Knowledge of Aikido

[Alucard]

I want to know more about the Aikido Martial Art. I've seen many sparring matches and I fell in love with the style ever since. If you have any feedback, please don't hesitate to leave a brief statement.

[orion82698]

Do a google search on Morihei Ueshiba. He's the founder of Aikido. It's quite an awesome MA. The ability to use ones strength against them.... WOW! I have wanted to study this, but I have choosen to learn a striking art first. When I have time, my Uncle takes time to give me some basics. He has taken me through "The Walk" which is first learned. It teaches you how to fall, and move. It's very graceful, and can be viewed as almost a dance when going through movements. He's giving me some pretty good techniques. He's been in Aikido for over 2 years now. I would take a few free lessons at some schools in your area. Be ready to fall, cause you fall a lot!

[JusticeZero]

Just jump in.

Beware of "Fluffy Cloud" style instructors who obsess over ki and pacifism and can't fight; nonagression is fine and good, but it can be distilled to a point where it's too pure to function in the manner intended, and no few people have gone to Aikido because they can't stand to see any sort of aggression, and let the functionality fall out. Taiji has the same sort of fluffy clouders who refuse to accept the fight and refuse to teach it and have their form disintegrate as a result.

Some of these people are very dangerous, because they're state of "non-violent enlightenment" left unresolved issues with anger and violence within themselves, and so they are constantly finding ways to cause harm to people. They justify it because "Your ki was out of balance", "I was protecting the women in class", or so on. They can't recognize the hate and aggression in themselves and refuse to acknowledge that it exists. They become a danger to others as their anger explodes in clandestine ways, only to be justified in various "peaceful" and "enlightened"-sounding ways.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

My observations of aikido and discussions with it's local sensei and head student give me these conclusions about it:

1. aikido is a great martial art but has several weakness's that worry me.

a. It takes many years of training before you can use it effectively in a fight. You won't see many instant results in a life threatening self-defense situation.

b. aikido has little defense against a boxing type of jab. Meaning, stand back and jab, not a full blown attack. Aikido is designed to defend against a grab and a fully committed and aggressive attack.

Aikido is also a very traditionally run Japanese martial art. Be prepared for a lot of sensei and senior student rear end kissing and grovelling. If you're OK with that, then there's not a problem. Myself, I don't care for that....but that's just me.

Don't get me wrong, I like aikido and it's the only martial art I would ever consider crosstraining in if I chose to do so. They have very solid techniques against grabs, wonderful body movements and falls, and it's pretty to watch the students obediently fall when they're supposed to for the instructor.

[jedimc]

Aikido will take longer to learn than some other style's but you will get the rewards in the end, there are many styles today of Aikido and it can become a bit confusing here is website's explaining the different styles/organisations

http://www.aikidofaq.com/introduction.html

http://www.aikidoaus.com.au/dojo/docs/styles.htm

Finding a good instructer maybe the most important thing you must do to create your own powerful style of aikido as when you learn you will try imitate your instructers style but you will notice you cant because your instructer has a different body type than you causing different movements, everyone has there own blend of aikido.

[Ryokeen]

Aikido is not known for its striking abilities; however, there are some amazing techniques out there that scare the pants of me. I've seen some one who's studied Aikido for about 25 years , use 2 fingers in 3 diffrent ways and make a ragdoll out of some one same expirienc ein a different art.

I didn't know some one could flip someone over with just 2 fingers... wow.

However, as I said. There are a few shortfalls on Aikido, such as striking.

Possibly find a hybrid? if you don't want to pay for multiple schools, there my be a school out there that teaches a hybrid, like mine.

It's emphisis is on TKD however, it teaches Muay Thai,Akido and some Shorin-Ryu.

Best oF luck.

Tell us about a school if you find it.

The Intructors name, any and all contract details(if accplicable), Costs (hidden and open plus belt rankings), and remeber a school that PROMISES a blackbelt usualy isn't to good. However 4-6 years(sometimes 3 depending on the ammount of days class is held) is reasonable if it does come up.

Remember you're learning to learn not get a blackbelt. A black belt is just that start of a world of fun .

[tenshin_uke]

i had almost 4 years in TKD before starting in Aikido. there is no sparring or striking in Aikido. most of the techniques we practice are from a wrist grab or throat grab, but there are also technques to deflect jabs, punches, or kicks. be prepared for lots of rolling.

i disagree with the comment about students 'obediently' falling for their instructor. Aikido does have it's critics who state that there is no realism in the training. i can say that in my dojo, there is a very high level of realism. if you don't defend yourself well, you will be going down. without the realism, you can't see how effective your techniques are.

[krunchyfrogg]

Some of these people are very dangerous, because they're state of "non-violent enlightenment" left unresolved issues with anger and violence within themselves, and so they are constantly finding ways to cause harm to people. They justify it because "Your ki was out of balance", "I was protecting the women in class", or so on. They can't recognize the hate and aggression in themselves and refuse to acknowledge that it exists. They become a danger to others as their anger explodes in clandestine ways, only to be justified in various "peaceful" and "enlightened"-sounding ways.

Dayum, know somebody like that?

RE: Shorinryu Sensei:

Is there a more practical style similar to Aikido (using one's momentum against them) that you'd recommend?

[Drunken_Apprentice]

Is there a more practical style similar to Aikido (using one's momentum against them) that you'd recommend?

I could be wrong, but I believe Ueshiba (founder of aikido) and Young Sool Choi (founder of Hapkido) both studied Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu. The arts are basically siblings. If you want more emphasis on atemi, then I'd recommend hapkido, or traditional jujutsu. That way you're staying in the same general family of principles but incorporating a little more variety.