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A Brief History of Aikido

Categories: History
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Published on: January 15, 2013

The name aikido is formed by three Japanese characters, usually Romanized as ai, ki and perform. These are, respectively, is often translated as meaning unity, universal energy and way, so aikido can be translated as “the way to union with universal energy” or “integrated energy path ‘.

Another common interpretation of the characters is harmony, spirit and way, so aikido also “the way of spiritual harmony” or “the art of peace.”

Both interpretations draw attention to the fact that Aikido techniques designed to control an attacker by redirecting their energy rather than hinder. An analogy is often made of how flexible willow bends with the storm, while the thick oak will break if the wind blows too hard.

(Korean martial art known as Hapkido uses the same three characters: some suggested link through Daito-ryu history, the main cause of aikido).

Morihei Ueshiba developed aikido mainly from Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu, where such movement training for the yari (spear), jo (short quarterstaff), and perhaps also juken (bayonet). But perhaps the strongest influence is that of the katana (sword) and in many ways, an aikido practitioner moves as an empty handed swordsman.

The aikido attack shomenuchi and yokomenuchi arising from assault weapons (this, by the way, clearly shows whyt yokomenuchi temple is the strike, NOT locomotive ..), and the resulting technique also disarm the weapon.

Some schools do not do aikido weapons training at all, others, such as the Iwama Ryu usually spend a lot of time with bokken / bokuto (wooden sword), jo and tanto (knife). In some lines of aikido, all techniques can be executed with a sword and unarmed.

Aikido was first brought to the West in 1951 by Minoru Mochizuki with a visit to France, where he was introduced to aikido judo techniques. He was followed by Tadashi Abe in 1952 who came as the official Aikikai Honbu representative, remaining in France for seven years. Kenji Tomiki toured with a delegation in various martial arts through fifteen countries continental United States in 1953.

Later, in the same year, Koichi Tohei was sent by Aikikai Honbu for a full year to Hawaii to establish a dojo. This is supported by several visits far and therefore is considered as the formal introduction of aikido to the United States.

England followed by Kenshiro Abbe (infamouse Hut Dojo, still going strong as we speak, now managed by HW Foster sensei) in 1955, Germany and Australia in 1965.

Today there are many aikido dojo available to train in the world, with 2 million estimated practitioners.

How Do You Teach Aikido to Children?

Categories: Guides
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Published on: December 30, 2012

For some reason, the teaches Aikido for children is very challenging for many instructors. It is amazing that so few people get such fear in the hearts of many large black belt. Aikidoka even experienced an excellent instructor for adults can really clueless when it comes to education children.Today there are many books, videos and websites dedicated to teaching Aikido for children. Most of the information it contains offers with “Aiki game” designed to help children to learn Aikido movements and hold their attention. The game can be fun from time to time, but I think the best way to teach Aikido is just to teach them. Aikido is a fun thing to do, whether you’re eight years old or eighty. Aikido supposed to be for people of all ages so why try to reinvent the wheel when it comes to teaching children? Several years ago I had the opportunity to help Shibata Sensei when he was living in Japan and teaching a class of children at Hombu dojo.

Before the class began, I asked him what kind of game he did with the children. He looked a bit surprised and said he was not playing with them at all, he just taught Aikido. I remember the class performed about the same as a normal adult class and all the kids had a great time. I have structured my own children have also started teaching classes since.I graders when we first opened in 1980 Florida Aikikai. Over the years, both of my children in the class practiced child.

My teenage daughter Madison is still training, made me feel less anxious about his eventual dating guy … in 20 years or more. Over the years I have made some comments about teaching children, I wanted to share. While I know that a lot of this will become clear to you, I hope you get something in terms of the actual benefit.In instructions to find, I have found that children learn best with a minimum of verbal explanation. They seem to easily pick up the technique just by watching and doing. For example, in teaching the next roll, I try to get them to do cartwheels in the beginning. I avoid lengthy technical explanation what angle to roll or where they put their hands etc.

