Tales and Phantasies of Aikibunny

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[Nicholas Eschenbruch]

Aikibunny is a ubiqitous yet most elusive creature; apparently, he (she?) makes up the large majority of aikido practitioners, yet, when have you last seen one in the flesh, that is, in the fur?

According to many, Aikibunny is a Californian rodent. He smoked too much pot in the 70s, took aikido to Esalen and then downhill from there. (Yet I once got palmsmashed in the throat and koshi-ed into oblivion by one of those Esalen pioneers, no fluffy feeling there...) Aikibunnies seem to have congregated around that Dobson guy, too, yet it would be hard to say why, after all he broke fingers and was a little rough, they say.

According to some, Aikibunny is an obese, passive aggressive intellectual: male, middle- aged. OK, those exist, but then, what is so bunny about them, sounds more like aikiwalrus. According to others, Aikibunny is probably female, emotionally all over the place, the touchy-feely neurotic who screams abuse in the midle of technique. I have only met one in more than fifteen years. Was I lucky?

Where does Aikibunny really exist? Is (s)he only a phantasy?

Is Aikibunny the dance teacher with the flowery aikido who we vaguely suspect will get off with that attractive beginner after the seminar? Is Aikibunny quite sexy in a sort of forbidden way?

Maybe I am Aikibunny myself; after all, I meditate and I do burn incense sometimes; I have not been in a physical fight since the age of fourteen. How tough do I have to be not to be an Aikibunny? Is an occasional nosebleed in my training enough or do I have to be out on the streets arresting people who may carry weapons?

If you used to be tough, but not so much anymore, would that make you an aikibunny or are you immune?

Were there any Aikibunnies before, say, 1970?
Did Aikibunny study with O-Sensei? (After the war, of course...)
Does liking the second doshu make one an Aikibunny?
Are there Shihan-Bunnies? Yoshin-bunnies or Shodo-bunnies?

Does „real aiki“ give a whole new dimension to aikibunny? The dark side of the fluff?

Aikibunny’s aikido could be improved, that’s for sure.
Are we all Aikibunny then?

Aikibunny could be Freudian rabbit.

Do you socialise with Aikibunnies on a regular basis? Do you have a bad conscience about it?

Inviting your stories about Aikibunny, real and imagined....

[Tony Wagstaffe]

Aikibunny is a ubiqitous yet most elusive creature; apparently, he (she?) makes up the large majority of aikido practitioners, yet, when have you last seen one in the flesh, that is, in the fur?

According to many, Aikibunny is a Californian rodent. He smoked too much pot in the 70s, took aikido to Esalen and then downhill from there. (Yet I once got palmsmashed in the throat and koshi-ed into oblivion by one of those Esalen pioneers, no fluffy feeling there...) Aikibunnies seem to have congregated around that Dobson guy, too, yet it would be hard to say why, after all he broke fingers and was a little rough, they say.

According to some, Aikibunny is an obese, passive aggressive intellectual: male, middle- aged. OK, those exist, but then, what is so bunny about them, sounds more like aikiwalrus. According to others, Aikibunny is probably female, emotionally all over the place, the touchy-feely neurotic who screams abuse in the midle of technique. I have only met one in more than fifteen years. Was I lucky?

Where does Aikibunny really exist? Is (s)he only a phantasy?

Is Aikibunny the dance teacher with the flowery aikido who we vaguely suspect will get off with that attractive beginner after the seminar? Is Aikibunny quite sexy in a sort of forbidden way?

Maybe I am Aikibunny myself; after all, I meditate and I do burn incense sometimes; I have not been in a physical fight since the age of fourteen. How tough do I have to be not to be an Aikibunny? Is an occasional nosebleed in my training enough or do I have to be out on the streets arresting people who may carry weapons?

If you used to be tough, but not so much anymore, would that make you an aikibunny or are you immune?

Were there any Aikibunnies before, say, 1970?
Did Aikibunny study with O-Sensei? (After the war, of course...)
Does liking the second doshu make one an Aikibunny?
Are there Shihan-Bunnies? Yoshin-bunnies or Shodo-bunnies?

Does „real aiki" give a whole new dimension to aikibunny? The dark side of the fluff?

Aikibunny's aikido could be improved, that's for sure.
Are we all Aikibunny then?

Aikibunny could be Freudian rabbit.

Do you socialise with Aikibunnies on a regular basis? Do you have a bad conscience about it?

Inviting your stories about Aikibunny, real and imagined....

I think the truth is you'll find "wimps" ( Now there shall we coin a new phrase? Aikiwimps?) them in all areas of life..... just a shame they stay wimps and infest martial arts as a whole....
I have had many wimps come to me, some have changed from wimps to useful members of society, most have left and become the dysfunctional's you see in life, fat, barely useful and complaining about their situations entirely caused by their own negative attitude....
You tell me.... Maybe it's an American thing with all the flower power during the 60's SanFrancisco and all that stuff?.... We tend to follow suit here as it's usually the latest fads that come from the States :crazy: :freaky: :eek: :D :cool:

PS we are (they) just as bad!!...... I'm just an aiki nutter!! :D ;)

[Tony Wagstaffe]

All those who like hard positive aikido put there hands up and say after me.......... I'm an aikinutter!! :eek: :D ;)

(if not,.......... shut up!)

[lbb]

"Aikibunny" is obviously a stereotype. Like all stereotypes, it has its origin in truth, or at least partial truths, and like all stereotypes, it eventually outlives its usefulness. When we're trying to understand something complex (in this case, other people's approach to aikido), we generalize and simplify so we can start to wrap our minds around it. There's nothing wrong with these as initial steps towards understanding...but we have to be willing to take it beyond that, to fill in the details that are omitted or overlooked in our first simple picture. If we fail to do so, our generalization becomes a stereotype, with as much falsehood as truth in it, and our simple understanding becomes instead simplistic, omitting the inconvenient facts that don't fit our nice neat picture.

[oisin bourke]

The most impressive martial artist I've ever met was a kyudo practicioner. He could stand in an open dojo in the freezing cold for hours on end while young strong men half his age scampered off indoors after an hour, their feet blocks of ice. This was fourteen years after he had an operation for cancer in which he had half his stomach removed.

[Ketsan]

All those who like hard positive aikido put there hands up and say after me.......... I'm an aikinutter!! :eek: :D ;)

(if not,.......... shut up!)

Yeah that'd probably be me.

[aikishihan]

As one of the founding members, I am proud to be called an "aiki bunny".

Be careful, however, you Elmer Fudds from the Continent, this wascally wabbit will chomp your carrot clean off.

