Anyone else taking Aikido? [Archive]

Mr Mockett

05-29-2008, 07:10 AM

So I'm just posting this for the heck of it. I started taking Aikido two months ago, and am really loving it. I go here: http://www.aikifarms.com/

Our dojo does Zazen meditation before each class, and I also take the Iaido class in the mornings on Thursdays.

Any other fine gentlemen here taking Aikido?

sol92258

05-29-2008, 07:18 AM

I haven't taken Aikido officially, but did participate in a Unified Martial Arts system that was a blend of several systems: TKD, Karate, JiuJitsu, Aikido, Hapkido, etc. It was fun, but all nothing but rays of its sun.....
(I know Micah1_8 will get that, anyone else?)

Mr. Tadashi

05-29-2008, 08:38 AM

I did as a child from my father, but now as he does not have the time to teach, so I have kept practicing Judo since I am a member of a good club.(Grandfather still gets on the mat and runs the club.) Which I also started as a child.

jostua

05-29-2008, 08:43 AM

I was part of a dojo for years as an adolescent, and I remember how it helped me build coordination and a sense of physicality around my changing and growing body. I stopped going as I get near the end of high school, though, due to money and time issues. It's one of those things that I want to start back up 'when I have more time'. Which really means I probably never will unless a dojo appeared right next to my house. :frown:

Mr Mockett

05-29-2008, 10:22 AM

I'm lucky enough that the dojo is 2 miles from my house. Making time for it is important to me, I decided to finally stop talking about how "I'd really like to try that" and just do it.

Everyone's situation is different though, and not everyone has that option.

joe mcclaine

05-29-2008, 10:33 AM

Aikido is fairly high up on my list of possibles.

I took about 4 or 5 lessons during my 20+ years of Karate and I have been looking for something to study now I'm approaching 40.

Luckily there is a Yoshinkan-type (the hard style of Akido) dojo not far from me which is open all day, every day.

I'm still at the "I'd really like to try that" stage though.

Mr Mockett

05-29-2008, 11:03 AM

My sensei is going to be 70 this year. He calls himself a "walking advertisement for Aikido."

I can't say anything about the "hard" style, but Aikido is supposed to be approachable at all age levels. I was recently told a story about an 80 year old man (or so) who began Aikido at that age, and continued training (was a 5th rank shihan, at the end, I think) until he passed.

Sabledog

05-29-2008, 11:50 AM

"I'd really like to try that" and just do it.

I've been interested in Aikido for a very long time..... help push me into the "do" side of it! :w00t:

Mr Mockett

05-29-2008, 12:13 PM

I've been interested in Aikido for a very long time..... help push me into the "do" side of it! :w00t:
Happy to :biggrin:. Let's see... it's great for you, physically and mentally. I have a great time at class, it's a level of discipline (going to classes, and practicing, not ruler->knuckle style discipline :wink:) I haven't had in my life for a long time/ever.

I've also met a great group of people that I look forward to seeing 3-4 times a week. It has, overall, been a great experience so far. What part of the country are you in? You can check Birankai (http://www.birankai.org) or USAF (http://www.usaikifed.com/) for a dojo near you. There are others, I'm sure, but those are two good organizations to start looking within.

Oh, and with Aikido, walking during my lunch break, and proper eating, I've lost almost 20 lbs.

So yeah, there's that too.

Roman414

05-29-2008, 01:13 PM

I took aikido for a couple of years, years ago when I was stationed in Japan. Later, when I was on shore patrol in San Diego I used it frequently in scuffles with sailors and Marines who didn't want to be apprehended. I remember my delight when I discovered that, "Damn! It actually works in the real world, not just in the dojo!"

Sabledog

05-29-2008, 02:21 PM

Mr. Tadashi

05-29-2008, 05:30 PM

I've gotten interesting contradictions from people when I've mentioned Aikido; I learned that it is (surely simplified) energy-based primarily redirecting the opponent's force but I had somebody say "oh, yeah, that's one of the most aggressive styles!"--I think he just didn't know what he was talking about.....

Yea there are different styles such as Yoshinkan(Hard style) Tomiki(More of a blend of Judo and Aikido as Tomiki learned both) and Ki Society(A softer style more focused on Ki but, I have read that it strayed off base the the founder of that style became unhappy with what happened)

Paul10

05-29-2008, 05:37 PM

I did Aikido before I was married and achieved 4th Kyu. I would've taken it longer but was starting a master's degree and didn't have the money to continue.

