Hi guys. First of all there is no such thing as a negative point of view so long as it is sincere and honest. My thoughts on "real fighting" come from years of working with gangs etc. I have never come across a "street fighter" as such. Mugging is a better description. All of the physical kamae of aikido such as hito emi which is an explosive kamae have their kokoro kamae (mental attitude). So if I am using hito emi it is because I am in danger and therfor my fighting spirit shall have risen to the ocassion. As to always getting hit. There is a principle we shall discuss later enten jizai which means to defend and attack as one in an explosive instant. I have NEVER been hit positively in any encounter (street) except once when a knife was involved then on the arm. The kick in the photo is indeed a bad one but it was chosen to show atemi during hito emi. This is a better one he did cover the empi but is vunarable on his blind side to the continuation of the technique which was tenchi nage. regards koyo
koyo, when you said don't get hit, you mean never get hit good and proper right? Which means you would use proper taisabaki and blocking to prevent that solid connection resulting in damage?
Yep do not get hit a solid one but better not to get hit at all .Often that means striking first. regards koyo
Enten Jizai Using the hito emi escape (slip the jab) and attacking the face in the same instant. Which if he covers exposes the solar plexus. Atemi sets up ikkyo. regards koyo
ENTEN JIZAI This principle taken directly from kenjutsu states that attack and defence must be applied in the same instant. Example entering off the line of attack while executing a strike yourself. Below is a perfect example of this showing O Sensei entering on Tamura shihan's thrust. Again it is the sword principle of "attack at all times" even when you yourself are under attack.This damashi or fighting spirit tends to be difficult for those who "cling" to a pacifist philosophy during conflict. The true attitude is that we must not fight or instigate conflict but when forced to we must end the conflict as quickly and effectively as possible. regards koyo
Yet more interesting info. koyo! We have to try and seperate sparring with an other martial artist and a real fight situation. As koyo points out in the UK street fighting is usually a group of folk attacking an individual and it ain't pretty. Last night when I was cross training with guys from different backgrounds we started with an intense one on one fights, no protection, it eventually becomes a sparring session and does not ressemble a real fight situation. This is a condition with how we generally train in martial arts. The principles koyo states is how to end a confrontation before it becomes a sparring session. It is all about sudden and explosive action to dominate an aggressor. Regards Teddy Bear
SHORT AND SWEET Hi tedi I thought you might like this one. I was in a hotel with Chiba shihan when this "born again" aikidoka was telling him how aikido changed his life (about one month of training). One question after another. Chiba shihan was just about coming to terms with our Scottish accents. I was about to tell the guy to shut up when he asked "When is the best time to hit someone?" WHILE HE IS TALKING This from Chiba. Stony silence from born again and laughter from the rest. regards koyo
hehehe!! Quality shines through! I wonder how enlightened he felt after his encounter with Chiba! Teddy Bear
BUDO DAMASHI Aikido is the confrontation of two spirits. Chiba shihan said this after a particularly intense training session. He ment that we must constantly find the spirit to rise to a challenge. Whenever I say onigaishimas meaning please assist. A uke will immediately rush forward with a loud hai (yes). This shows a desire to be tested. Many times I have seen some wait until someone else "volunteers" (not at the makotokai). This shows lack of spirit. Training the damashi is most important. Below is a demonstration of ara waza (severe techniques). Note David in the background. He is in tate seiza a posture which shall enable him to react instantly to any command. This shows good budo damashi. regards koyo
You look as though you're enjoying yourself just a little too much there koyo. Speaking of real fights. I saw something quite disturbing recently on my may home from work. The bus I was on passed two guys pinning some poor sod to the ground while another had the guy on the ground by the throat and was clearly threatening him. Even more disturbing was that there were another two making sure nobody else got involved. And nobody did. This was in broad daylight at 3:30pm on a busy main road.
That is the real world wolfie. No street "fighters" just bullies. It is about time those creeps were afraid of US rather than the opposite. If you have the ability then you should have the responcibility. regards koyo Pirate I used to get invited to courses by those running them simply because I would be used as uke. Their loss. regards koyo
Just can't get my head around it. It is not as if your ego is getting a battering as you are meant to be getting a pummeling.