In oneness,

[Ketsan]

Aikibunny is a ubiqitous yet most elusive creature; apparently, he (she?) makes up the large majority of aikido practitioners, yet, when have you last seen one in the flesh, that is, in the fur?

According to many, Aikibunny is a Californian rodent. He smoked too much pot in the 70s, took aikido to Esalen and then downhill from there. (Yet I once got palmsmashed in the throat and koshi-ed into oblivion by one of those Esalen pioneers, no fluffy feeling there...) Aikibunnies seem to have congregated around that Dobson guy, too, yet it would be hard to say why, after all he broke fingers and was a little rough, they say.

According to some, Aikibunny is an obese, passive aggressive intellectual: male, middle- aged. OK, those exist, but then, what is so bunny about them, sounds more like aikiwalrus. According to others, Aikibunny is probably female, emotionally all over the place, the touchy-feely neurotic who screams abuse in the midle of technique. I have only met one in more than fifteen years. Was I lucky?

Where does Aikibunny really exist? Is (s)he only a phantasy?

Is Aikibunny the dance teacher with the flowery aikido who we vaguely suspect will get off with that attractive beginner after the seminar? Is Aikibunny quite sexy in a sort of forbidden way?

Maybe I am Aikibunny myself; after all, I meditate and I do burn incense sometimes; I have not been in a physical fight since the age of fourteen. How tough do I have to be not to be an Aikibunny? Is an occasional nosebleed in my training enough or do I have to be out on the streets arresting people who may carry weapons?

If you used to be tough, but not so much anymore, would that make you an aikibunny or are you immune?

Were there any Aikibunnies before, say, 1970?
Did Aikibunny study with O-Sensei? (After the war, of course...)
Does liking the second doshu make one an Aikibunny?
Are there Shihan-Bunnies? Yoshin-bunnies or Shodo-bunnies?

Does „real aiki" give a whole new dimension to aikibunny? The dark side of the fluff?

Aikibunny's aikido could be improved, that's for sure.
Are we all Aikibunny then?

Aikibunny could be Freudian rabbit.

Do you socialise with Aikibunnies on a regular basis? Do you have a bad conscience about it?

Inviting your stories about Aikibunny, real and imagined....

An Aiki bunny is easy to spot: they thump the mat in alarm. You're cutting down to make ikkyo and just as your knee gets into ukes arm pit there's this "thump thump thump thump." And you look behind and your uke is hopping around like some mad hare-like ballerina with one leg alternating between waving around all over the place and thumping the mat.

[Tony Wagstaffe]

I remember during a summer gasshuku in one year of many...... During a midday break for much needed sustenance, my wife came up to me from her kyu class as the Dan grades were doing something else.... she said, "That's it!! I'm never going to practise with another woman again" I naturally asked why, she replied, "ya can't put the techniques on this lot we've got here!!
How do you mean?, I asked.... she said "I just been told that I have to do an ukemi" (after someone tried to apply a kotegaeshi on her that didn't even tickle her) she just shrugged and flipped over for her.... Since that time she refused to work with women practitioners in fear she would probably damage them..... I cannot remember the last time she practised with a woman unless teaching a waza to a woman member of our club.... She didn't have to ask them to jump!!.....:D :cool:

[Tony Wagstaffe]

As one of the founding members, I am proud to be called an "aiki bunny".

Be careful, however, you Elmer Fudds from the Continent, this wascally wabbit will chomp your carrot clean off.

In oneness,

Ha I'll just make sure I bring turnips then :rolleyes: ;) :D

[aikishihan]

Cool.

We aiki bunnies love to pickle them, and have them with hot tea and rice.

It is called Ochazuke. Made famous by the monk Takuan.

Bring plenty, cause there are a whole lot of us.......

Happy Holidays to you and yours!!!

in oneness,

[C. David Henderson]

You know, someone should speak up here in defense of rabbits.

Around here, if you go a few miles into the desert, the only rabbits are desert jacks. They aren't cute -- they're impressive. Lean, hard, and fast. I had a dog once who loved hunting rabbit. When we went skiing, she'd go hunting. She never got close to the desert jacks.

I used to love eating rabbit. Seems like the protein profile of rabbit meat is pretty much perfect for people. I can still remember the taste of the rabbit masala I cooked in the galley of a barge in S. France -- had to take the head out though....Eyes.

Then, back home, one winter morning I was driving to the dojo when I saw a small form lying near the curb. I pulled over and saw it was a rabbit that had been struck by a car. Not a jack -- the cottontails you find closer to the mountain.

Its skull was shattered, around the eye. It still was breathing.

I felt I couldn't just ignore it and then go be mindful and present -- just didn't make sense.

Nor did I much relish the thought of doing the right thing personally, with what I had at my disposal (bokken, tire iron, boot....)

So I took it to the emergency vet, figuring I might avoid the hard part of my decision.

Walked in, explained myself, and endured their curiosity. Was told, in passing, that I'd exposed myself to plague before being offered back my towel -- I declined. They took my burdens.

Haven't eaten rabbit since.

Anyway, the point being -- tough buggers, in nature.

[Tony Wagstaffe]

Cool.

We aiki bunnies love to pickle them, and have them with hot tea and rice.

It is called Ochazuke. Made famous by the monk Takuan.

Bring plenty, cause there are a whole lot of us.......

Happy Holidays to you and yours!!!

in oneness,

All sounds very healthy and bland........ Think I'll stick to the brussels, roasted turnips, beef and Yorkshire, and annoy everyone with the fall out......

And you.....;)

[Tony Wagstaffe]

You know, someone should speak up here in defense of rabbits.

Around here, if you go a few miles into the desert, the only rabbits are desert jacks. They aren't cute -- they're impressive. Lean, hard, and fast. I had a dog once who loved hunting rabbit. When we went skiing, she'd go hunting. She never got close to the desert jacks.

I used to love eating rabbit. Seems like the protein profile of rabbit meat is pretty much perfect for people. I can still remember the taste of the rabbit masala I cooked in the galley of a barge in S. France -- had to take the head out though....Eyes.

Then, back home, one winter morning I was driving to the dojo when I saw a small form lying near the curb. I pulled over and saw it was a rabbit that had been struck by a car. Not a jack -- the cottontails you find closer to the mountain.

Its skull was shattered, around the eye. It still was breathing.

I felt I couldn't just ignore it and then go be mindful and present -- just didn't make sense.

Nor did I much relish the thought of doing the right thing personally, with what I had at my disposal (bokken, tire iron, boot....)

So I took it to the emergency vet, figuring I might avoid the hard part of my decision.

Walked in, explained myself, and endured their curiosity. Was told, in passing, that I'd exposed myself to plague before being offered back my towel -- I declined. They took my burdens.

