9chambers
07-14-2003, 03:51 AM
I went to an Aikido seminar featuring Haruo Matsuoka (founder of Aikido Doshinokai) this weekend. It was traditional to the max. Breathing, bowing, skirts and incense burning to O'Sensei. I never liked the whole martial arts "scene" myself, I was always in it for the athletics, adventure and fun. Aside from my Ninjutsu days back in the 80's (c'mon, you know you were a ninja back then, everyone was) I never really cared much for the spiritual mumbo jumbo associated with martial arts. However I do respect other cultures and traditions and I like Japanese people so I bowed to the mat on my knees like everyone, I was quiet and I didn't try to counter or test the techniques when we split up into pairs and tried them out. I was a good boy and I didn't make a scene.
Except well .. once I was concentrating on my friend (new to the martial arts, talked me into going to this seminar), who was having such a hard time doing back rolls that he was holding up the class, so much that I ran into the display of O'Sensei. Yea, that's right. They had incense and a picture on a tripod and a wooden sword and staff on a small rack. I bumped the sword rack and it slid a little bit. I felt like a retard. This would be like knocking over the communion tray at a Catholic church. Anyway, I tried to look really ashamed of myself and got back in line.
Then there was the time my partner (who was my friend that I came with that drill) thought he'd be funny when I was demonstrating a throw and resist. He crowded me and tried to take me down from behind so I hooked his arm and sprawled forward, hooked his leg for the revearsal, turned to face him and got him an a triangle guillotine type choke. All of this took place in a room full of Aikido people doing the same drill. It wasn't too noisy but still .. a little. *sigh* How embarrassing.
Most of my younger partners were a little frustrated since I didn't know how to do their drills properly. The instructors were cool though. One of them was very kind and patient. I appreciated that quite a bit. There were only about three people from other disciplines and I was one of them. Me, I have only researched Aikido by reading about it. My formal experience in seizing is from Hapkido, Jiu Juitsu and a little bit of Chin Na. I had never experienced Aikido being applied on me until this weekend. It is totally different from anything else that seems to resemble it. totally different.
The specific full body movement, the footwork .. aside from Kendo and Iaido I really don't think I have learned anything that resembles it at all. Aikido is totally individual and very specific. It is fluid but very full of intent. It reminds me of a wave pulling you in and then crashing. Sure there are your standard arm bars and wrist locks but the way in which they do them is just totally unique. I really don't think I could learn Aikido. I would have to start over from scratch and go in an entirely different direction. I am programmed to move another way. It really is apples and oranges.
As far as it being effective: yea, I think a guy could restrain most people using Aikido if it is something they had been doing for years. Especially if the person didn't know that you studied it. The locks and takedowns were very effective when applied. Being agile and limber I think I could have avoided, slipped or rolled out of most everything but there is always a counter to a counter to a counter. All I know is that I have more respect for Aikido now than I did before. It seems very difficult to learn and quite effective. It was like a foreign language to me ~ only I was the sojourner this weekend. I was the foreigner.
My only problem is: I really can't think of anything that could be paired with Aikido. The movement is so specific, so designed, so calculated that I really don't see how you could mix it with another martial art well. Aikido stands alone.
>> Perhaps it was because I had an inherent skill for the science and never deviated from natural principles. - Miyamoto Musashi 1643
Except well .. once I was concentrating on my friend (new to the martial arts, talked me into going to this seminar), who was having such a hard time doing back rolls that he was holding up the class, so much that I ran into the display of O'Sensei. Yea, that's right. They had incense and a picture on a tripod and a wooden sword and staff on a small rack. I bumped the sword rack and it slid a little bit. I felt like a retard. This would be like knocking over the communion tray at a Catholic church. Anyway, I tried to look really ashamed of myself and got back in line.
Then there was the time my partner (who was my friend that I came with that drill) thought he'd be funny when I was demonstrating a throw and resist. He crowded me and tried to take me down from behind so I hooked his arm and sprawled forward, hooked his leg for the revearsal, turned to face him and got him an a triangle guillotine type choke. All of this took place in a room full of Aikido people doing the same drill. It wasn't too noisy but still .. a little. *sigh* How embarrassing.
Most of my younger partners were a little frustrated since I didn't know how to do their drills properly. The instructors were cool though. One of them was very kind and patient. I appreciated that quite a bit. There were only about three people from other disciplines and I was one of them. Me, I have only researched Aikido by reading about it. My formal experience in seizing is from Hapkido, Jiu Juitsu and a little bit of Chin Na. I had never experienced Aikido being applied on me until this weekend. It is totally different from anything else that seems to resemble it. totally different.
The specific full body movement, the footwork .. aside from Kendo and Iaido I really don't think I have learned anything that resembles it at all. Aikido is totally individual and very specific. It is fluid but very full of intent. It reminds me of a wave pulling you in and then crashing. Sure there are your standard arm bars and wrist locks but the way in which they do them is just totally unique. I really don't think I could learn Aikido. I would have to start over from scratch and go in an entirely different direction. I am programmed to move another way. It really is apples and oranges.
As far as it being effective: yea, I think a guy could restrain most people using Aikido if it is something they had been doing for years. Especially if the person didn't know that you studied it. The locks and takedowns were very effective when applied. Being agile and limber I think I could have avoided, slipped or rolled out of most everything but there is always a counter to a counter to a counter. All I know is that I have more respect for Aikido now than I did before. It seems very difficult to learn and quite effective. It was like a foreign language to me ~ only I was the sojourner this weekend. I was the foreigner.
My only problem is: I really can't think of anything that could be paired with Aikido. The movement is so specific, so designed, so calculated that I really don't see how you could mix it with another martial art well. Aikido stands alone.
>> Perhaps it was because I had an inherent skill for the science and never deviated from natural principles. - Miyamoto Musashi 1643
