Wa-No-Michi

Hhmmm! do I have to get my newspaper out again. I am sure your advice has been well received, but personally I think it sounds like you have trained with the wrong guys.

Cool Maybe your Aikido training may change your thoughts. Who knows

Absolutely not true! All quality martial arts systems and schools (karate / TKD included) will automatically promote the points you mention (plus many more) as part of their training. It is wrong to think these principles are unique to any one art / group of arts. I think perhaps your experience has been with a bad traditional Karate school. None of the good ones that I have trained with have failed to get over these very basic yet fundamental points. tsk tsk moriniuk... << bang over the head with rolled up news paper!! >>

Really? What's not to understand? Aikido in this group is not taught / promoted as a self defence system. But, the study of it will engender good skills that will naturally improve your ability to protect yourself. Its more of a useful bye product however, rather than the primary reason to study it. I don't think that this makes it right, though. Maybe not for you, but clearly it is for this group. Each to their own as they say. Interesting you should choose the word "mindset" to describe the way you approach you Aikido practice, particularly as (as understand it), you are fairly new to it. The expression "empty your cup" is epitomsed by the japanese word "shoshin" or beginers mind, which is sort of the exact oposite of having a mindset. Just my thoughts, but if it works for you then go for it.

Here is a thread on Tai Chi that you may find of interest: Tai Chi and Combat Effectiveness Good thread thanks for letting me know about that. Indeed I know that Tai-Chi does have Combat applications - all styles of MA do other wise they wouldn't be "Martial". But I still think the old folks in the park doing the slow forms are not just doing it for the sake movement. They are doing a Martial art as well. Even though there is no immediate Martial /Combat intent (or SD application) at that particlar instant. Or perhaps there is?

I agree it is important to develop a good Kiai. For those interested, "Kiai" is a compound of two Japanese words: Ki=Energy (spirit) Ai = Harmony (as in Aiki-do) In traditional Japanese Jujutsu there are official words that should be used: Kyup (sounds like cup) - When initiating the attack Toh (sounds like toe) - when you are receiving an attack / retreating, and Ya (Japanese for arrow) - when you perform the final blow. If you watch a Kendo bout you will hear these sounds.

Really? What's not to understand? Aikido in this group is not taught / promoted as a self defence system. But, the study of it will engender good skills that will naturally improve your ability to protect yourself. Its more of a useful bye product however, rather than the primary reason to study it.

I don't know if "opponent" would be the right word for what I'm thinking, Kajukenbopr, but there are some things that were referred to by my Street Survival instructor, a police officer, when I took that course in the past. I live in a mid-sized city, meaning lots of side streets. For a woman who's walking with someone she's uncomfortable about behind her, that he seems to be following her, the instructor suggested that she turn her head, as though looking up to a higher floor than street level, smile and wave, then just continue along. It's a ruse that someone's looking, which would only affect a man actually following her and, if he is, he'll likely want no witnesses. (I ran this by my students [i teach in an all-girls high school], and they thought it was a good idea when I mentioned it.) He also suggested that, at night, a woman walking the side street might feel safer walking in the street itself. The streets are well-lit; she'll see a car coming to step to the side while it passes, and then continue. No one in an alley, there to ambush, will be able to surprise her if she's so far away. (When I mentioned this to my students, some told me they'd heard of this and sometimes did this at night.) If there are, say two, men ahead of you (whether you be male or female), and you don't feel comfortable about them, he suggested you don't try to get away from them by trying to walk past them. Slow down; don't let them get behind you. An opportunity to get away from them will come up--even it's as simple as a good spot to cross the side street to the other side. (A male friend of mine used this slowing down when in another city, and discovered the men ahead were also slowing down, till they were walking at a snail's pace. They gave him a glance; he looked right back; they then picked up to a normal pace and he walked away from them at the corner in a direction he hadn't intended, but would separate them from him.) It happened some years ago, maybe ten, that one of our students was walking to school along an avenue that she'd never had a problem with. A man perhaps in his thirties began talking to her, and when she didn't respond, he began to speak in an angry tone and insisted on her responding. She then said a few words as she continued to walk forward, and since it was an avenue, sure enough there was a deli that she could--and did--rush into. They called the police; she rode around the area in a police car and identified the man; he was stopped and found to have had a knife on him. This wasn't something I remember mentioned in my Street Survival course, but it's something to think about; keep your wits about you, duck into a store, and have them call the police. Nice one joesteph, it would appear that we are on the same wavelength.