Haven't eaten rabbit since.

Anyway, the point being -- tough buggers, in nature.

I quite like rabbit myself.... sort of chickeny game ain't it......

[Tony Wagstaffe]

"Aikibunny" is obviously a stereotype. Like all stereotypes, it has its origin in truth, or at least partial truths, and like all stereotypes, it eventually outlives its usefulness. When we're trying to understand something complex (in this case, other people's approach to aikido), we generalize and simplify so we can start to wrap our minds around it. There's nothing wrong with these as initial steps towards understanding...but we have to be willing to take it beyond that, to fill in the details that are omitted or overlooked in our first simple picture. If we fail to do so, our generalization becomes a stereotype, with as much falsehood as truth in it, and our simple understanding becomes instead simplistic, omitting the inconvenient facts that don't fit our nice neat picture.

What's a neat picture Mary? Didn't see anything neat in the last ding dong I was in..... Nature of the job and it's territory I'm afraid.....:rolleyes: ;)

[C. David Henderson]

I quite like rabbit myself.... sort of chickeny game ain't it......

Chicken on it's best day doesn't taste as good as rabbit...damn that bunny.

[Tony Wagstaffe]

Chicken on it's best day doesn't taste as good as rabbit...damn that bunny.

Chicken is easier to prepare in some ways (other than the feathers) Had done a bit of plucking as my Mothers, Mother & Father used to keep chickens and rabbits..... As kids brother and I would have to try and catch one, no easy job unless they where in a pen.... Nice to eat, but the small bones can be a bit of a pain....
The only thing that used to make me wretch was the gutting.... What a stink!! :yuck:

[C. David Henderson]

Ah, yes, evceration; that's why I like smelt.

[lbb]

What's a neat picture Mary? Didn't see anything neat in the last ding dong I was in..... Nature of the job and it's territory I'm afraid.....:rolleyes: ;)

I have no idea what you're talking about, but around these parts, this (http://foodbeast.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/hostess_ding_dong.jpg) is a ding dong.

(and if that don't do it for ya, here's (http://www.600rr.net/gallery/files/1/0/5/0/9/PancakeBunny.jpg) a bunny with a pancake on its head. Classical reference (http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/pancake-bunny), don't ya know.)

[Ketsan]

You know, someone should speak up here in defense of rabbits.

Around here, if you go a few miles into the desert, the only rabbits are desert jacks. They aren't cute -- they're impressive. Lean, hard, and fast. I had a dog once who loved hunting rabbit. When we went skiing, she'd go hunting. She never got close to the desert jacks.

I used to love eating rabbit. Seems like the protein profile of rabbit meat is pretty much perfect for people. I can still remember the taste of the rabbit masala I cooked in the galley of a barge in S. France -- had to take the head out though....Eyes.

Then, back home, one winter morning I was driving to the dojo when I saw a small form lying near the curb. I pulled over and saw it was a rabbit that had been struck by a car. Not a jack -- the cottontails you find closer to the mountain.

Its skull was shattered, around the eye. It still was breathing.

I felt I couldn't just ignore it and then go be mindful and present -- just didn't make sense.

Nor did I much relish the thought of doing the right thing personally, with what I had at my disposal (bokken, tire iron, boot....)

So I took it to the emergency vet, figuring I might avoid the hard part of my decision.

Walked in, explained myself, and endured their curiosity. Was told, in passing, that I'd exposed myself to plague before being offered back my towel -- I declined. They took my burdens.

Haven't eaten rabbit since.

Anyway, the point being -- tough buggers, in nature.

The only thing with a spine that I've ever killed was a rabbit. I found it laying against a tree sorta shivering and struggling to breathe. I apologised, asked for its forgiveness, told it why and wished it a speedy and fortunate rebirth.

A sickening feeling.

[C. David Henderson]

Squirrel; airedale; water valve cover; crunch. Yes, sickening.

[Ketsan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCI18qAoKq4

Then again.............

[C. David Henderson]

Uh huh.

[Janet Rosen]

I've broken the necks of birds and field mice my neighbor's cat caught but couldn't or wouldn't finish. Made me very aware that, while I surely would also do it if I HAD to to eat-to-live, I"m glad I have the option of being mostly vegan....

[mathewjgano]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCI18qAoKq4

Then again.............

Haha! I've been thinking about this for the last few days! All this talk about bunnies killing Aikido brought it straight to mind.

I liked a lot of the questions Nicholas asked, particularly the one about tough guys who might or might not be immune to aikibunnyism: we do all bring pre-existing experiences, some of which aren't exactly fluffy. Maybe the softies need more Shodothugism and the tough guys could do with a touch of the aikibunnyism.

[Tony Wagstaffe]

I have no idea what you're talking about, but around these parts, this (http://foodbeast.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/hostess_ding_dong.jpg) is a ding dong.

(and if that don't do it for ya, here's (http://www.600rr.net/gallery/files/1/0/5/0/9/PancakeBunny.jpg) a bunny with a pancake on its head. Classical reference (http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/pancake-bunny), don't ya know.)

That's 'cause I'm on a different planet to you......:D ;)

[Tony Wagstaffe]

The only thing with a spine that I've ever killed was a rabbit. I found it laying against a tree sorta shivering and struggling to breathe. I apologised, asked for its forgiveness, told it why and wished it a speedy and fortunate rebirth.

A sickening feeling.

Yep, I sometimes feel a bit annoyed with myself when they run out into the road at night..... that dunk a dunk noise as you run over 'em....
Now the deer are a lot worse as you never know which way they will dart..... :(

[Tony Wagstaffe]

Haha! I've been thinking about this for the last few days! All this talk about bunnies killing Aikido brought it straight to mind.

I liked a lot of the questions Nicholas asked, particularly the one about tough guys who might or might not be immune to aikibunnyism: we do all bring pre-existing experiences, some of which aren't exactly fluffy. Maybe the softies need more Shodothugism and the tough guys could do with a touch of the aikibunnyism.

Hee hee! sssshhhh!! :D

[Nicholas Eschenbruch]

Great stuff folks!

So we found one self-declared Shihan-Bunny, that's one mighty sighting in the history of aiki zoology! And a Shodo-Thug seems to have admitted in passing to liking a little fluff.

The few other actual sightings seem to have been some time ago, and only by the wife of somebody, who trained with somebody.... any more sightings, real or imagined? Can we get closer to actual aikibunnies than that?

It was also established that Aikibunny, the tough little creature, could well be related to the rabbit of Caerbannog, and it may then take the Holy Handgrenade to neutralise it. Wow. Anybody trained against the Holy Handgrenade?