After a few classes and a few pointers, they do some sort of Aikido rolls just by looking at other kids.My goal with kids is for them to have fun while developing both basic Aikido skills. It is then an easy transition to adult classes (even though most of my kids enjoy with their friends and not in a hurry to join the adults). I’m happy to let their children as long as they have testing like.We and colored ribbons in children are similar to other martial arts. I think it is important for children to be rewarded for their progress, especially if their friends in other martial arts trophies and colored ribbons get. However, we try not to be fully pressurized and competitive. They can push enough at school, and in other sports and activities they are involved in. I do not want them to feel that they should be tested at a given time or in competition with one another. We emphasize that the test is favorable as a result of the preparation and hard work that has gone, not just because they get a new belt. We emphasize that Aikido is unique in that it is non-competitive and we try for all the events in the show classes attitude.Children dojo’s in Florida Aikikai, is done similar to the adult beginner class.

We usually start with a breathing meditation. I have a child in Seiza line with his arms folded and thumb touching. I tell them to focus on their breathing, count to ten and then repeat the process. When they realize their mind drift I tell them to count their breaths. Meditation basis as this will help to calm and focus the short kids.After general warming of stretching and wrist exercises we practice tai sabaki and paddle like ikkyo and exercise. The kids want to count Japan during this exercise, it is very hard I might add. We spend too much time on ukemi practice. They make two lines with the seniors go first so that new students can see what to do. Exercise is:

small forward and backward rolls
shikko forward with the roll forward
Reversing shikko to roll backwards
large stand forward and backward rolls
forward roll, backward turning Turning
advanced breakfall build (ie ukemi koshinage)
advanced breakfall and error (ie projection ukemi)
breakfalls jump forward over the back of each.
forward and backward shikko with curves.

We then lined up, the instructors demonstrate techniques and child pair off and start training, such as in the adult class. We usually associate the children with a level of experience. Sometimes the higher ranks will practice a more sophisticated variant of the technique and grassroots mobilization younger. Or the seniors while the juniors will do Nikkyo ikkyo such practices. We end every class and meditation kokyudosa to out.Along bending with ukemi, the most important thing for children to learn in the beginning, hanmi (ai and gyaku), tai sabaki (Irimi, Turning, Tenshin) and kokyu (like ikkyo) arm movement.

I use these terms repeatedly pointing techniques. It helps them both to attack and they also begin with the similarities in the different techniques that they practice.For example, when a child is confused kotegaeshi do, I just tell them when the Tenkan uke punches and Tenshin see if the technique to apply. It helps children discover the relationship between aikido exercises and techniques that they practice.One other thing I would mention is the huge impact that parental involvement in children’s classrooms. After the parents of the students became involved, the program will run more smoothly. Some parents train themselves and can help with instruction, which is a lot more individual attention to each child.

Others do not work, but it helps in a different way by bringing snacks, help with parties or even take the smallest to the toilet. Great fun for all the family affair.We when dojo is now almost fifty children in the dojo with classes three times a week. As the program grew, we began to offer other activities for children such as hosting birthday parties and pizza / night video. The kids liked the old O-Sensei videos to watch and it seems every video that I take ukemi and get smashed.Camps and seminars are also a great addition to children’s programming.

They are just as good for kids to adults. I always see children Aikido grew rapidly. This is a good place for a word to introduce a new weapon or explain more about the philosophy and principles Aikido.Incorporating arts and crafts in the curriculum of seminars and camps you can expose children to other aspects of Japanese culture. The young and old both enjoy making Noh masks, folding fans, wrote in Japanese calligraphy, haiku poetry or make a kite battles. It gives the kids a break from exercise and feed them at the same time.We end of each camp with a party, where we Japanese dishes such as sushi, and making rice balls and other dishes. We often combine with a ceremony in which we award certificates.

The events are fun and also a great way to generate additional revenue for the dojo to produce. I am very pleased with how they have been profitable for everyone and are helping to build lasting friendships in the dojo. It is good to see the interest generated in Aikido children. The focus and attention given to the youngest member of our Aikido community is very encouraging, because they are our future

Aikido “Knife Techniques”

Categories: Techniques
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Published on: December 26, 2012


Hmmmm. There is much debate about the effectiveness of the techniques in Aikido Tanto.