Well yes, like I said: A Shinken is a sword with a live blade. Sorry if i didn't make that clear. I think this thread of conversation came about due to comment on Akido and self defence. The following was written on the Q&A section of the Rowan Aikido Club based here in the UK. https://www.computerswopshop.co.uk/rowan/faq.html I think this sums up what we are talking about... "Can Aikido be used for self-defence? We do not teach Aikido as a self-defence form - it's a martial-art - please do not confuse the two, despite what you've seen in the movies. Although Aikido is not a self-defence form in itself, we believe that, by teaching Aikido in the way we do, following a set of basic principles, the precepts of self-defence are embodied in the practice. We teach good posture, keeping the head up to be aware of other attackers, moving off the line of an attack rather than fighting etc." Naturally opinions will differ from club to club, but it is sort of on my wavelength of thinking.

In Hironori Otsuka's book, he has a section entitled, "Preparing the Mind, Preparing the Heart", in which he explains the importance of being in a constant state of readiness He gives several examples / stories that date back to the time of the Samurai that were in effect a code for surviving in an age where death at the hands of your enemy was a very real threat. Potentially anyone and everyone was your enemy. Things like: When walking past someone in the street, you would always go to the left. Why because swords are drawn by the right hand and it is easier / quicker to stop them if you are closest to this hand. Walk quietly so that you can hear any noises around you and watch people out of the corners of your eyes. Walk round corners giving you enough room to see what is around them. There are loads more, but you get the idea. Always be aware of those around you and your surroundings. As Otsuka says "Leave ones yard and find seven enemies".

I think that the desire for promotion should be driven by the want to learn and improve - from others. Promotions in this way are given as recognision of imrovements, not just recognision for the sake of it.

He's not too shabby either: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0cCqjtMHwn4

Good advice there from Bushido-man, As far as the art is concerned, I visited Tobago in the Caribbean a few years back and remember seeing a sort of folk dance / fighting show which looked to me a bit like Capoeira. I couldn't remember the name so just done a quick wiki search and the name Calinda has come up. In the words of the mild mannered janitor - "Could Be??"

For what it is worth Bushido-man I actually agree with you. I am just playing devils advocate really. The whole "Martial Art / Self Defence" thing has come to the surface with our club recently, as we are in the process of revamping our web site. We are keen not to misinform potential new students, who turn up expecting to be immediately taught an all encompassing "self protection" system, so we have had to word this part of the web site quite carefully. Its all about managing expectations really. When speaking to potential new students I try to explain that - yes, through the practice of karate you will improve your ability to defend your self extensively (as this is one of the primary reasons why we do it), but unlike purpose built SP programmes, we do not focus in teaching drills specific to this from day one. Our karate (like most traditional schools) could be better reffered to as a codified system. We will teach beginners from the ground up with drills designed to engender good stances, posture, timing and movement etc. (you know the usual). Its all about giving the student the correct foundations on to which they can build. Depending on the ability of individual students this will take as long as it takes before moving on to the next stage. That said, there has to be a tangible improvement in students ability to defend them selves (at least a little better than before the started), fairly quickly. This is different to the way a bespoke self defence / protection school may operate in which I am sure that the results would be more rapidly evident. I am really chewing this over in my head at the moment (and Bushido-man96 thanks for the input (I didn't mean to sound negative BTW)), and I take your point about calligraphy etc, but there are martial arts (particularly in Japan) that do focus on the Zen and self improvement side of things as a priority but clearly have a martial core. Thinking about it though, I suppose you could argue that esoteric arts like Kyudo do have a SD application - in at least that the practice of them would help sharpen / focus the mind (from within a martial context) and therefore improve someones ability to protect themselves.

I think this is a good summation of these styles. If you really dig into the systems, you can find bits and pieces of practicality that are usable for today. Or, say you have a broomstick to defend yourself with...it can be used in many ways that a sword can, when it comes to parrying attacks and counterstriking. The practical uses for today are much more limited, though. It really isn't much different than the study of bo, kama, sai, etc. With respect Bushido-man96 I think you are missing the point. Arts like Tai-chi may have their origins in a martial or combative context, but the practice of them today has has little or nothing to do with combat. In fact its really the complete opposite. As the previous posters said. A lot of people get great rewards in carrying forward these arts, and I think thats a key point. Its what people get out of a system that makes it a martial art. Not necessarily the inherant ability to defend them selves as a result of practicing it. In fact, I would almost go as far to say that it is wrong / irresponsible for some martial arts clubs / styles to brand them selves as being "good for self defence"in order to attract potential clients; particularly as a lot of the time, the people that this message appeals to are also slightly vulnerable. To be quite honest if martial arts clubs came under the same consumer regulations as say domestic appliance manufacturers, most clubs / styles would be in breach of the trading standards laws IMO. But, does that make them a waste of time?...no. Does it mean that you are never going to improve your ability to defend yourself?...no. Does it mean that they are not a valid martial art?...no. But to say that the study of all martial arts should "automatically" lead to the ability to defend yourself is incorrect and unnecessary... IMO