Cannot help to make a little freudian note that a discussion of aikibunny can lead to a conversation about breaking necks. Dont know what to do with that, though.:freaky: :crazy:

I much appreciate pancake bunny as well, though it would have to be felt if it has any real aiki/internal strength and uses appropriate groundpaths in balancing that pancake. Any takers?

[Tony Wagstaffe]

Great stuff folks!

So we found one self-declared Shihan-Bunny, that's one mighty sighting in the history of aiki zoology! And a Shodo-Thug seems to have admitted in passing to liking a little fluff.

The few other actual sightings seem to have been some time ago, and only by the wife of somebody, who trained with somebody.... any more sightings, real or imagined? Can we get closer to actual aikibunnies than that?

It was also established that Aikibunny, the tough little creature, could well be related to the rabbit of Caerbannog, and it may then take the Holy Handgrenade to neutralise it. Wow. Anybody trained against the Holy Handgrenade?

Cannot help to make a little freudian note that a discussion of aikibunny can lead to a conversation about breaking necks. Dont know what to do with that, though.:freaky: :crazy:

I much appreciate pancake bunny as well, though it would have to be felt if it has any real aiki/internal strength and uses appropriate groundpaths in balancing that pancake. Any takers?

Never tried pancake and bunny before..... Maple syrup or lemon?
Wadya reckon? :eek: :D

[Hellis]

Chicken on it's best day doesn't taste as good as rabbit...damn that bunny.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

During the second world war meat was scarce, for me to bring home a rabbit for mum, just to witness her delight and the following rabbit pie, the left overs made a appetizing stew....There was little difference in rabbit or cat once skinned.....Rabbits became rare and cats almost extint .

Henry Ellis
http://aikido-controversy.blogspot.com/

[Peter Goldsbury]

Hello Henry,

I was born in 1944, so my early childhood was just after the war. I remember ration books and have very fond memories of eating rabbit. My mother used to stew it or do it in a pie.

Speaking of aiki-bunnies, were there any in the UK? I don't remember meeting any in the dojos where I trained and I started quite a bit later than you did. Before I went to K Chiba's dojo in Chiswick, I used to train at the Budokwai, where John Cornish taught aikido. Mr Cornish thought that Aidan Smyth and I were lunatics for going to Chiba's dojo. Well, we went and never looked back, but I would never call Mr Cornish an aiki-bunny.

Best wishes,

PAG

[Hellis]

Hello Henry,

I was born in 1944, so my early childhood was just after the war. I remember ration books and have very fond memories of eating rabbit. My mother used to stew it or do it in a pie.

Speaking of aiki-bunnies, were there any in the UK? I don't remember meeting any in the dojos where I trained and I started quite a bit later than you did. Before I went to K Chiba's dojo in Chiswick, I used to train at the Budokwai, where John Cornish taught aikido. Mr Cornish thought that Aidan Smyth and I were lunatics for going to Chiba's dojo. Well, we went and never looked back, but I would never call Mr Cornish an aiki-bunny.

Best wishes,

PAG

Hi Peter

There was never any such creatures in the early days, no Ki Aikido or music and those dopey ribbons in the dojo, there was only one Aikido and that was " Traditional " ....I often smile, or perhaps grimace is more fitting when I see what goes by the name of " Traditional Aikido ".:straightf :straightf
In the beginning as I have said before, approx 90% of new students were old students of Judo, you try telling those guys they are not harmonizing with you :) The very first Aikido course/seminar was held in Devises at Graham Burts Judo Club circa 1959, there was no ill intent towards Ken Williams and myself but we were tested on every technique. I remember I took one guy so hard and high that he smashed the lighting tubes leaving the mat covered in tiny fragments of glass...It all went well and Devises Judo Club became a part of the British Aikido Council with regular course..Graham Burt went onto introduce Aikido to Canada where he sadly died in a freak accident.

Henry
Henry Ellis
http://www.british-aikido.com

[niall]

Aiki bunnies = all the aikidoka born in 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927 and 1915.

Have a good 2011 - it will be your year.

People born in the year of the Rabbit are the most fortunate. They are smooth talkers, talented, ambitious, virtuous and reserved. They have exceedingly fine taste and are regarded with admiration and trust.

http://japanese.about.com/od/japanesecultur1/a/100498.htm

[guest1234567]

Aiki bunnies = all the aikidoka born in 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927 and 1915.

Have a good 2011 - it will be your year.

http://japanese.about.com/od/japanesecultur1/a/100498.htm

Very smart Niall:)

[gregstec]

Aikibunny is a ubiqitous yet most elusive creature; apparently, he (she?) makes up the large majority of aikido practitioners, yet, when have you last seen one in the flesh, that is, in the fur?

According to many, Aikibunny is a Californian rodent. He smoked too much pot in the 70s, took aikido to Esalen and then downhill from there. (Yet I once got palmsmashed in the throat and koshi-ed into oblivion by one of those Esalen pioneers, no fluffy feeling there...) Aikibunnies seem to have congregated around that Dobson guy, too, yet it would be hard to say why, after all he broke fingers and was a little rough, they say.

According to some, Aikibunny is an obese, passive aggressive intellectual: male, middle- aged. OK, those exist, but then, what is so bunny about them, sounds more like aikiwalrus. According to others, Aikibunny is probably female, emotionally all over the place, the touchy-feely neurotic who screams abuse in the midle of technique. I have only met one in more than fifteen years. Was I lucky?

Where does Aikibunny really exist? Is (s)he only a phantasy?

Is Aikibunny the dance teacher with the flowery aikido who we vaguely suspect will get off with that attractive beginner after the seminar? Is Aikibunny quite sexy in a sort of forbidden way?

Maybe I am Aikibunny myself; after all, I meditate and I do burn incense sometimes; I have not been in a physical fight since the age of fourteen. How tough do I have to be not to be an Aikibunny? Is an occasional nosebleed in my training enough or do I have to be out on the streets arresting people who may carry weapons?

If you used to be tough, but not so much anymore, would that make you an aikibunny or are you immune?

Were there any Aikibunnies before, say, 1970?
Did Aikibunny study with O-Sensei? (After the war, of course...)
Does liking the second doshu make one an Aikibunny?
Are there Shihan-Bunnies? Yoshin-bunnies or Shodo-bunnies?

Does „real aiki" give a whole new dimension to aikibunny? The dark side of the fluff?

Aikibunny's aikido could be improved, that's for sure.
Are we all Aikibunny then?

Aikibunny could be Freudian rabbit.

Do you socialist with Aikibunnies on a regular basis? Do you have a bad conscience about it?

Inviting your stories about Aikibunny, real and imagined....

