“If most people were asked what the limiting factor was in their training, I think that most would reply “time”. Most folks simply do not have the time to train as they would like. If they only could train more, then they would really be able to take their training to a higher level… But is time REALLY the true limiting factor. Most of the time I would say not.”
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.
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Ledyard Sensei is a sixth-degree black belt and senior instructor in the ASU. I have trained mostly in the ASU. For mid to low kyu ranks, the attacks simply have to be slow for there will be confusion and possibly injury otherwise. Injury in the dojo might as well be injury on the street. As far as high mudansha ranks and into yundansha, ukes’ strikes should be fast and firm. I would say that through untested, 6th kyu, 5th kyu, and 4th kyu, this sophisticated art needs to allow somewhat slower strikes to promote learning. I believe that above these echelons, Aikido uke attacks should definitely be with full intent. There are many more mudansha than yudansha in the Aikido world, so it is imperitive to recognize rank as well as intangible ability before letting loose a full strike.
…the main limiting factor to advancement is comfort zone. this is tough. fear itself is limiting, but consequences which evoke it are real. taking lumps is ok, but serious injury is another form of limitation. this sort of problem has always plagued Japanese martial arts. there was some fairly recent author who ended up committing suicide the old style way who posed the question in terms of the apple that doubted whether it was pure and sweet but knowing that to find out it would have to cut itself open…
Great topic! There are a lot of limitations that’s for sure and what the biggest ones are depend a lot on the individual. Some that come pretty quickly to mind are physical limiitations (such as [old] age or lack of suppleness or conversely tightness in the body, and lack of balance), psychological (for example, what Charles mentioned, fear and another biggy is psychological resistence to the undersanding of ukemi), time (a big one as George pointed out), lack of good ukes (the superset of the point George was developing), even politics can be a limitation causing confusion (what they do over there is no good, only we do it correctly here [organizational hubris], which can lead to cynicism).
Amen, brother!
I think you have proven that the greatest limiting factor is our brain. It makes some of us lazy so we do not stay in shape. It creates preconceived notions of what is and is not aikido. It creates ego or fear that limit our progress. It prevents us from seeing what is really going on as the eye does not see what the brain does not know. It allows some of us to intellectualize ourselves into a corner. Despite all that we would not function well without it. The answer is to control it and of course to control the attacker’s as well in Jedi fashion.
Aaron, I recall Luke’s first meeting with the Force, as he blocked shots with his helmet blast shield down. I recall Luke being caught by the beast, and retrieving his light saber from the snow. I recall the Degobah system with Yoda showing Luke all he had to do was believe in himself and great telekinesis was possible.
These are effing movies! If a viewer can walk away with increased knowledge through metaphor, then great. The same goes for many Sci-fi movies as well as almost anything that we analyze in everyday life.
What I’m getting at is that “in Jedi fashion” belongs to Lucas’s great imagination and nothing else.
I hope I didn’t sound too ruthless; I believe I just crossed the threshold of not being able to take the Star Wars comparisons anymore. I do know Aikido can foster advancement of powers of the mind and spirit. The main problem I have with all the Star Wars connections is that there aren’t but a few born with the Force like in the movies. Rather, although I’m not sure about psychopaths (~1%), I believe almost everyone is born with that hidden or revealed, inner light.