Training Purpose

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[Rupert Atkinson]

The current trend is towards UFC, Pride, MMA and so on. Though they obviously create good fighters, to me, this is ‘contest’, and is not what martial arts are about (survival). In the animal kingdom, predator and prey have strengths that are honed to perfection. When I first started in martial arts as a kid that is how I saw it, and that is how I still see it. For example, Karate was conditioning yourself to be able to destroy a man with one strike. It was not wrestling. This would mean that if a Karate man met a wrestler, to win he would have to punch and kick, not wrestle, as that was his trained skill. Of course, he might lose, but that is not the point. Now, if that Karate man starts to wrestle then he is no longer doing Karate nor learning to strike and he will never be able to win with Karate as he will not be spending enough time to train the skill. It would be like a python trying to bite its victim, or a cobra trying to suffocate – against their nature. While people sometimes laugh at Karate people smashing arms and heads through bricks I think that doing such is essential if what you do is Karate.

And then to Aikido. What is the skill we are trying to train? In Karate it is the one strike to destroy (to me, anyway). So, practically speaking, what is it in Aikido? What are we doing? And if you do not know, then how are you going to achieve it?

[Kevin Leavitt]

Martial arts are many things to many people. To the UFC type guy it may be competition, or it may be something else. You don't know unless you ask the person.

Hard to sit in judgement of another's choices of hobbies, practices, or professions without walking a mile or so in their shoes!

The Dog Brothers espouse "higher consciouness through harder training." What they do is on the extreme end of things.

Surfers find peace and solace in what they do as well.

I don't think any "sane" activities (yes I'd put UFC in that category), really focuses on destroying people. In karate I always heard we are working on destroying ego, but I don't think that is really the case.

The founder of aikido and his senior students have written a great deal about what they intend aikido to be and what the expectations we should have from the art and our practice.

I'd say if one is not aligned with that purpose and/or intent, I'd really wonder why they would waste their time doing such arcane, esoteric stuff that we do!

I agree, if you do not know...then yes...how are you ever going to achieve it!

I think it is important to spend time outside the dojo reading, thinking, and/or meditating on the lessons and concepts as much as it is doing the physical practice of aikido if we are going to understand it.

Yes, doing, not thinking is very important. We must transmit the physical actions of aikido through physical practice. We can't think our way through it! But it requires an alignment and conditioning of mind, body, and spirit to accomplish the unity of what aikido attempts to develop!

Good questions!

[SeiserL]

And then to Aikido. What is the skill we are trying to train? ... So, practically speaking, what is it in Aikido? What are we doing? And if you do not know, then how are you going to achieve it?
What is your purpose for anything?
Without purpose/intent, there is no direction.
Purpose isn't found, its placed.

Big picture, to become a better person.
Small picture, to have a good time doing it.

Aikido is just one of many tools to do that.

[Aristeia]

I think the question is a fairly specific technical one? i.e. if the technical purpose of training karate is one hit one kill, what is the the technical purpose of Aikido? I would suggest blending and leading. Turning their attack into a plane of motion that you choose.

[dps]

What is the skill we are trying to train? In Karate it is the one strike to destroy (to me, anyway). So, practically speaking, what is it in Aikido?

Historically from what I have read Aikido is descendant of Aikijujutsu. Aikijujutsu was used by the Samurai that knew it( amoung other martial arts or systems) to immobilize and neutralize thier opponent for the final kill either by empty hand strike or use of weapons.

As to why people train in Aikido today, it varies greatly from martial to spiritual to personal character developement, etc, etc,.

David

[mickeygelum]

Self-fulfilment.

Whatever, that maybe to them. Martial, Spiritual or Philosophical. All or one.

I think that the correct question should be, " What do you want to accomplish from training?".

Sad reality at times, Some folks want to just look good in the dojo. Use the fact that they want to impress folks that they train in the same type of martial art that Steven Seagal does. Associate themselves with the art, what Seagal does in the movies, thus creating a imaginary person that other folks are either enamored or intimidated by.

I know my purpose for training....thanks to great teachers and focused practice, I continue to achieve my goal.

Mickey

[Kevin Leavitt]

Michael, I agree with the question you pose "what do you want?".

Really, people study this stuff because of the "Movie Seagal?"

I could see coming into the dojo with an initial interest based on what they saw in movies, couldn't imagine them staying for any length of time solely because of this.

Frankly, if I had half the ability of Seagal, i'd be very proud!

Self fullfillment, yes, I think that is important!