Hi Nick, sounds like you have had a lot of free time on you hands lately and maybe you have been lighting up something else along with that incense :)

Good post though and it appears it has drawn out some hidden sides of the personalities of a few of the regulars around here. :)

As for me, I am more aligned to Aiki-Bunny than Aikibunny :)

Greg

[Keith Larman]

Hi Peter

There was never any such creatures in the early days, no Ki Aikido or music and those dopey ribbons in the dojo, there was only one Aikido and that was " Traditional " ....I often smile, or perhaps grimace is more fitting when I see what goes by the name of " Traditional Aikido ".:straightf :straightf


Again, I think this is a really interesting comment. Traditional Aikido for the you guys in the UK was defined by the teachers who brought it to the UK for the UK. So defining "Traditional" was quite dependent on the teachers involved. Keep in mind that soon Tohei K would be the chief instructor while Ueshiba M was still alive and he brought his "version" of "traditional" aikido to the West Coast of the US primarily. So the question of what is "traditional" depends greatly on who you studied with. And all these guys (Abe, Abbe, Tohei, et al) were doing their thing while Ueshiba M was still alive. So if Tohei was made Chief Instructor at the headquarters while Ueshiba was still alive, wouldn't that make a good case for considering *his* version of Aikido the "traditional" or "official" version of Aikido? At least up until he resigned and Kisshomaru took over?

I would argue that there were multiple branchings that occurred and that each teacher had a significant impact on the way Aikido was perceived. Tomiki, Shioda, Tohei, et al went in their own directions to some degree. Also, self-selection tends to occur. The harder guys like Abe tended to attract those looking for a "harder" art. But keep in mind there were stories of Tohei handling Judoka himself in Hawaii. Just a bit differently. And I seem to remember interviews saying Tohei's discussion of principles and ki came about in part as a means of explaining concepts to the people in the US he was trying to teach. So the audience gets a message geared to their "inclinations" hoping to get them to understand.

Unfortunately sometimes that audience then reads vastly more into what is said. That "teaching method" becomes "absolute truth" rather than just one view into a larger picture.

Anyway, I just find the historical aspect and evolution of the art fascinating.

[guest1234567]

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll184/carinarei/YHFABR.jpg
Source http://tnbbc.blogspot.com/

[Tony Wagstaffe]

I sort of got rumblings of aikibunnyitis (we didn't call it this but had a word that rhymed with city banker) when I was reaching or nearing shodan, 1979 - 80 where suddenly we were told that doing press ups on the back of the wrists is not a good thing and will give you wrist problems later in life..... Strange why that should be as I don't get wrist problems and still manage to do 20 slowly everyday back and front... making 40, sometimes I do 50 just to keep my hand in and feeling particularly frisky!! The trick to doing good press ups is to do 'em slow.... More burn to the muscle.....
I believe one of Henry's boys has the record for this?
I started to see aikibunnyitis (city banker) appearing more and more after 1980, but never ever dreamt it would get to these proportions.......
:crazy: :yuck: :hypno: :rolleyes: :D

[Hellis]

I would agree with Tony when he suggests that these suspect people came out in the open would have been around 1980. I believe the term city banker was universal....
I remember going to see a demonstration of Aikido, the super sensei said he was sorry that the hall was too small as he usually did 40 ft throws.... I stepped on the mat and asked him to do a 4ft throw on me. He refused to even talk to me, I told him that I would visit his dojo the following week. I went to the dojo in a school. It was closed, the caretaker told me the guy had suddenly closed his class.

I have never known one person to have a proble from doing push-ups on the backs of the wrists...If you can't do them, then say they are bad....It never stopped me playing the piano, it was not having a piano that stopped me.

Henry

Henry Ellis
http://aikido-controversy.blogspot.com/

[Tony Wagstaffe]

I would agree with Tony when he suggests that these suspect people came out in the open would have been around 1980. I believe the term city banker was universal....
I remember going to see a demonstration of Aikido, the super sensei said he was sorry that the hall was too small as he usually did 40 ft throws.... I stepped on the mat and asked him to do a 4ft throw on me. He refused to even talk to me, I told him that I would visit his dojo the following week. I went to the dojo in a school. It was closed, the caretaker told me the guy had suddenly closed his class.

I have never known one person to have a proble from doing push-ups on the backs of the wrists...If you can't do them, then say they are bad....It never stopped me playing the piano, it was not having a piano that stopped me.

Henry

Henry Ellis
http://aikido-controversy.blogspot.com/

I was wondering Henry, that is it possible that these aikibunnies suffer from too much city banking, thus having the problems with their wrists? Just a thought.....

Tony :rolleyes: ;) :D

[Mary Eastland]

Okay, Tony. I, for one, really get it. You are super manly and yours is the best Aikido ever.

What you posted about your wife reminded me of the time I was practicing with a woman from another dojo at summer camp. This dojo was know for being the "real thing". The woman was the only woman from that dojo. We were both 1st kyu at the time. She threw me really hard 4 times...then it was my turn. I thought "wow...this is going to be fun." I threw her the way she was throwing me. Once. Then she got up looking a little rattled and said "why don't we go easy?" I said "sure"..I don't need to throw hard to throw well but I thought we throwing hard.

I think maybe the men in her dojo let her throw them hard and then threw her easy. Probably to protect her feminity. Right?
I know today, for me, that soft is best.
Thanks for the reminder.
Mary

[Amassus]

I'm going to agree with Mary on this one. Yes, train hard, but if you think doing push ups on your wrists will lead to really good aikido...then I think you might be missing the point of aikido.

Don't get me wrong, being physically fit is important and I am always concerned about the lethargic members of my club. However, if any of the internal training talked about around here is to be listened to, pure muscular strength is but one, small facet of the martial art.

Dean.

[Walter Martindale]

I sort of got rumblings of aikibunnyitis (we didn't call it this but had a word that rhymed with city banker) when I was reaching or nearing shodan, 1979 - 80 where suddenly we were told that doing press ups on the back of the wrists is not a good thing and will give you wrist problems later in life..... Strange why that should be as I don't get wrist problems and still manage to do 20 slowly everyday back and front... making 40, sometimes I do 50 just to keep my hand in and feeling particularly frisky!! The trick to doing good press ups is to do 'em slow.... More burn to the muscle.....
I believe one of Henry's boys has the record for this?
I started to see aikibunnyitis (city banker) appearing more and more after 1980, but never ever dreamt it would get to these proportions.......
:crazy: :yuck: :hypno: :rolleyes: :D

Well, I'm finding that after only 17 years my wrists are getting tender and don't like doing those back of hand or ridge-hand push-ups.

