Kensai

I love my white Gi, when nicely starched and ironed with love, it looks great! Aside from that the white Gi looks so cool with the black Hakama.

My Sensei always says be relaxed. The more relaxed you are the less likely you are to get hurt, especially training with locks and holds. Plus if you are not thinking about holding your body, you are more ready to respond to any attack.

Being a weakling has really nothing to do with self defence, just because someone is big does does not mean that they could fight there way out of a wet paper bag. Try and read some of the other posts as this is a common question. But in terms of self defence it really depends on what you are looking for?

ok.... please look at Daito Ryu Aikijutsu.

You do not scare me Ninja, for my skills surpass yours....bwhahahhahhaha. Hey there mate, its good of you to join at last. Hope that you enjoy it here its a pretty good site. PS Remember that the Samurai will beat the NINJA! (j/k) Cya soon mate

Pankration, is an atcient greek MA. Unfortunately all the doumentation of it has really been lost, especially after the invasion by the romans. So there are alot of McDojo's out there talking about Pankration, may of them just mix Mauy Thai and BJJ. Jujutsu (this is the right spelling, the Japanese spelling) is the martial art used by the Samurai. There are many styles of Jujutsu, plus martial arts like Aikido, which are pretty similar to them. Jujutsu, usually uses the Katana, Tanto possible Spear, Jo and bo as weapons. Hope that this helps.

White Gi's until first Dan, then White Gi's and a Black Hakama. (Which looks really great). Then anything around 5th or 6th Dan is a white Gi and a White hakama, but thats only for special occations.

@ mom. Its very strange to see that. Being English an all, its mum. Hello Monkey girls mum, hope you like the forums.

I have been here for sometime and I have not seen another Aikidoka. I was just wondering if there are any in this forum? Also what style do you do?

Indeed. It can be seen very easily that the holds could break your arms, if the soft and gentle pressure was continued. Remember that soft Martial arts are very destructive, but they just do things in a different way.

only during training. These sort of practices are not really apply able to the modern world, short of the military and major crime organisations, of which I am not apart. The self defence aspect of Ninjutsu is called Bujinkan taijutsu. Which is really the core aspect.

Any time.

Internals are more, Ki/Chi/Qi orintated. The technqiues use Ki to work properly. Its a very complicated subject. But it really does work, but its one of those things you really have to see for yourself. Internals get MUCH better with age. External or Hard Martial arts are like Shoalin Kung Fu, Shotokan Karate etc. These require, great technical and physical abillitys. I personally dont like competetions mainly because it detracts from the art, thats only my opiniuon though. Well Aikido was started just after the war, the techniques are soft and circular. The Grand Master Or "O Sensei" is called Morihei Ueshiba. He studied Daito Ryu Aikijutsu, as well as some of the chinese internal arts, and these created Aikido. Aikido means the "Way of Harmony". The current Grand Master of Aikido is the Doshu (Master of the Way), he is O Sensei's grand son. Most of the techniques involve very little strength, but the focus of the mind and the body. We (aikidoka) believe that physcial violence is wrong, and all our techniques leave very little long lasting damage. However, our techniques, especially later on, can cause horrific injuries, should you choose to do so. This may sound like it goes against our priniciples, but it is harmonous for a lion to kill a gazel, there is always pain and suffering, but we should do our upmost to prevent it. The teaching itself, is split into the basic techniques, such as a grab on the arm, shoulders, lapples, from behind, then attacks from 2 to 8 people. There are a lot of Ki exercises that focus the mind. Also counters against, punchs and kicks. We also do alot of break falling or Ukemi, which is very important We also study Sword, knife and staff. Thats Aikido in a nut shell. There are a lot of good books about it on Amazon, although my favourite is by Koichi Tohei. Web sites http://www.aikidojournal.com/index.asp There are lots of others, try google and type Aikido. Good luck in what you study.

