comparing styles

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[David Pien]

I was watching a boxing video the other day and decieded to compare it to tae bo and aikido styles. My first impression is that boxing is a full-out offensive martial art delivering powerful blows whereas aikido is more on the defensive side, using your enemies own force instead of your own to cause them harm. But when I look at tae bo I see the perfect balance of power, control, defence and offence.
Please let me know what your thoughts are on this matter.

[Carl Simard]

Well, if you're happier with Tae Bo, simply continue to do it and don't start doing aikido... Simple, no ?

[PeterR]

Now I am seriously confused. I was under the impression that Taebo was just an exercise regime but here we have one guy convinced otherwise and someone else making a comment that the self defence use is overrated.

Simple question - does anybody consider TaeBo an actual combat system and what relationship is that to all those infomercials I see where there is no claim at all to martial effectiveness. Just housewives losing poundage.

[guest1234]

I haven't seen the informercials...maybe it is not something generally advertised, or taught just to a chosen few?

On another thread someone said its founder won medals in Karate, so I guess it is similar, and has a similar belt system? I wonder if one gets rank by testing, or through matches, by hours of training, or what?

David, it is nice that you like Aikido enough to keep visiting with us, though. And if Blanks Sensei is the great artist he is reported to be, I am sure he wouldn't train someone who would visit an Aikido site and bad mouth the senseis and their students there...you know, it wouldn't be honorable. But that is also stressed in your dojo, too, I'm sure. Thank you for sharing your opinion with us, Tae Bo sounds interesting and I'll keep an eye out for an informercial on it, or a demonstration.

On that note, perhaps you would be interested in the Aiki Expo happening in Las Vegas this May. Not only Aikido senseis and shihan from all over the world, but I think Karate and Aikijitsu (OK, I murdered that one, I'll admit), all coming to teach and demonstrate their arts...you might find some of it interesting.:) See you there?

[shihonage]

Originally posted by David Pien
I was watching a boxing video the other day and decieded to compare it to tae bo and aikido styles. My first impression is that boxing is a full-out offensive martial art delivering powerful blows whereas aikido is more on the defensive side, using your enemies own force instead of your own to cause them harm. But when I look at tae bo I see the perfect balance of power, control, defence and offence.
Please let me know what your thoughts are on this matter.

Tae-Bo is a cardiovascular workout which uses punching and kicking movements to accomplish it's goals.

[Erik]

Originally posted by PeterR
Now I am seriously confused. I was under the impression that Taebo was just an exercise regime but here we have one guy convinced otherwise and someone else making a comment that the self defence use is overrated.

Simple question - does anybody consider TaeBo an actual combat system and what relationship is that to all those infomercials I see where there is no claim at all to martial effectiveness. Just housewives losing poundage.

Firstly, why are we replying to this guy's one a day troll?

As with all things Tae Bo gets all tweaked around and you have the equivalent of a high school football player (ala Al Bundy) thinking he could run with the pros. Doesn't happen. But you throw a few kicks and punches and pretty soon you start thinking you could take someone.

I had a conversation with my local junk food supplier and she mentioned she does cardio kickboxing and we got talking a bit about the martial arts. I asked her if she could kick me in the head and with a perfectly straight face she said "Yes!" I think she really meant it and I suppose she could 'literally' kick me in the head but then I can kick people in the head too--if they don't try to stop me and they aren't very tall.

[Niadh]

Originally posted by ca
I haven't seen the informercials...maybe it is not something generally advertised, or taught just to a chosen few?

On another thread someone said its founder won medals in Karate, so I guess it is similar, and has a similar belt system? I wonder if one gets rank by testing, or through matches, by hours of training, or what?

David, it is nice that you like Aikido enough to keep visiting with us, though. And if Blanks Sensei is the great artist he is reported to be, I am sure he wouldn't train someone who would visit an Aikido site and bad mouth the senseis and their students there...you know, it wouldn't be honorable. But that is also stressed in your dojo, too, I'm sure. Thank you for sharing your opinion with us, Tae Bo sounds interesting and I'll keep an eye out for an informercial on it, or a demonstration.

On that note, perhaps you would be interested in the Aiki Expo happening in Las Vegas this May. Not only Aikido senseis and shihan from all over the world, but I think Karate and Aikijitsu (OK, I murdered that one, I'll admit), all coming to teach and demonstrate their arts...you might find some of it interesting.:) See you there?

Coleen, from what I have just seen of your aikido, you must be amazing to practice with. That was the most beatifully executed irimi - tenkan - kokyuonage I have ever seen here.
Niadh

[guest1234]

:o Domo arrigato:)

[Saku]

Yep, I have seen it many times in this forum. Colleen's aikido is just beatiful to read!

And they are not 'lucky punches' as you manage to do that repeatedly. So thanks Colleen! You really teach us something with every post you post.


Cheers,
Saku:)

[mle]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by David Pien
I was watching a boxing video the other day and decieded to compare it to tae bo and aikido styles.

Like comparing apples and tomoatoes. Both are fruit, more or less, but very, very different.

The path ain't about comparing. It's about learning. And that's a deeper idea than I suspect you can really plumb right now. Stay in training, mature up a bit, get some real perspective.