Physical fitness and general strength? Absolooteley!!! Yes, I know that's not how to spel it. 8-)

I used to get criticised for being too strong when I started Aikido but then lately I hear about how O-Sensei had a crushing grip and was kinda solid when he was younger... What exactly is wrong with being strong? I can learn to do the movements without much force or strength, using movement and flow to effect a technique, but if I can do pull-ups, dips, bench press, split squats with light weight (say 60 kg) and so on, what's wrong with that on top of "light" technique? Won't it make the light technique that much easier to do for a longer time, and won't it give me the option of blasting through a movement if (say) it's in situ?

My judo sensei was training in the Kodokan around the time Isao Okano was All Japan Champ. At 80 kg, he was the lightest of the era to win - after all it's an "open weight" competition - vide Yasuhiro Yamashita.
Dave (my sensei) said that he asked Okano what he did for his strength training - answer "Just Judo".. A few weeks later, Dave caught Okano in the weight room bashing some prodigious amount of steel around, and asked - "I thought you didn't do weights" - answer "this is also judo"... Photos from Okano's books - he was not a skinny little fellow - Tank, perhaps - similar in proportion to images of O-Sensei when he was in his younger years...
W

[Tony Wagstaffe]

Well, I'm finding that after only 17 years my wrists are getting tender and don't like doing those back of hand or ridge-hand push-ups.

Physical fitness and general strength? Absolooteley!!! Yes, I know that's not how to spel it. 8-)

I used to get criticised for being too strong when I started Aikido but then lately I hear about how O-Sensei had a crushing grip and was kinda solid when he was younger... What exactly is wrong with being strong? I can learn to do the movements without much force or strength, using movement and flow to effect a technique, but if I can do pull-ups, dips, bench press, split squats with light weight (say 60 kg) and so on, what's wrong with that on top of "light" technique? Won't it make the light technique that much easier to do for a longer time, and won't it give me the option of blasting through a movement if (say) it's in situ?

My judo sensei was training in the Kodokan around the time Isao Okano was All Japan Champ. At 80 kg, he was the lightest of the era to win - after all it's an "open weight" competition - vide Yasuhiro Yamashita.
Dave (my sensei) said that he asked Okano what he did for his strength training - answer "Just Judo".. A few weeks later, Dave caught Okano in the weight room bashing some prodigious amount of steel around, and asked - "I thought you didn't do weights" - answer "this is also judo"... Photos from Okano's books - he was not a skinny little fellow - Tank, perhaps - similar in proportion to images of O-Sensei when he was in his younger years...
W

Ssssshhhh!!

[Tony Wagstaffe]

Okay, Tony. I, for one, really get it. You are super manly and yours is the best Aikido ever.

What you posted about your wife reminded me of the time I was practicing with a woman from another dojo at summer camp. This dojo was know for being the "real thing". The woman was the only woman from that dojo. We were both 1st kyu at the time. She threw me really hard 4 times...then it was my turn. I thought "wow...this is going to be fun." I threw her the way she was throwing me. Once. Then she got up looking a little rattled and said "why don't we go easy?" I said "sure"..I don't need to throw hard to throw well but I thought we throwing hard.

I think maybe the men in her dojo let her throw them hard and then threw her easy. Probably to protect her feminity. Right?
I know today, for me, that soft is best.
Thanks for the reminder.
Mary

Actually Catherine (who is very feminine and beautiful to me) would only practice with the men as she hated woman bunnies and wimps.... Ask a few of the old timers from the British Aikido Association days during the 80's and you would get an idea.... They were top notch seeded randori players and were no pushovers. All said she was no pushover and quietly complained to me personally that she can be a bit rough, But that's what comes of being a daughter of a Regimental Sergeant Major I suppose?

And no my aikido isn't the best in the world, but it works and I can do it as soft as you like.... I have a theory, no in fact I know that you cannot and will not understand soft until you have practised the hard first.....
Wouldn't you agree?.....
Maybe when you reach your 60's and onwards, well yes time to take stock and ease off a bit.... That's only natural.... Have to get old sooner or late, preferably later.....
I seem to remember reading that Proff Ueshiba, although small in stature, was built like a tank and was very powerful physically.... sort of dismisses that he only did soft all his life doesn't it?:straightf

[Nicholas Eschenbruch]

So a lot of energy seems to be going into exorcising Aikibunny, with well, some repetitions happening, but maybe that is a necessary part of any good exorcism.

Aikibunny seems to be a threat to some people's masculinity, it was implied... which is an interesting perspective. On a not so unrelated note, I think we all got the point that some believe aikibunny masturbates a lot, thanks lads, can we put that point to rest now please?

If I do push-ups on the back of my wrists, am I immune to the aikibunny disease?

Still, we have not described many real encounters with Aikibunny at all; to my mind George Sensei comes quite close when he says in a parallel thread someone told him "his energy body was not very sensitive". Apart from the Shihan-bunny and the aiki-bunny (spelling...;) ) we had here, that's the first actual sighting of the pure-bred creature I would tend to confirm. But in this thread - not even ONE actual first-hand sighting in how many Pages???? No more?

Greg,
no, I dont light stuff apart from an occasional incense stick, sometimes my mind goes on these ramblings all on its own when I am not careful... :o :hypno: Aikibunny has been with me for a while as an interesting explorative tool, so writing did not take that much time actually. Train well and say hi to the aiki-bunnies you meet...

So, apart from the "things-used-to-be-much-rougher-back-then" perspective, any other explorations?

[Hellis]

So, doing push-ups on the back of your wrists misses the point of Aikido :-) :-) :-)
In the " Tadashi Abe " thread I referred to the books I proudly own from the 1950s by Abe Sensei, the books contains many photos of him doing various of these push ups. I would have enjoyed seeing someone from a distance tell Tadashi Abe that he was missing the point of Aikido.....

Henry Ellis
http://aikidoarticles.blogspot.com/

[Demetrio Cereijo]

In the " Tadashi Abe " thread I referred to the books I proudly own from the 1950s by Abe Sensei, the books contains many photos of him doing various of these push ups.

This is a bit inexact.

[Tony Wagstaffe]

So, doing push-ups on the back of your wrists misses the point of Aikido :-) :-) :-)
In the " Tadashi Abe " thread I referred to the books I proudly own from the 1950s by Abe Sensei, the books contains many photos of him doing various of these push ups. I would have enjoyed seeing someone from a distance tell Tadashi Abe that he was missing the point of Aikido.....

Henry Ellis
http://aikidoarticles.blogspot.com/

Henry,

It's funny how putting the cat in amongst the pigeons ruffles all these feathers..... I'm enjoying this......:rolleyes: :D

Tony

[Nicholas Eschenbruch]

It's funny how putting the cat in amongst the pigeons ruffles all these feathers..... I'm enjoying this......:rolleyes: :D


Well, I am certainly finding it interesting to have put the bunny in amongst the bulldogs :D

... but I doubt Demetrio is a pigeon, by the way....