Many practitioners, especially following the practice Tomiki-style knife will tell you that taking efficient techniques and martial arts. Others fall into the camp of the “martial, but not promote zanshin” perspective.

Hmmmm. A complicated.

Over the years I have been lucky enough to regularly practice with a number of police officers, guards and people jujutsu, and the general consensus of the people, all at one time or another have faced real people raised the things a real taper is that 95% of aikido techniques commonly taught blades can only run outside the dojo.

If you are unfortunate enough to be in the position of having to defend himself against a knife, the reality is that you will probably get cut – the most important factor is how bad.

Here is an interesting exercise. Get practice tanto, knife and covered with lipstick. Then get your partner to “invade” your body, not in a formal aiki, but just randomly. Use what aikido defense you can muster. You get marked, 100% guaranteed.

What is likely to reveal is that you can stay relatively safe, by keeping the distance and accept that your hands to the body and vital organs projecting.

I think it is important that the techniques and skills that are passed, but I personally have always taught them the “disclaimer”, which focuses on what we can learn from the movement (sports development, assessment, and distance are used to deal with someone with a potentially deadly weapon ) in a purely technical aspects of self defense.

My feeling is the best form of defense against any weapon to get out of range!

Aikido and the Triangle, Circle and Square

Categories: Basic, Guides
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Published on: November 26, 2012

Aikido principle of representation by geometric triangle, circle and square of Shinto cosmology theory “Gogyo Gogen” in which the elements of life, liquid, solid and gas are all proven and mutually transmutable.

In his book “We no Michi”, Rev Dr Yukitaka Yamamoto, generation 96 Shinto Priest (Guji) wrote:

“The principle of ‘Sanmi-Sangen’ explains the mystery of life Sanmi-Sangen means the three elements that form the basis of all forms of existence .. good basic symbols to explain the meaning and guiding the destiny of human life. We can see Sanmi-Sangen works on many levels.”
O Sensei saw clearly the relationship between the theory and principles of Aikido – The following diagram attempts to show how the three shapes not only the core principles of an individual, but the relationship symbolizes everything.

The form the core of Aikido, spiral, indicated by a circle, appearing everywhere in the universe. A definite “5/7 logarithmic spiral”, is identical in disc galaxies (eg, the Milky Way), the DNA strands and sub??-atomic particles – O Sensei learned that Ki through the body in a large spiral, on the basis of the flow of the universe.

In very simple terms, the triangle can be said that the attitude prevalent in Aikido triangle, triangulation arms to the center / hips and offline triangles and squares solidity avoid the attitude, or the principles of “heavy-bottom” represents represents.

Weapon Techniques

Categories: Techniques
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Published on: October 29, 2012

Nowadays pretty much understood by most that Aikido is an art based weapons. The techniques are developed based on Aikido Aikijujutsu, highly sophisticated art based on the movement of kenjutsu. Aikijujutsu includes practice, armed with a sword while the long and short, as if tanto. Defense including attacks by single and multiple attackers, armed or unarmed. How does this translate to practice Aikido current depends on the style of the instructor. Some teachers studying Koryu as Iaijutsu or Iaido, Kenjutsu or Kendo, Jodo or jojutsu, and so on. Since most Aikido bukiwaza not come from a strict syllabus spoken by Morihei Ueshiba (Saito bukiwaza that perhaps the most famous example), most aikidoka taken to outsourcing for a good treatment of the weapons used in Aikido weapons techniques to learn.

Bukiwaza or training in Aikido, a skilled practitioner to use a known (or goat) or jo is a matter of debate, especially since the general consensus is that in Aikido weapons training is intended to inform and improve the practice of armed elements. One of the things that has changed is the element of space, usually referred to as Cutting. Another factor that has changed is that, while the precision and time that is needed to perform the technique both armed and unarmed, you do not have the power to make weapons techniques. I mean honestly, there’s no such thing as “more powerful” than someone who is swinging a machete or a baseball bat at you. This feeling is using proper technique and not a muscle that should be transferred to your unarmed techniques as well. Now we have enough of an idea of ??what we learned from the Aikdo bukiwaza to get into the subject of this paper: what is it that we learn by studying tantodori in Aikido?