I did Judo when I was a lot younger and achieved a junior purple belt which is a senior brown.

I would love to get back into it someday.

Mr Mockett

05-29-2008, 06:48 PM

I'm in Richmond, VA (West side). I'm pretty sure there's something nearby.

I've gotten interesting contradictions from people when I've mentioned Aikido; I learned that it is (surely simplified) energy-based primarily redirecting the opponent's force but I had somebody say "oh, yeah, that's one of the most aggressive styles!"--I think he just didn't know what he was talking about.....

Yeah, the basic principle of Aikido (I think most of the styles) is taking your opponent's energy and using it to neutralize their attack. I wouldn't say any of the forms of Aikido are the "most aggressive" out there, but often Aikido is viewed as one of the more difficult martial arts to learn.

Just like shaving, YMMV when concerned with views on martial arts.

Shaveslave

05-30-2008, 01:15 AM

Yoshinkan Aikido is what I do now. I started training martial arts in... 1978.:eek:... in a land far, far away..

Anyway, Aikido is probably one of the least understood arts in the western world.

Roman414 is correct. It works in the real world. I use it daily on people who don't have the sense to listen to polite instructions.

When properly applied it should take no strength and look like you're not really doing anything. Now, if only they'd stop screaming and ruin the whole effect!

King of Kailua

05-30-2008, 01:35 AM

Hi,

I had taken Aikido for years and I can say the training even saved my life from serious injury! I was riding my bike at night across an intersection and was T-boned by a car that turned head on into me! The bike went down and was a total loss. I was ejected, and flew over the hood and windshield like superman...Without a helmet (idiot). By instinctively tucking into a roll, I came up on my feet and pivoted on my toe and heel ((swish)) for a quick 180 to address my "attacker". I can still see the drivers face, slack jawed and frozen in my mind as I flew over him. :eek:

I highly recommend joining a dojo that emphasizes Ki meditation and training, breathing exercises and kiatsu. Extend your ki brother!

joe mcclaine

05-30-2008, 01:40 AM

Johnny_Z

05-30-2008, 01:53 AM

I practiced Yoseikan for a little while. It's a pre-war style so it's harder than what most people think of when someone says "aikido".

I liked it, but it was hard on the body and haven't done it in a long time.

Mr Mockett

05-30-2008, 05:43 AM

This is the one near me: http://www.shudokan.info/

The only thing that put me off was the way you pay.

I'm from a traditional 'pay as you train' background but this is a 'pay monthly, tied into a three-year contract, pay more to join the black-belt club' type of affair.

I know this is a great way to guarantee the instructor(s) an income, BUT it will make some students feel like walking wallets.

Hmm... I couldn't seem to find the pricing info on that website, but that's not entirely surprising. Did you have to call them to get rates? Or did I just miss it?

My dojo is a flat monthly fee for training, go to as many classes as there are available, no contract. I much prefer that, as you say.

joe mcclaine

05-30-2008, 06:13 AM

Hmm... I couldn't seem to find the pricing info on that website, but that's not entirely surprising. Did you have to call them to get rates? Or did I just miss it?

My dojo is a flat monthly fee for training, go to as many classes as there are available, no contract. I much prefer that, as you say.

I went a couple of years ago for a taster lesson after which I was taken to an office to discuss fees. You sign up to a company who take the fees monthly. For a little extra a month and by signing up to a three-year contract I could join the Black Belt Club which would entitle me to train on extra sessions.

At this time I was still training in Karate and only wanted to train on an 'as and when' basis - which would have been outrageously expensive per session if I could only get once a week.

I suppose I was a bit put off by the fees issue, which I'd never come across before.

I can see though that this is the way things are done now.

By the way, none of this should take anything away from the instructor who is very, very good.

sol92258

05-30-2008, 06:44 AM

Yeah, the basic principle of Aikido (I think most of the styles) is taking your opponent's energy and using it to neutralize their attack. I wouldn't say any of the forms of Aikido are the "most aggressive" out there, but often Aikido is viewed as one of the more difficult martial arts to learn.

Just like shaving, YMMV when concerned with views on martial arts.

If you have trouble visualizing that for yourself, watch a Steven Seagal movie. The fluidity of motion, taking the opponent/attacker's energy/power and using it against them, either stop the attack or throwing them by virtue of their own energy. Pretty cool stuff. The idea is simple, mastery, or course, takes lots of time and effort, as with anything else worthwhile.

