Damn I want to go! And I really don't live all that far away ... can't make it that weekend for sure though. However, in June the doshu himself, Moriteru is coming to Toyama and I will go see him. Good stuff. I'm sure it's quite a bit different to see this stuff in person.
Even though I am a Karateka I want to preface this by telling your readers that I really like Aikido. It is beautiful, takes full advantage of your enemies momentum, and really is one of those fabled arts that would allow a smaller individual to handled a larger one.
Still....
I know they are demonstrating technique principles here and that they likely aren't trying to show its aptitude for real altercations. And yet, after watching the younger students repeatedly attack their shihan with uncommitted vertical chop, and over extend themselves in the process, it kinda gets to me.
I guess I wouldn't mind so much if it weren't clear that the kohai were doing everything they could to make their shihan look good; because they probably don't need to.
Yes, it's a demonstration and one of the tricky things about an aikido demonstration is that to allow the audience to see what's going on, the techniques almost necessarily have to be large.
Seishiro Shihan has his uke the instant the uke moves. It's clear over and over. Whether they fling themselves at him or not, he'd STILL have them as soon as they move.
Nice video! Specular moves (stunts?) can indeed be performed when the chi of the two can be seamless connected, like here, and like some good tai-chi pushing hands demo. Some tai-chi guys did do MMA (mostly san da), and when they do so, they surely don't fight like they did pushing hands moves (stunts?). I don't know about Aki-guys....
When I was a young man, training in aikido a LOT, I worked midnights in security at a hotel on the edge of Detroit. Most nights were terribly boring, but others were ... not.
I found that in my own application of aikido, the movements tended to be a lot more compact.
Wow, very calm and smooth. Great videos.
ReplyDeleteIt's fun to watch top people doing their stuff.
ReplyDeleteHe is giving a seminar in Nara on 21-22, if you want to go!
ReplyDeleteBernard, if you're going please post a review at Be Not Defeated By The Rain.
ReplyDeleteDamn I want to go! And I really don't live all that far away ... can't make it that weekend for sure though. However, in June the doshu himself, Moriteru is coming to Toyama and I will go see him. Good stuff. I'm sure it's quite a bit different to see this stuff in person.
ReplyDeleteEven though I am a Karateka I want to preface this by telling your readers that I really like Aikido. It is beautiful, takes full advantage of your enemies momentum, and really is one of those fabled arts that would allow a smaller individual to handled a larger one.
ReplyDeleteStill....
I know they are demonstrating technique principles here and that they likely aren't trying to show its aptitude for real altercations. And yet, after watching the younger students repeatedly attack their shihan with uncommitted vertical chop, and over extend themselves in the process, it kinda gets to me.
I guess I wouldn't mind so much if it weren't clear that the kohai were doing everything they could to make their shihan look good; because they probably don't need to.
Yes, it's a demonstration and one of the tricky things about an aikido demonstration is that to allow the audience to see what's going on, the techniques almost necessarily have to be large.
ReplyDeleteSeishiro Shihan has his uke the instant the uke moves. It's clear over and over. Whether they fling themselves at him or not, he'd STILL have them as soon as they move.
The rest of what he does is just a footnote.
Nice video! Specular moves (stunts?) can indeed be performed when the chi of the two can be seamless connected, like here, and like some good tai-chi pushing hands demo. Some tai-chi guys did do MMA (mostly san da), and when they do so, they surely don't fight like they did pushing hands moves (stunts?). I don't know about Aki-guys....
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a young man, training in aikido a LOT, I worked midnights in security at a hotel on the edge of Detroit. Most nights were terribly boring, but others were ... not.
ReplyDeleteI found that in my own application of aikido, the movements tended to be a lot more compact.
Hey Rick,
ReplyDeleteI've cant seem to come up with any videos that might show me some application of those tight quick movements. Would you happen to know of any?
I know they exist!
How's this?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA8rzfRTMGw&feature=related