This is the mentality we have in Kenjutsu when we implement Hitoemi (lit. single ply body). This is similar to what Kensei mentioned "never getting hit good an proper". The ideal situation when you have mastered Taisabaki is you literally don't get hit. If it is on the streets here, I am clearly stating the laws they are breaking, telling them they are committing a crime that is a felony, and that I am executing an arrest without warrant. They resist, they go down. Always know your laws If I am in another country, I am walking away, period. Especially in L.A. Regards, PS Koyo, why did you have to start a good thread while I was busy writing two conference papers
Hi Graham Welcome aboard as always. I opened the thread to complement your thread aikido techniques.So everyone reading this please also support that thread .WE have to keep the TJA flag flying. regards koyo (keep smiling)
ICHI GAN First the eyes. Observation is the most important element in initial training.90% of your progress depends upon your sincerity , commitment and ability to OBSERVE. Do not depend upon your "teacher" he is there as "one who has gone before" (sensei) and stands as an example.Through constant observation (ichi gan) and experience as uke (ni soku) body training (actual feel of the technique) you will progress in the art.At a basic level ichi gan means to "watch like a hawk" and "steal" the technique. Martial arts cannot be explained by words let alone "taught" by them. They are learned "through the pores of the skin" on the mat during sincere training. regards koyo talking about eyes ,shark eyes nakadai.
It's a good point. We have been doing some more open fighting sessions where there is a notional "attacker" and "defender". The "attacker" is given a loose instruction like put in a mid section kick periodically. This is to allow the "defender" an opening to use a specific technique. It has worked very well since it is teaching us to watch for signs the telegraph specific attacks. A round ends when one is taken to the ground and the other has a commanding position. It has been a painful learning experience, especially as there is no protection worn and no mats to cushion throws. However, the intensity and "looking" and "creating" openings lessons have been excellent. The Bear.
Hi Bear Painfull learning experience . Brings me nicely on to the next principle. NI SOKU. Second the body. Too often it is written that a "weaker" person can defeat a stronger opponent by technical ability. This is simply not true. Weakness defeats nothing. We must train the body so that it becomes strong and flexible.And the spirit. Pirate says he cannot understand someone being reluctant to take ukemi to learn a technique. This is because they have weak spirits. Sincere physical training of the body is demanded before we can even begin to execute effective techniques. There are no short cuts. Many schools have made aikido user friendly by insisting it is easy, you do not have to be strong etc. Below a "weaker" ,in terms of strength and size, exponent throws a more powerful attacker. But I have had to use timing distancing unbalancing etc BUT I have also trained my body so that I am quite powerfull for my build. The koshi nage that Derek has had to ukemi from have been "dropped" from a number of schools, again to make the art "user friendly". Ni Soku Like the mind the body must be powerfull and flexible and undergo the same process to create a strong martial artist.Being uke and experiencing the principles of the techniques is invaluable and the best way to progress in the art. regards koyo
Again I completely agree. I rarely encounter people of similar strength and power to myself. I am currently fortunate to be able to train with piratebrido and tedi-kuma who are both strong and technically proficient. Tedi has better striking and defensive skills and Pirates excellent grappling and throwing skills. However, we all train with Colin English a Wudang Tai Chi practicioner who is one foot shorter and not as physically strong. However his superb timing and understanding of principles had landed all of us BIG lads on our asses more times than I can count. Also he has a fantastic ability to break through my solid guard and longer reacher to clock me on the jaw. I would never view him as weak. The Bear.
NI SOKU Often we shall see someone holding his ground and defending his body. Since aikido is influenced by swordsmanship we mus use our body movement to defend. While the handblades cover the centreline it is constant mobility which is more effective. AI UCHI Real fighting tends to happen "on the run" meaning we do nor begin from maai a mutual distance. However when we close with an opponent there is that instant called ai uchi meaning if we both strike we shall both receive a blow. It is at that moment that we must break aiki (mutual rythm) and maai (distance sympathetic to both) move faster than the opponent to enter and strike. Below Graham has struck with jodan mawashi geri the instant he begins his strike I break the rythm to enter inside. Although the body movement is the major defence the centreling is still defended by the handblades. Optimum mobility minimum movement. regards koyo In a real confrontation we must avoid aiki.