[Hellis]

This is a bit inexact.

Honest !! I promise to try betterer in the future .

Henry Ellis

http://aikidoarticles.blogspot.com/

[Simone]

Hi Nick,

I'm not shure I got all the stuff... But you can enlighten me when I meet you next time...

I might have met one once on a Dan seminar... very shy creature... her attack was barely noticable. Makes it hard to use aiKIdo. So is there a subspecies called yudansha bunny?

Simone

[Hellis]

Henry,

It's funny how putting the cat in amongst the pigeons ruffles all these feathers..... I'm enjoying this......:rolleyes: :D

Tony

Tony

The link shows one of my 4th kyu's trying to be exact by missing the point of Aikido, instead he is streathening his wrists and forearms as taught by Kenshiro Abe ~ Tadashi Abe ~ Masahilo Nakazono who also missed the point..I apologise now if I fail to be exact, the result of too many years of my childhood education spent in air raid shelters.
http://aikidoellisvideo.magnify.net/video/Ellis-Schools-of-Traditional

Henry

Henry Ellis
www.british-aikido.com

[Demetrio Cereijo]

.I apologise now if I fail to be exact, the result of too many years of my childhood education spent in air raid shelters.

Don't need to apologize Ellis, I didn't know about the british government hiring piraha for teaching maths and French language to kids at that time.
:D

[Tony Wagstaffe]

Tony

The link shows one of my 4th kyu's trying to be exact by missing the point of Aikido, instead he is streathening his wrists and forearms as taught by Kenshiro Abe ~ Tadashi Abe ~ Masahilo Nakazono who also missed the point..I apologise now if I fail to be exact, the result of too many years of my childhood education spent in air raid shelters.
http://aikidoellisvideo.magnify.net/video/Ellis-Schools-of-Traditional

Henry

Henry Ellis
www.british-aikido.com

I was lucky not to have to experience that Henry.....

Exactly how I do 'em..... Well done that feller....!!!

Now I just turned 57 last June and its does me no harm at all!!.....:D ;)

Tony

[Hellis]

I was lucky not to have to experience that Henry.....

Exactly how I do 'em..... Well done that feller....!!!

Now I just turned 57 last June and its does me no harm at all!!.....:D ;)

Tony

Tony

In the 1950s, each class would start with kicking and punching exercises, followed by 200 push-ups on the back of the wrists, bunny hops ( not aikibunny hops ) then general exercises.
Then hard practice.

Henry

Henry Ellis
http://aikidoarticles.blogspot.com/

[Diana Frese]

Written in haste, "hubbie dear" needs his computer back, but
I wanted to say that since we are a"mixed marriage" in that
he is from Shotokan karate and I am from Aikido, we have some
great discussions based on what I read on Aikiweb. Now that
he has become a judo enthusiast and has recently added
weight training we really appreciate that part of this thread. He
also studied Aikido for a while, but the cabinet business is
very time consuming.....
Anyhow I found this thread an interesting
combination of cute (the pancake bunny) and serious history
and training content. I have a knee injury, probably not from
Aikido, and haven't trained much since the early eighties but
one of my friends took class with someone who was at
NYAikikai when I was there way back when, and she said he
told her approximately that i could throw people right along
with everyone else. It's good to know. Post injury, however
I did teach a class at an art loft, no rolling for safety reasons
in a makeshift facility, so Aikido can benefit many types of
people four out of five of us had some injury and were able
to do pretty good Aikido working around them.

[Tony Wagstaffe]

Tony

In the 1950s, each class would start with kicking and punching exercises, followed by 200 push-ups on the back of the wrists, bunny hops ( not aikibunny hops ) then general exercises.
Then hard practice.

Henry

Henry Ellis
http://aikidoarticles.blogspot.com/

Henry,

(Not to be attempted by those of a weak constitution)

Personally, I use 10 exercises that incorporate basic atemi using, back elbow thrust to the rear, tegatana block and cut down, knee thrust, thrust kicks (mae geri) from a full squat, heel of hand or palm thrust, side elbow strike, double punch (from my wing chun experience) and tsuki or reverse punch, tegatana shomen uchi and tegatana yokomen uchi , 40 - 50 of each followed by the unsoku and tandoku undo exercises used in T/S aikido. I still practice all of this now including bokken and jo suburi, I also incorporate isometric/Isotonic exercise for my own use, and to those interested.

In the dojo conditioning exercises as most T/S dojo's including the b.o.w. press ups, sit ups, and so forth (I might add not 200!! but around 30 - 50 depending on dojo facility time factors!!) This is usually followed by a 3/4 hours of randori and 3/4 hours of kata, stretching at the end and misogi for one minute to calm the mind.....
Followed by a well earnt :D :) ;) pint at the nearest watering hole......
How's that?
Hope you approve Sensei.....

Tony

[Tony Wagstaffe]

Written in haste, "hubbie dear" needs his computer back, but
I wanted to say that since we are a"mixed marriage" in that
he is from Shotokan karate and I am from Aikido, we have some
great discussions based on what I read on Aikiweb. Now that
he has become a judo enthusiast and has recently added
weight training we really appreciate that part of this thread. He
also studied Aikido for a while, but the cabinet business is
very time consuming.....
Anyhow I found this thread an interesting
combination of cute (the pancake bunny) and serious history
and training content. I have a knee injury, probably not from
Aikido, and haven't trained much since the early eighties but
one of my friends took class with someone who was at
NYAikikai when I was there way back when, and she said he
told her approximately that i could throw people right along
with everyone else. It's good to know. Post injury, however
I did teach a class at an art loft, no rolling for safety reasons
in a makeshift facility, so Aikido can benefit many types of
people four out of five of us had some injury and were able
to do pretty good Aikido working around them.

You can.... if you put your mind to it....;)

[Hellis]

Henry,

(Not to be attempted by those of a weak constitution)

Personally, I use 10 exercises that incorporate basic atemi using, back elbow thrust to the rear, tegatana block and cut down, knee thrust, thrust kicks (mae geri) from a full squat, heel of hand or palm thrust, side elbow strike, double punch (from my wing chun experience) and tsuki or reverse punch, tegatana shomen uchi and tegatana yokomen uchi , 40 - 50 of each followed by the unsoku and tandoku undo exercises used in T/S aikido. I still practice all of this now including bokken and jo suburi, I also incorporate isometric/Isotonic exercise for my own use, and to those interested.