Mr. Tadashi

05-30-2008, 06:55 AM

If you have trouble visualizing that for yourself, watch a Steven Seagal movie. The fluidity of motion, taking the opponent/attacker's energy/power and using it against them, either stop the attack or throwing them by virtue of their own energy. Pretty cool stuff. The idea is simple, mastery, or course, takes lots of time and effort, as with anything else worthwhile.

I will say that this applies to the early Steven Segal movies.(The newer ones no so much and well at a certain point they just went downhill) The one thing about Aikido that is not typically realized is the margin of error is rather slim for most of the techniques which makes it difficult but, with a good instructor(Sensei) being able learn technique will be a matter of practice.

Mr Mockett

05-30-2008, 07:03 AM

My sensei is very big on us "emptying our minds" so as to not think about the techniques, but to just "do" them. The repetition of practice is to train the body so that in a time of crisis, the body reacts without the mind interfering. It also makes taking ukemi (receiving a technique) smoother, when your trained body takes the falls and rolls.

There is definitely a slim margin of error, but part of that is, in practice, it becomes a different technique. Oh, your foot went over there? Then do it ura instead of omote. Hands went wrong? It becomes a throw rather than an immobilization, etc.

The practice is to know each technique so that your body does the right one when it becomes necessary.

Mr. Tadashi

05-30-2008, 07:21 AM

Indeed. I know that for me in my judo if I just do the technique instead of thinking about it I am able to move much quicker and peform it much more smoothly. On the concept of "emptying the mind" I reccomend the "Book of Five Rings" By Miyamoto Musashi. The last part of the book is titled "The Book of Void"

Mr Mockett

05-30-2008, 07:57 AM

I haven't read Musashi in a long time, I'm really thinking I should again. Back in my late teens I had a serious asian philosophy period. Read Musashi, Sun Tzu, other martial arts philosophy books, etc.

Mr. Tadashi

05-30-2008, 08:12 AM

Wow I was pretty much in the same boat as you were when it came to asian philosophy.

Tinzien

05-30-2008, 09:27 AM

I used to take it years and years ago back in NH and in Chicago.

micah1_8

06-03-2008, 08:27 AM

Roman414

06-03-2008, 11:44 AM

I had a friend years ago, Al Alseika, who at the time was one of the highest-ranked non-Japanese Judo men in the world. He was a coach on the American Olympic team. He told me that all the martial arts...Judo, Karate, Aikido, etc start out with different techniques and emphasis but at the higher ranks they all blend together and become essentially one discipline.

ulven22

06-03-2008, 12:51 PM

I've trained JiuJitsu, judo, TaeKwonDo, Kickboxing and been an Military close combat instructor, but now I have not trained for over twelve years. I have been thinking of starting with JiuJitsu again though.:001_smile

thunderball

06-03-2008, 02:43 PM

Little old me:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s257/nuskool73/IMG_4486.jpg

My instructor is probably the only 10th dan that is still mobile and teaches actively. 93 years young!

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s257/nuskool73/2006-09-21.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seiseki_Abe

Mr Mockett

06-05-2008, 11:52 AM

That's really awesome Thunderball! My sensei is going to be 70 this year, so I know he's still got plenty in him.

And Roman, I'd tend to agree. There are only so many ways the body can move, so in the end they're all similar to a degree.

ShavingShack

06-06-2008, 02:26 PM

I used to love Aikido, did it for about 2 years and have fond memories of it, especially when I look at my old Gi which I still have! However, I did move on to a more reality based self defence in the form of Krav Maga which, for me, is a lot more practical.

Dan

Sabledog

10-30-2009, 10:20 AM

Resurrecting this thread:
So, I finally started Aikido, Iwama style. I've only participated in 2 classes so far, but really think its a good fit for me! :w00t: I think I'll be at it for a long time!

Noebie

10-30-2009, 11:22 AM

i used to study at central illinois aikikai many years ago

never really got my edges knocked off to the point where i could fall properly - and that's a huge part of the art

valmara1971

10-30-2009, 12:03 PM

Roman414 is correct. It works in the real world. I use it daily on people who don't have the sense to listen to polite instructions.

When properly applied it should take no strength and look like you're not really doing anything. Now, if only they'd stop screaming and ruin the whole effect!

That seems a little harsh for a school crossing guard :001_tongu