TJA

I own a set of jigsaw mats and they are the closets thing to falling on the ground - if that's your preference in training- When I go to other schools the other mats feel soooo soft. But you do get Burns from them from time to time..

Yama - arashi Uki - Goshi

Well I'm assuming you have been in this situation before ( training wise) - their are many ways to defend yourself from a baseball bat swing - but they all depend on the distance of where your attacker is and where you are. In my system we train with sticks,knives and the infamous yellow wiffle ball baseball bat that you can get in your neighborhood toy story. These are all training aids for situations that might happen. Livining in New York City I've seen people get hit with bats and it's not a pretty sight at all very nerve racking. So if you have never trained for these scenarious please do so. Train with your back up against the wall/You backed up in a corner - someone attacking with a knife or bat - figure the basics out first - you know that you don't want to be the ball at the end of that bat - or the steak on the end of the knife I have a few suggestions that have worked for me and my students - If you are standing in front of the person attacking (swinging from right to left) you want to basically be at Zero pressure when the swing comes - in this situation Zero pressure would be the end of the swing or your opponents left side - this does not mean you will not get HIT, you may or may not depending upon how you have reacted. If I can find a diagram I'll post it there so you know what I mean - but for now I'll try my best to describe in short detail Basically look at a half circle and the opponent with BAT IN HAND is in the middle - you are facing him - the bat comes from right to left - if you don't move you get hit with that bat with the pressure of 100 percent - if you angle your steps toward his left - going in the direction of 0 pressure - you have a better chance of not getting hit or not taking the most of the blow - this concept can be easily found in Aiki-jiujitsu/Aikido and the Filipino Martial Arts - as well as many other systems - hope this helps a little

Chen, Your doing the right thing by starting them on their Knees - I had my students do all of their breakfalls as such: Sitting: rocking back and forth - side to side, so they get a little accustomed to the floor Sitting: going back - slappin out 10 times immediately go to Squatting: going back then Standing: going back Kneeling: going forward - on the last one they spring forward Standing: going forward - " " Side falls are the same - I just make sure they use their supporting leg to easy them down to the floor and alternate side Free fall/free ukemi: this is the one that they are all afraid of - taking that leap - I ususally stand in front of them on one knee and lead them through this fall by giving them a Kote-gaeshi - I don't emphaize the Kote-gaeshi, just them making it over my knee safely. Hope this helps

Firstly - I would like to say this thread has been entertaining and educational, it's nice to see peoples opinions heard/taken with respect. I have to admit - I'm in the mist of preparing my buisness plan to open up a school here in New York and I do want to do this as a fulltime buisness eventually, but being a family man - it's really tough. So part-time it will be. I don't think it's a shame or and issue for an instructor to get paid for teaching - if you feel you can offer a good product (insert your art here) and can benefit by profiting and changing the lives of others then I'm not sure why others see this as taking away from the art. We live in a society fueled by money. If you have a rich relative who wants to adopt another family let me know!!!!!lol.. I love the martial arts - my greatest feeling is seeing how teaching the arts can change someone's entire mind set - I mean let's take a look at it this way- there are many places you go and deal with other people - total strangers - In the Dojo, you will meet new people total strangers and eventually - give them ur time and bodies to make u a better person and martial artist- that's one of the greatest feelings - personally I have encountered (Rambling) I'm always learning something new from someone else - be it technique from another system - or how to deal with a parent whose child has a learning disorder. Remember - Those of us whom have made the "Self Sacrifice" and "Accomplishment" to become Black Belts and Instructors did so for a reason. Along the way the reasons have changed and matured - whehter it be - I wanted to be like that guy "Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Tito Ortiz, Benny the Jet, Chuck Norris, or ur local/first Instructor in the arts and not be bullied - to win a trophy - to gain respect - whatever the case may have been. (End Rambling) We all wanted to be part of something. So what if their are hundreds of so-called "McDojos" out there does that mean if I open mine will it be considered one - because it's for profit?!?!? I've always paid for my training coming up through the ranks - but I was lucky enough to have not had to pay for all my belt rankings - Persoanally, I think you should not but I always heard of others having to pay for their promotions/ranks - anywhere between 10 to 100 dollars - does this make them a "McDojo"! or is it just smart buisness - Bottom line - I think it's just the way you look at the cup - half full or half empty. Just my 2cents

Kensai, If I'm correct in visualizing your situation, when falling back either with the opponents weight or if this is your plan to lure him in. When fading back place your foot (right or left ) on the persons hip while letting them reach in with there hands, as you continue to fall back your other foot (which is just sitting there doing nothing) place this on the side of the knee, bring his/her knee in while your pushing is hip out - this creates Kuzushi and over he/she goes - it's a pretty basic tech. this then has your opponent at odds end to change position or be forced over - Bjj'ers might call this a sweep, Sub fighters call it something else.. but I have been doing this for a couple of years and it takes timing to get. If you time it right and your opponent is still reaching out - easy arm bar. game over.

What are the known systems of Ninjitsu. I'm aware of the Togukare system (excuse the spelling) of Masaaki Hatsumi which has the Bujikan dojos world wide. I've seen and heard of others such as the Koga - ryu ninjitsu, and Shoto Tanemura who seems to be within ninjitsu. any thoughts

Does anyone else have any information on this system at all. In-Yo ryu?

One of the books you might want to also take a gander at is the "Samurai Aikijutsu" by Obata...think it was "Dragon Books" it tells of the Aizu clan and how Takeda family carried the budo arts through out his family. Also check out the "daito-ryu.org" site has interviews with members of the clan very informative.

I thought this might be a great topic for discussion - Where and When did jiujitsu/jujutsu originate? This will open up a lot of information to all, as well as enjoyable dialog. So..... let's get started.

Chinese Wrestling or "Shuai Chiao" in Mandarin (Sut Gao in Cantonese), is the original root of the Japanese systems of Jujitsu and Judo. It amazes me how if you look deep into anything the History gets more richer. Jiujistu coming from Shuai Chiao - pretty deep

There are many basic techniques that may be used against Boxer punches, a Straight jab (Stiff) can be turned in to Ik-kyo or Waki-gatame -Kote-gaeshi - or a quick Jab ( like a rapid firing piston) even parried away and the boxer could take an Irimi - nage. Things being relative - mentality of fighters and experience as well - it all really depends on timing and that moment in time. People always say - well what if i do this or that - I always so let's just do it and see what happens - I don't think being predetermind on a set of techniques is the best thing - you just have to wait and see what that person gives you. The double leg or single leg takedown - possibly Kaiten-nage or another projection. The Round House kick, Kokyu-nage comes to mind- It's hard to answer the question in detail when your question was only directed to defenses of Aikido to those specific situtations. I hope some of what I stated above helps I currently hold a 2nd degree blackbelt in Aiki-jitsu under Shihan Norberto Negron here in NYC.

This system seems to be a combination of older jiujitsu schools and maybe associated with the Miyama Ryu system as well.

Kensai, Your comparison is very nicely placed. Aren't the Yosekai & Yoshinkan systems more related to Aikijujutsu? and if so.. wasn't Gozo Shioda the teacher of the Yoshinkan system?.