Aikido as a 2nd martial art

[greenpaulo]

Hi, I have been studying Jun Fan Gung Fu and JKD concepts since October. I go twice a week and I have a filipino weapons class on saturdays. I enjoy it very much and am lookin to do more martial arts. I have the option of going to an extra couple of classes in the week at my JKD gym but the classes are so physically demanding that i'm not sure i'll be able to hack it.

Instead I am thinking of taking up an internal style like Aikido and going to that twice a week as well as my other classes. I am interested in using the internal energy of the body, I also like the idea of being able to win a fight without harming the other person. I have read before that violence is the most destructive behavior possible to the fabric of space and time. Aikido translates as "The Way of Harmony". I am deeply interested in the spiritual side of martial arts. The higher levels of Kali-Silat that i learn in my JKD class is on the spiritual plane and I am very excited to learn this.

My current JKD instructor is 3rd Generation under Bruce Lee and has been all over South East Asia studying martial arts, he is also a shaman. Even though he won't admit it. He tells me storys of seeing his spirit guides sitting next to him on the bus and in restaurants. He thought he was going insane. They taught him how to heal people with his energy. Similar to reiki but with more extraction. Our gyms website is http://www.jeet-kune-do.info

I have heard that Aikido takes a long time to master but that is one thing i have got I have also heard that people training in Aikido cannot defend themselves in a real fight even after 2yrs training. I think my JKD class has that well and truly covered , so I am just left with time to study an internal art.

Can anyone who studies Aikido tell me if it will suit my needs? Or are there other internal styles which might be better for me (Gung Fu possibly)?. I cant study Tai Chi as I there are no teachers around my area who teach it for self defense, just for health benefits.

Thanks,

Paul

[red dawn]

Hey there! First of all I'm so glad to hear you are willing to learn something despite the fact it takes years to master (wich of course most good arts do.)

I myself have just started learning Aikido so I can get in touch with a more spirtial martial art and learn to train my mind as well as my body. I have only been practicing for about 3 months and have achieved the rank of yellow belt. (my first colored belt.) From what I have learned so far, at first aikido moves very slow..speed is the enemy and it almost looks like a dance. The techniques are all gracefull and calm. But what you are learning is how to off center your opponents balance and you learn to keep yours. And not everything i've learned takes years to master...there have been a few techniques that I have been able to apply right away. You can comapre some of aikido's techniques to other MA...most people are not going to learn a tornado kick over night.

IMO, i think it's worth training in or at least trying it out. It's not the 100 perfect for self-defense...but no one style of MA is and MA is not just about fighting and self-defense there is also the spirtial and mental side as well as the art of it.

Hope I was some help. And feel free to ask me any questions you might have if didn't answer them for you.

[Menjo]

Hey there! First of all I'm so glad to hear you are willing to learn something despite the fact it takes years to master (wich of course most good arts do.)

I myself have just started learning Aikido so I can get in touch with a more spirtial martial art and learn to train my mind as well as my body. I have only been practicing for about 3 months and have achieved the rank of yellow belt. (my first colored belt.) From what I have learned so far, at first aikido moves very slow..speed is the enemy and it almost looks like a dance. The techniques are all gracefull and calm. But what you are learning is how to off center your opponents balance and you learn to keep yours. And not everything i've learned takes years to master...there have been a few techniques that I have been able to apply right away. You can comapre some of aikido's techniques to other MA...most people are not going to learn a tornado kick over night.

IMO, i think it's worth training in or at least trying it out. It's not the 100 perfect for self-defense...but no one style of MA is and MA is not just about fighting and self-defense there is also the spirtial and mental side as well as the art of it.

Hope I was some help. And feel free to ask me any questions you might have if didn't answer them for you.

Great job in joining aikido. As said before, some techniques can be applied quickly as in one class i was taught how to hold someone on the ground with them being completly helpless(it worked on me too). I think Aikido is great, however i think it goes well with other MA, if I could afford classes I would join as it would compliment my past MA very well.

All I can say is good luck really.

[italian_guy]

I think aikido is a good idea... an IMA alternative can be Tai chi chuan if the teaching is combat oriented (avoid non-combat oriented TCC).