Morihei Ueshiba encounters?

Has anyone had personal encounters with O Sensei or know anyone who has had an encounter with him?

I was always amazed by his philosophy and feats, but just yesterday, I started having major suspicions that Ueshiba is a fraud. The reason is because I read one of his statements in which he said that he once dodges a barrage of bullets by twisting and turning his body, which is humanly impossible. Plus, I saw this
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCjySZuVDkQ"]Ueshiba the Archmage ? - YouTube[/ame]
which is also humanly impossible.

So I'd like to hear from people who have met or even better sparred with Ueshiba so that it can be proved that Morihei (and Aikido) are not just frauds.
But if you've met any other sensei who could perform feats as amazing, that'll do.

Thanks!

 

I live in Greece, and unfortunately I am almost convinced that Ueshiba and Aikido are frauds. It all makes sense how they created a fighting style that isn't effective but is suppossedly miraculous for kids like me to be imperessed.

 

You said "aside from that video". On that videop you see Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido. So, you're saying that Ueshiba is an Aikido bunny?
Or do you believe that he actualy knocked those guys out by using his ki without physical contact? Or that he dodged bullets as he said?

 

Look at Ueshiba's age in that video. He is a failing old man who was being given respect by younger followers. Looks at the difference between that video and this.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98yRuBkUBGQ"]Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba 1935 - YouTube[/ame]

As for his mystical feats, he was a follower of the Omoto cult. A progressive religion who were working for social justice and the perfection of humanity through spiritual practices. So yeah he was in some hokey nonsense but no more than Christians with their saints and miracles. The bottomline is you don't need to buy the religion with the martial art.

The Bear.

 

Yes but the point is that I WANT to buy the religion with the martial art. :bang:
The religion and the suppossed spiritual enlightenment are by far the most intriging aspects of the art...:bang: again...

 

Oh dear.

The Bear.

 

I'm really sorry, I didn't know that you don't practice Aikido and I did not mean to put words in your mouth. And I am grateful of your help. Although I'm still somewhat troubled, I think that I'll reach a "decision" soon.

Thanks

 

Hi Simon

Not back to square one BUT pretty damn close because I had trained in other arts before seeing aukido. Had I gone believing in (my standard of )aikido alone my "friends" would certainly have handed my butt to me.I learned to discard a lot that I had thought was aikido and to question a lot (mainly myself).

Edgeorge

The philosophy of aikido is learned "on the mat through the pores of the skin,NOT from books or words"

The ueshiba family and many aikido masters sent articles to aikido journal magasine refuting the nonsense written about/contributed to O Sense regarding the bulletts and other "legends" saying that this nonsense detracted from the truth of the man whose training was so hard that the dojo was nicknamed Hell Dojo by practisioners of the day.

I think it tends to be westerners who love these mysterious stories and concepts. I have NEVER met a japanese shihan who stressed such things in their training.

Be sincere and let the art change you do NOT attempt to shape the art to your wishes and you should enjoy your training. I would wait to 1st dan before serious crosstraining BUT look around first ..Aikido may not be the choice you make yet may be the perfect art for you.

See koyo's book thread for a deeper explanation.

welcome to MAP

 

Is Aikido effective?

Edgeorge, If you are looking to combine Aikido (or any other martial art) with relgion you are setting yourself up for disapointment. Many so called practitioners of Aikido have used religion and personal philosophy to hide inadequate and ineffective technique. If you want an effective martial art simply find a good dojo, if you want religion find a good church.

As an aside I've trained in Greece quite a few times, if you are near Thessaloniki or Athens check out the Yudokan dojo.

Gerry

 

Hey thanks for the answer Kokyo.

So you are saying that not all that is being said for Ueshiba is not true. Still, though, what about the video in which he does a gesture and knocks people out without touching them? Do you think that he actualy achieved that, and that he could do it?

BTW I'd like to mention something. There's a crazy dude on Youtube who is dead certain that Aikido is part of the conspiracy of the New Age (Antichrist's arrival), and that man is not even a Christian. He is convinced that Aikido spread through Satanists, and that Ueshiba himself cooperated with satanists. He also stated that what he said is based on very very long research (and he really did seem to know A LOT).

Have you heard any of that bullcrap?

 

NOPE!!

But very very long training beats very very long research everytime.

ONLY answer is get into a dojo and find out if it is what you want.

My "philosophy" tends to change with the attitude of the other guy.

Hey makotokai

Would you believe that the bear visited last night wearing a t shirt hat said "I support the right to arm bears"

 

Did you get to meet Morihei? What kind of person do you think he was?

 

I met his son Kishomaru Ueshiba and a great many of the original shihan.

See aikido masters history and anecdotes thread here on MAP.

 

Man is it me or is school out right now??!!

 

That is completely untrue, it said "I BELIEVE in the right to arm bears".



The Bear.