of their teaching I feel it is a betrayal of all of the shihan who have gone before and dedicated their lifes to promoting aikido as O Sensei taught. Less important but personaly important to me, it puts the lie to the forty plus years I have been training in traditional aikido as a martial art. This is what Kogusoku and fifth chamber speak of when they say that martial arts are not for everyone. There are those who would seam to think that the arts should be for everyone. To make them so shall delute and destroy their very essence. I would hope that all aikidoka indeed all budoka would consider this sincerely. regards koyo
Bill, can you point me in the direction of this statement or give me an indication who stated it ? PM me if you wish.
Yes. This was my reaction. I probably meet the present Doshu more often than anyone else in this forum and am in a position to discuss such questions with him directly. I should add that (1) Kisshomaru Ueshiba changed aikido quite radically, but never changed its essential form as a budo, and that (2) Kisshomaru was Chiba's main teacher, not O Sensei. Of course, I do not think you would dispute these two points. Best wishes, PAG
It was ogmios that posted a video of the australian representative of the aiki kai in it the gentleman clearly states that aikido is not a martial art. It is on the aikido in a real fight thread. I posted also because more and more aikidoka are visiting the makotokai and displaying no martial understanding of the art at all. This paints me into a corner for I have found far more of value in aikido than simply the martial effectiveness but find so many who have lost any real relevance as a martial art that I feel I am swimming against the current. regards koyo
I think it is a cultural thing. In japan I am sure that the martial art foundation is understood as is the other even more important elements however there are some who present the art in a completely diluted new wave manner painting those who retain the martial aspect as somehow "un aiki." I have watched from the beginning and early aikido while very effective ALSO demanded absoltue respect for all martial arts and was respected by other arts. This is not the case today among many of my fellow martial artists who are far more critical than I have been. regards koyo
I think this is the statement posted by Ogmios, but I can find no video of the representative in the thread. "Having said that, who you trained with, and what you trained in is the biggest aspect of whether or not you will get something you can use as a self defence art. I know that the head of the Aikikai here does not think that Aikido is a martial art, and his teacher is Sugano Shihan." Sugano Shihan was a contemporary of Chiba Shihan in the Hombu and I suspect that they had a similar training regimen.
This is what I find disturbing because he was a student of Sugano Shihan are we to assume that Sugano Shihan shares this view? I seriously doubt that. I know for certain that Chiba Shihan does not. Just last night we had a fellow visit the Makotokai he is tough and dedicated BUT he sought us out because his instructor informed him that "Once someone gets a solid grip on you , game over. there is nothing you can do." He spent most of the night apologising for his lack of knowledge when faced with positive attacks.Good for him he hung in there however some others have stated that it is too late to discard what they have been taught and decided to give up training altogether. Statements that it is no longer a martial art shall encourage those who do not wish to leave their comfort zone and this can only dilute the art even more. regards koyo
I do not really have an axe to grind in this discussion. I myself trained with Chiba Shihan and I know Sugano Shihan quite well. In fact, I would suggest that the group of Tamura, Yamada, Chiba and Sugano (together with the late Mitsunari Kanai) represent the old school, which koyo stands for and I do also. The martial aspects of aikido are being watered down here in Japan (probably due to the effects of Japan's defeat in WWII), but I am fortunate in having a teacher who has no truck with this. So I am somewhat surprised that a student of Sugano would present aikido as non-martial, unless he/she is using the term in a special sense. EDIT: Koyo posted as I was writing this.
Hi Hirotaro Those Shihan that you named as the "old school." brought aikido out of Japan well after the second world war so I am at a loss to understand why Japan's defeat would impact on aikido today in such a negative manner. Those shihan most certainly did not show defeatest attitude in their attitudes or teachings. I am pleased to hear that you have a teacher who adheres to the original spirit of aikido. regards koyo
Hi Hirotaro, Having experienced both modern and traditional Aikido, I am well aware of the differences. I don't think it is anything to do with Japan's defeat, I think today most people train Aikido as a lifestyle choice and not as a martial art. They enjoy the romantic philosophy and distort the art to fit with a pacifist ideal. I think the blame has to lie partly with O'Sensei himself, it was his religious obession that opened to door to this destructive element. The simple fact is I have trained with highly graded aiki-kai aikidoka who are technically beautiful to look at but couldn't defend themselves in the slightest unless someone grabbed their wrist. Unless this changes true Aikido will be lost in an alarmingly short number of years. The Bear.
I don't know half as much about Aikido or Japan as some of the people on this thread. But I'd say the "watering down" has nothing to do with the war and everything to do with the increasing commercialism of Aikido and martial arts in general. If we take a look at Ki Aikido, the teaching and exercises and techniques unapologetically go way beyond simple martial arts and get into managing stress and dealing with personal conflicts. Unsurprisingly the Ki Society markets it's services to business people. Aikido is now being tailored to a whole different group of people who are less interested in "martial arts" and more interested in working off stress, meeting people and getting away from normal life for a few hours. Like other martial arts it's become a social event because that is where the money is made. It has nothing to do with the war.
As you stated I don't know half as much about Aikido or Japan as some of the people on this thread, perhaps you might bear this in mind.
Doesn't make him wrong though. Mind, Body and Spirit is big business now and Aikido is a good product to market. The Bear.
I'm not actually stating he's "wrong" merely pointing out that there are many factors involved in this particular issue and, if he's never been to Japan let alone researched historically the effects WWII had upon the nation even today, saying... ..is a fairly authoritative sounding but perhaps not totally correct point of view.
