“Since I practice both a traditional martial art (aikido) and mixed martial arts, I often get caught up with lots of arguments and discussions about the relative merits of the two. It’s a touchy subject, since experienced TMA practitioners are highly invested in their arts, and MMA practitioners often have TMA experience that they “outgrew”, so personal bias comes into play a lot.”
Brian Kagen is an avid web researcher with a particular interest in martial arts. His training background includes both judo and aikido. He has contributed hundreds of article links over the years for AJ readers.
“All my life I have hunted aikido, even before I knew its name or took its lessons. Now I know that it’s the thing eating me, a great bird tearing at my liver day after day. So far my interior grows back, always just enough to keep the mythic cycle alive (though it won’t always be so). I also feel in the pain of its beak the realization that I have no Promethean Fire to ignite Alexandrian Lighthouses, or to illuminate even Plato’s Cave.”
The question is an oxymoron and the oldest circular augment in the history of mankind. All that any good Budo training can do, is to promote sanity through augmenting context and perspective; and continually offers trainees a reminder that real violence is an all-lose scenario.
Uyeshiba Aikido and Tomiki Aikido can peacefully co-exist with each other. Tomiki Aikido would be for those who want a sense of broken rhythm. Uyeshiba Aikido would be for those who want a sense of flowing rhythm. They come from the same coin, however, they are on the opposite sides.
“For the last two years the 6’7” North Vancouver resident starts his mornings with aikido.
“I still remember my first night there where the assistant instructor took me to the rear of the class and taught me how to make a fist, what knuckles to hit with and that my wrist and fist should be in line which makes it stronger to strike with. I loved it! I was learning how to defend myself!”
“I have come to Hawaii in order to build a “silver bridge.” Until now, I have remained in Japan, building a “golden bridge” to unite Japan, but henceforward, I wish to build a bridge to bring the different countries of the world together through the harmony and love contained in aikido. I think that aiki, offspring of the martial arts, can unite the people of the world in harmony, in the true spirit of budo, enveloping the world in unchanging love. – Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido”
“Aiki folks and some judo folks like to talk about the potential for technique and wisdom, skillfully applied to triumph over strength and size and speed. But then sometimes this seems like a pipe dream – wishful thinking. A week ago I got to see a great example of slow and steady beating out natural athleticism. Here’s the story.”
“This is a great book. Buy it. OK, I’ll elaborate. Along with Jesse O’Brien’s book of interviews, Nei Jia Quan, this is the most engaging book on martial arts that I’ve ever read (of several dozen, from martial arts traditions around the world). My own primary interest in martial arts and training, besides strengthening my failing back, is the methods of transmission of training and fighting insights across generations and between cultures. Hidden in Plain Sight is all about that. And Ellis makes a great story of it.”
“he capacity to remain connected and caring even during times of chaos, crisis and conflict is a wonderful thing to develop in ourselves. The two people whom I talked about at the beginning of this blog displayed this well-developed capacity and in enacting this potential, they gave up their lives. I do see Aikido as a martial art that does maintain some degree of “martial integrity,” while allowing us the potential to become better people in the “face” of discord, conflict and chaos.”
The “Lost Seminars,” your Encyclopedia of Aikido Techniques! 