Erick Mead
10-17-2006, 08:01 AM
Peter Ralls prompted a couple of questions for me that seem to be a good basis for independent discussion.
I think that cross training in several different martial arts that cover a wide spectrum is the best solution for an unarmed fighting strategy. To what extent does the difference in conceptual approaches in cross-training in other arts detract from advancement in learning aiki principles?
For instance, I view goju principles, force couples and related concepts as being predominant in judo, but almost irrelevant in purely aiki technique. I see a significant disconnect there, at least in training the body and physical reactions at cross-purposes.
What is your experience or thinking on this point? Does this disconnect exist in practice? Can it be overcome if it does, and how?