Thomas Osborn
06-21-2010, 12:50 PM
6/21/10 NOTE: I forgot to add the following story to my last blog. It’s a true story about the power of Aikido in an aggressive situation.
Edward was 14 years old and had been studying Aikido since he was 4 ½ . We were at his Aunt’s for the big family Christmas dinner. His cousin’s fiancee, Jon was there. Jon was 26 and had been practicing Brazilian Jujitsu for 6 years, owned several MMA schools, and was rumored to be heavy into steroids.
We had just finished dinner and were standing around the living room while desert was being put on the table. Jon walked up to Edward, grabbed his shoulder and drew back his fist as if to punch Edward in the face.
“What would your Aikido do about this” he said.
“Your going to punch me out right here in your Mother-In-Law’s living room?”
“No. But what if we were outside?”
“Well, why don't you go outside and see.”
Jon went slamming outside. Edward sat down at the table and took a piece of chocolate cake.
After about 5 minutes standing outside in the cold and snow, Jon came bursting back in and stormed over to Edward.
“Your not outside.”
“That’s right, want a piece of cake?”
Jon looked a bit perplexed. Sort of grinned. Mussed Edwards hair. And sat down to eat.
Afterwards, I asked Edward how he felt. He said he was “scared shitless. All I could remember was Sensei saying ‘get off the line’”.
(Original blog post may be found here (http://ptsd-veterans.blogspot.com/2010/06/aikido-and-chocolate-cake.html).)
Anita Dacanay
06-22-2010, 04:40 AM
Yep, great story indeed! Thanks for sharing.