Sure, one we did was tieing it to the end of a rope and throwing it into a tree and usind it to hook on to it. Using the hand guard as a short of step to get over walls. Basic uses like a spade. umm hang, let me think.............. ummmmm oh oh and for breaking open doors, using different parts of teh sword to beat people with. Very interesting stuff

Well, I am also 19, and I have jumped through a few MA's over the past 3 years, and finally settled with Aikido. First Question, Do you like Striking or Grappling? Second Question Do you like External or Internal MA's? Third Question Do you want competition? Fourth Question Do you want to train with weapons? Fifth Question Do you want Kata? Answers Remember that this is only my opiniuon 1 For striking I would do you Gojo Ryu Karate, Traditional Kempo, and Wing Chun Kung Fu. If you like using your legs more then perhaps Tae Kwon Do, or Crane Style Kung Fu. Shotokan karate is pretty good at both. Grappling Aikido,Ninjutsu, Brazilian Jujutsu, Jujutsu, Sambo and a little Judo 2 Internal Martial arts Aikido Aikido Aikido Aikido Aikido! But I also like Hsing-i and Ba Gua.(Chinese Styles) 3 Good competition MA's are most Karate and TKD styles. plus Judo. Most of the more locking and breaking MA's like Aikido, Jujutsu dont do many formal competitions due to the nature of the moves. 4 Wing Chun Butterful knives =others Aikido Bokken= Sword Jo= 4ft staff Tanto=knife Ninjutsu DOES ALL WEAPONS (well all the japanese ones, Sickle and chain is pretty good fun) Some styles of karate, Dont know which, but do uniques stuff like Sai= trident knife Kama=a little sickle 5 KARATE! infact most styles, Aikido has very little.

Yes I did do stuff like that, we did silent walking, some do tree clinbing techniques, and the 1001 uses of a sword other than cutting people. But I changed to Aikido, because I wanted to be a goodie Samuari, instead of a baddie evil ninja............ . They are all very nice really.

I would say Aikido, but it takes many years to start to understand it. Remember that "The only reward of the easy path is that it is easy" ( I know thats someones signature, but I thought it was useful here). Wing Chun also takes along time to get into. Why do you want to change from Mauy Thai?

Alas, we must respect there Ki, or we ourselfs are no better than them. It is their loss. If one does not take an insult, then only the caster of that insult holds it. Think about that.

Welcome Yak.

Not that I am trying to sell Aikido, as it really sells itself. Have a look at an Aikido dojo, the throws are less strength orintated, very few go over the hips, so size is of no real worry. Aikido covers, striking, throwing, pinning, locking, breaking, floor grappling, tanto (knife), Jo(4ft stick) and Bokken (sword). Also the major ingredient, KI! BJJ does no weapons, it only does disarming, same goes for Judo, but they are both VERY cool MA's. Just my Opiniuon.

This is really to all the internal practioners. Do you get that feeling that the less strength you put it in the more it works. I have found myself again being in awe at my Sensei, as he takes out this guy with out even touching him. Fake..........possibly, but the thud on the floor was very real. And the attacker was a high Dan grade, most of whom are not likely to take a fall even for their Sensei ( I hope). Sometimes during training I get this strange feeling, sort of like your heart is pumping so fast that you can feel each pulse clearly in your finger tips. But yet I am completely relaxed. I was just wondering if anyone else, especial internal practioners had this feeling?

I will do Kenjutsu, as part of my Aikido training. However we use bokkens and no shinai's. Eye of the Tiger, I thought the Kobudo ment the budo arts from Okinawa. And the Okinawans by tradition dont use Shuriken.

Touche Martial Artist. Exactly what I was thinking.

try some of the techniques, and you will see.

I agree with Taikudo-ka , draw the line in the sand. Make sure everyone around you see's the line. If that person cross's it, then they can reap the whirlwind. The great thing about Aikido, in this respect, when you dont REALLY want to hurt anyone, you want to just get out of the situation, a little harmless throw would soon ward them off. But if they come back for more, then well..........some things must be done.