Aikido topic in a public non-MA forum going reasonably well

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[Dan Richards]

Yesterday, with some hesitation, I started a topic about aikido in a general non-MA public forum to answer questions anyone might have. It's actually not going too badly, and is being received surprisingly well. : )

I am an Aikido black belt and instructor (Ask me anything)
http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/9n2cp/i_am_aikido_black_belt_and_instructor_ama/

[Hebrew Hammer]

LOL Rexkwando!! Do you know what that poster was referring to?

[dps]

LOL Rexkwando!! Do you know what that poster was referring to?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKmUsVeKp1o
David

[Mark Freeman]

Hi Dan,

I just read through the thread, and really enjoyed reading your responses. I was pleased that the level of questioning from the thread members stayed fairly informed (apart from an obvious few).
Well done, I think you have represented aikido in a very honest and no nonsense way.

regards,

Mark

[MikeLogan]

I'm American, and have trained about equal amounts in the US and Europe, and about equal amounts with American, European, and Japanese teachers. And I can tell you that there are a lot of Asian martial artists who have taken martial arts and destroyed them - or at least wimped them out to a large degree. One example would be the very head school of Aikikai in Tokyo - where they practice a very limited number of techniques and have the system so institutionalized and watered-down that they've squeezed nearly every last breath out of anything that was once real applicable aikido.This seems a well qualified statment to make, seeing as how you describe your training history includes time in japan, and most especially at Hombu dojo. (my only nit-pick, as I've never been to hombu, neither ;) )

On the far weightier positive side, you are maintaining a great conversation; even the mma/ufc crowd is remaining civil.

michael.

[aikibudo]

HI DAN!
just thought i would chime in and say that I have been one of dan's students and he definitely opened my eyes to new possibilities and new ways of doing techniques I thought i knew well enough. thanks for that. If you are ever in the myrtle beach area you should call dan and go train. I hear that greg guy isnt so bad either.

[Dan Richards]

Thanks for your comments, everyone. Aaron, next time you and M are here, dinner's on me. : )

I know it's difficult for anyone to step up and and truly represent the world of any martial art, but I thought I had something to add to the information pool. I thought the conversations went pretty well throughout the topic.

Interestingly enough, the topic brought its own synchronicity. I have another yudansha examination coming up, and I'm to write a paper on my view of aikido and martial arts. After reading again through the topic I started on Reddit, and what I feel were some great (some even tough and very direct) questions and comments from a general audience, I'm printing out that topic and submitting it to my examiners as part of my test.

Of course this is probably a non-traditional approachm but I think it' fitting in this age of many-to-many, at-the-speed-of-light communication. And I was reminded that the greatest teachers I've known have emphasized that martial arts need to reflect the current time, society, culture, etc in which they're practiced.

And after reading through - and also seeing comments here as well as some very generous PM's sent (that are truly) appreciated) - it dawned on me that fielding "live" questions and comments off "the street" from anyone with an internet connection is actually a way of applying aikido in a real-life situation.