“We learned how to use the techniques of Aikido when uke dagger.” I used to think that too. Today I’m not so sure. In most dojos I have seen, tantodori form kotegaeshi tsuki, tsuki rokkyo, tsuki Gokyo, Gokyo and yokomenuchi Ushiro kotegaeshi. Of course you can see kansetsuwaza thrown in as well. It was fine for me at first. But I realize now that there are two fundamental flaws in the way tantodori usually taught: they do not take into account the way a person is committed to cut will attack you, and they do not take into account the people who committed to cut will not defend. In Aikido, most tantodori done doing Tsuki uke, shomengiri, yokomen or kesagiri temporary wooden tanto. Although often any attack vector comes from, they do not represent the original attack given the nature of the blade. A knife attack is all over the place. Cut and trapped in a sequence may be the most basic treatment of the knife. Training with someone fighting as armed with a knife is a very serious problem, more than not an all-or-, vector-based, or yokomen tsuki. People with knives know that if they attack failed, they might actually be killed.

A man armed with a gun also know that the goal of any good purpose. There is a high priority target for sure, but seeing someone cutting someone, hitting someone with a baseball bat hitting someone with a baseball bat. A knife fighter will not be obsessed with the perfect slashes to the neck or chest thrust to the bone, with a slash or stab the other available targets. This brings me to my second point. Usually in tantodori, Nage, perform the above techniques, revealing the most desirable destination for a knife fighter. My favorite example is yokomenuchi gokyu ura. In this example, imagine that uke attacks with a knife in his right hand (but significant clutching the knife). Here’s the usual case of strong nage enters oblique uke. Then Nage will attack left tegatana simultaneous use with uke’s knife arm at the elbow, while delivering atemi right hand to uke’s face it. From here nage apply Gokyo or whatever. There are some problems caused by knives and armed attacks are not gokyo, do not run as usual.

In theory nage will stop arm at the elbow to prevent uke from the cut face and neck. But that does not prevent uke from cutting the inside and outside of the forearm. Some people think that you have a stab or cut to the outside of the forearm to take and still, because of the large arteries will not cut it, and the muscles that are found there, if cut, would still allow you to make a fist or gun ownership. I do not really think. I’ve seen a couple of knives which most people every day (heck, I’ve seen a knife that I use every day!), Wearable and I have seen things that people take and use as improvised punches and cutting tools. These things will cut you to the bone.

You will bleed, as simple as that. If you do not first love. There will be no footwork, no time, and if you’re lucky, you have a second for something crafty to do before you go out of the sleeve slashes. Blocking knife in this way does not prevent uke bending his knees to cut or puncture level and drop into your body. You can try to block with your arms, happy to be uke slash and stab. Now I can accept that this item should kihonwaza, and not the end in itself, but a means to Gokyo learn the basic idea to consider, but I have to ask where the application actually makes me wonder if this method is taught as a basic framework, with applications then taught, or if my knife defense training is not only healthy because of what Aikido techniques should be?

“Aikido is a traditional art and tantodori traditional methods are preserved in our modern practice.” This is something I can buy, but it raises the obvious question: what is the tradition? First confession: when I decided that the knife is my favorite tool to always have on me in a serious emergency, I have my Aikido sensei not to consult – I started training with Filipino style knife artist. Every teacher of Aikido tantodori know I know, but no one I know of battle studies knife (another confession: I do not get too many I’m not someone put here due to lack of knowledge or resources.). I was never told of the ryu fighting knife, which affect the role of uke and nage in aikido. If anything, I wish to inform you. It was a surprise to me, because a lot of emphasis on learning proper handling of the sword and staff, but not as much, or nothing at all with the knife. No solo practice with a knife. There is no practice partners with each partner having a knife. I’m not sure if this is an expression of the philosophy and attitude towards the use of knives in Aikido, or if the subject of the technical content of the syllabus. If tantodori are from the traditional way of dealing with the knife, I just want to know what that tradition. Part of me would like to think that we learn the meaning of each sword carefully taken to implement, but at a short distance, but I could not get himself to buy into.

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