I read that you have 'done martial arts all your life' -- And how long has that been? Me, I've been studying martial arts for almost 30 years, boy and man. Traditional karate, kempo, full-contact karate, a little escrima, etc. Mostly jujutsu, kenjutsu. My central style, the one I teach and have trained in for most of that time is a broad system of jujutsu and weapons.

My life has been centered around budo for a couple of decades, it helps define who I am and what I am. And the deeper I get into this, the more I understand that it ain't about who can beat who, it's about me being me.

My first impression is that boxing is a full-out offensive martial art delivering powerful blows

Sort of. Boxing isn't really a martial ART it is a martial (combative) sport. Can boxing be artistic? Sure. Is boxing and art form? No. It's a sport. Complete with rules, competitions, standards, stars superstars and fans.

whereas aikido is more on the defensive side, using your enemies own force instead of your own to cause them harm.

Sort of, not complete, though. Aikido does include attack. (Ever hear the description of ikkyo -- "First, smash your opponent's face." -- According to M. Ueshiba)

But when I look at tae bo I see the perfect balance of power, control, defence and offence.

When I look at TaeBo I see a bunch of wannabe martial artists dancing and flailing about with something vaguely approximating Taekwon Do movements. Billy was a prime competitor in his time and a damn good fighter. What he built in Tae Bo is something watered down and filtered to provide the masses with the opportunity to support him in the lifestyle he has become accustomed to. Damn smart marketing, that. If you watch Blanks in action you do not see Tae Bo, you see lots of TKD leavened with some very smart and efficient body movement he developed over years in the ring. Tae Bo is aerobics with kicks, pure and simple.

If you're so enamored of TB, way are you hanging aroud with aikido folks?

You need to understand, too, that aikiod is a very, very broad field and there are styles of aikido that demonstrate very GOOD striking and smashing bits as well as the twisty, throwy bits.

Chuck (posting via Emily's account)

[Steven Scott]

Hi David,

Please forgive me but I must correct you on one thing.

B]whereas aikido is more on the defensive side, using your enemies own force instead of your own to cause them harm.[/B]

Aikido techniques do not cause harm, that particular aspect of Aikido is left to the individual, if they wish to follow down that road.

If power and control are what you seek from your training then I wish you well, but also bear in mind that there is always someone stronger, faster and better than yourself out there and in the end it is not always the better man (or woman) who wins the fight, it is generally the smartest. Likewise in nature, the animal with the greater capacity to react and think fastest, and surest, most often survives.

An Aikidoka's strength lies in their non-aggression and compassion. Not in their fists.

Boxing is a sport, a profession for money, or a hobby for trophies or whatever. Here in the UK, your art is for fitness and co-ordination.
Aikido is a Budo, a martial path, a way to fitness and defence for some, a way to self-realisation and self-development to others.

I hope you can see then that niether can be compared, in essence, and from that standpoint no arts can, or should be.

Find some contentment in what you do, be happy with thatision and do not look for comparisons or contradictions in yourself and your art. Not arrogance or aloofness, just accept that our arts are different and move.

Whatever you are seeking, I hope you find it.

[Jem8472]

TaeBo I thought was just something to get you fit. If you watch it you may see some good punches and kicks, but what happens when say one of the people that do TaeBo actually hits something/someone? Do they know if you don't connect correctly you can easily twist break your wrist??

They may look good but if all you learn are Kartas (I don't like learning kartas) then how are you going to adapt? That is what I love about Aikido you might learn set moves but (in my Dojo anyway) we are told to play with the moves and see what changes we can make to the move so it works for us. Also with playing with the move you get a chance to feel where an attack is comming from.

Also david said "Aikido is more on the defensive side" I thought it was a toatlly defensive MA! ,

"using your enemies own force instead of your own to cause them harm." Aikido is not ment to cause pain it is to be used to get rid of an attacker, if you can do it without harming them then (to me anyway) that is hat Aikido is about.

"But when I look at tae bo I see the perfect balance of power, control, defence and offence."

I don't think that there is any perfect MA, because if you remember we are only human and we make mistakes, so no MA can be perfect, because we cant get it perfect every time!

Jem
www.aikido-dynamic.co.uk

[unsound000]

David,
I have to agree with you. I'm thinking about changing my art now. Where can I get more information on tae bo?

thanks


Originally posted by David Pien
I was watching a boxing video the other day and decieded to compare it to tae bo and aikido styles. My first impression is that boxing is a full-out offensive martial art delivering powerful blows whereas aikido is more on the defensive side, using your enemies own force instead of your own to cause them harm. But when I look at tae bo I see the perfect balance of power, control, defence and offence.
Please let me know what your thoughts are on this matter.

[tedehara]

Originally posted by unsound000
David,
I have to agree with you. I'm thinking about changing my art now. Where can I get more information on tae bo?

thanks


Try taebo.com (http://www.taebo.com/main.html) and billyblanks.com (http://www.billyblanks.com).

Originally posted by David Pien
...But when I look at tae bo I see the perfect balance of power, control, defence and offence....

I see that also, but only in your better aikidoists. :)

It's not the martial art that is better. It's always the martial artist.

Just because something is popular, it doesn't mean you can dismiss it out-of-hand. If something is popular, you are more likely to get someone real good, since sheer numbers would indicate that the best would be really good to stand head-and-shoulders above the crowd.

Tae Bo like Aikido, is something that you get what you put into it.