I agree. Make quick your exit plans and expedite them as efficiently as possible. "Swarming" to me implies taking all of them on at once. Also very difficult to swarm when there is only one of you. I prefer the single out one option, breach... and leg it!!

I agree, I have been teaching for a few years now and obviously I like to make sure the students at our club get the best instruction they can (well it's my job as sensei). But I still consider myself a student first and an instructor second, so selfish as it may seem, I will jump at the chance to have a bit of "tatami action", now and then. Unfortunately (well fortunately really) a couple of the guys in our dojo are members of the national squad, so they are a bit tasty and keep me on my toes. They sometimes get the better of me and although I won't show it, I am secretly very proud of them. But you are right its a good lesson for all and yes definitely grab those opportunities. If I were your instructor my opinion of you would go down if you didn't

In most traditional schools of Karate, the criteria for awarding belts is governed by a students ability to adequately attain standards within a defined syllabus. In other words, if you are a first Dan in Kyokushin, and you want to be considered to be a first Dan in Shotokan, you not only have to have the same technical ability to punch kick and fight etc, you also have to have the same knowledge of the schools syllabus ie Kihon, Renraku-Waza, Solo and Paired Kata etc. If you dont know and therefore cant perform "Empi" kata in accordance with the way the school wants it done, how can you hold claim to a first Dan within that particular school / association - you can't. I know that If was a 2nd Kyu brown belt say, and a fella from another style walked in and was declared a Dan grade I would be pretty hacked off with my instructor. Belts are defined by schools / associations at the end of the day, not styles. If your school has no structured syllabus I guess there is no reason why a Karate-ka from another style / group / art couldn't be given permission to wear whatever belt they wanted.

I would say that fast tracking is an option (depending on the Students ability). I don't know about other styles, but in my experience Shotokan students (as per your axample) find it hard to adjust to Wado particularly at Dan grade. On the surface, Wado looks "similar" to Shotokan, but underneath it works using a different set of principles. I think this could be the same with many arts. At a junior level, they are pretty comparable to other styles, but these similarities begin to disappear the more advanced your study becomes.

Basic Budo principle of multiple attack...Deal with them one at a time.

Good advice from both here. If you do what you do well its just a peice of paper at the end of the day. Don't throw your money at a junk organisation (or a pukka one for that matter) just to buy a rank. You are as good as you are.

Wow, very ambitious! I wonder why Niseishi, Wanshu though? Surely Seishan over these two?? Remember, any Kata beyond Chinto isn't considered an "official" Wado kata. Sure there are Wado versions of them but they fall into the "nice to know" category. I would be more concerned however about how you propose to manifest the principles of wado contained in these kata into kumite. Without that bridge, Wado katas are useless.

Hmm!, I am not sure that's right. I guess all schools are different, but it is my experience that most dan gradings are conducted by a panel of judges. This panel comprises of at least 3 Yudansha with a combined grade of 10 dans or above. But then thats my group, others may do it differently. Note, I do have an assistant Instructor within my club who is also Yudansha and we work on a point system, an average is found and this decides the grade and Level of Pass (grade 3 up to Grade 1) The Kata we used/practice are predominately Ashihara Kata so these are very different to Wado Kata. So what grade is your colleague, and what does the kata have to do with it? Sorry, but your last post has left me confused.

Hmm!, I am not sure that's right. I guess all schools are different, but it is my experience that most dan gradings are conducted by a panel of judges. This panel comprises of at least 3 Yudansha with a combined grade of 10 dans or above. But then thats my group, others may do it differently.

I agree with all said above. You should look to your sensei for advice, after all, that's what you are paying him/her for. Have you tried hitting stuff? Sounds silly but often a good session of Makiwara training, or bag training, can serve to get everything into perspective. Yes, power is all about the hips, correct weight distribution, good body mechanics and timing etc. etc., and a good way to ensure these are all in the right place is to practice by hitting a static target. Makiwara / Bag work. @ Wado AJ "Makiwara" or "Makiwari"