In the dojo conditioning exercises as most T/S dojo's including the b.o.w. press ups, sit ups, and so forth (I might add not 200!! but around 30 - 50 depending on dojo facility time factors!!) This is usually followed by a 3/4 hours of randori and 3/4 hours of kata, stretching at the end and misogi for one minute to calm the mind.....
Followed by a well earnt :D :) ;) pint at the nearest watering hole......
How's that?
Hope you approve Sensei.....

Tony

Tony

Although the old " Hut Dojo " was in a hut, It was actually at the back of an old pub named " The Hut "..The name of the dojo was the " Abbe School of Budo" and the birthplace of Aikido in the UK.
It was known far and wide simply as " The Hut" . After the hard training we only had to drag our tired bodies a few yards into the pub and a welcome pint of bitter.
I have shared a pint in the Hut Pub with some legends of Budo.
Kenshiro Abbe ~ Tadashi Abe ~ H Kobayashi ~ Masahilo Nakazono ~ Masamichi Noro ~ M Harada ~ M Otani ~ T Otani ~
TK Chiba ............I need a pint now :)

Henry

Henry Ellis
http://aikido-controversy.blogspot.com/

[Tony Wagstaffe]

Tony

Although the old " Hut Dojo " was in a hut, It was actually at the back of an old pub named " The Hut "..The name of the dojo was the " Abbe School of Budo" and the birthplace of Aikido in the UK.
It was known far and wide simply as " The Hut" . After the hard training we only had to drag our tired bodies a few yards into the pub and a welcome pint of bitter.
I have shared a pint in the Hut Pub with some legends of Budo.
Kenshiro Abbe ~ Tadashi Abe ~ H Kobayashi ~ Masahilo Nakazono ~ Masamichi Noro ~ M Harada ~ M Otani ~ T Otani ~
TK Chiba ............I need a pint now :)

Henry

Henry Ellis
http://aikido-controversy.blogspot.com/

Am I buying?....;) :D

[Hellis]

Am I buying?....;) :D

YES !! At long last.:) :)

Henry Ellis
http://kenshiroabbe.blogspot.com/

[Tony Wagstaffe]

Aiki bunnies = all the aikidoka born in 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927 and 1915.

Have a good 2011 - it will be your year.

http://japanese.about.com/od/japanesecultur1/a/100498.htm

Well I'm a snake then, so bunnies watch out for my fangs or I could be an anaconda and squeeze the living daylight's out of 'em..... slither.....:hypno:

[aikishihan]

Chomp!

[Tony Wagstaffe]

Chomp!

Bang!!:D ;)
Happy Crimbo Francis....

Tony

[Keith Larman]

Since Stan Pranin's aiki news came up in another thread, I was going through all my old copies and found a great editorial article in the January 8, 1977 copy of Aikinews (issue 21). Starts on page 2. It involves a conversation Stan Pranin had with Kazuo Chiba and Bruck Klickstein on the necessity for "confrontation" between partners during training.

Just thought I'd pass along the reference. If you don't have old copies or don't have the DVD with the complete archives, you can get it on the aikidojournal.com website I believe (you may need to be a member). Anyway, due to a couple discussions here recently I've been rereading the old aikinews chronologically from oldest to newest. Kinda interesting to jump back to the early 70's and slowly move forward.

[Hellis]

Well I'm a snake then, so bunnies watch out for my fangs or I could be an anaconda and squeeze the living daylight's out of 'em..... slither.....:hypno:

Tony

Perhaps the only answer to the Aiki Bunnies is a virus such as Aiki-Myxomatosis ?? :D

Henry

Henry Ellis
http://aikidoarticles.blogspot.com/

[Diana Frese]

You can.... if you put your mind to it....;)

Just got back online and want to thank Sensei Wagstaffe for the
reminder. Hard to get to dojo in this weather, truck off the road at
the moment, so "hubbie dear" agreed to train in the front
entryway.
This way I might be able to visit the local dojo after
working on some techniques here. I'd really like to train again, and
if I get back in shape people might not mind if I can't do ukemi
due to sciatica (I'm 66) as long as I do the other stuff o.k.

We're thinking of doing the standing kokyu ho exercise and the
various koshi nage (without the ukemi) for now to start with ., since my husband is fascinated by judo I thought he would like that one if I can remember it from nidan test. (My book is in my brother's storage locker, still haven;t got everyone's stuff sorted out.)
Our friend Ray is back in town so when transpo situation is better
we will drop down to his dojo for a visit.

We will study the atemi list and work on some of them too,
so thanks again.

By the way, I'm monkey year so tend to be a little disorganized
but at least our year tends to have enthusiasm I will put my
mind to it and focus. I'm embarrassed to have been out of
training so long but I hope this time I'm back for good. No
excuse, since hubbie dear can uke and there's a dojo in town
when we can get back there.

[Tony Wagstaffe]

Tony

Perhaps the only answer to the Aiki Bunnies is a virus such as Aiki-Myxomatosis ?? :D

Henry

Henry Ellis
http://aikidoarticles.blogspot.com/

Me thinks Henry that you are reading my mind.........:hypno:

Tony

[Tony Wagstaffe]

Just got back online and want to thank Sensei Wagstaffe for the
reminder. Hard to get to dojo in this weather, truck off the road at
the moment, so "hubbie dear" agreed to train in the front
entryway.
This way I might be able to visit the local dojo after
working on some techniques here. I'd really like to train again, and
if I get back in shape people might not mind if I can't do ukemi
due to sciatica (I'm 66) as long as I do the other stuff o.k.

We're thinking of doing the standing kokyu ho exercise and the
various koshi nage (without the ukemi) for now to start with ., since my husband is fascinated by judo I thought he would like that one if I can remember it from nidan test. (My book is in my brother's storage locker, still haven;t got everyone's stuff sorted out.)
Our friend Ray is back in town so when transpo situation is better
we will drop down to his dojo for a visit.

We will study the atemi list and work on some of them too,
so thanks again.

By the way, I'm monkey year so tend to be a little disorganized
but at least our year tends to have enthusiasm I will put my
mind to it and focus. I'm embarrassed to have been out of
training so long but I hope this time I'm back for good. No
excuse, since hubbie dear can uke and there's a dojo in town
when we can get back there.

If and when you get around to doing your atemi practice, start of soft and gradually work up till you can deliver your atemi with speed. Feel you have weight in your hands as though you are hitting with a hammer, its important to stay relaxed and use your hips to great effect, learn to focus your strikes at the end... When you feel you are getting this it's good to use a bag of sorts, not too heavy, (thinking about your age here) this will strengthen your wrists and teach you alignment, but again start of soft and feel your way into the bag or have your dear husband hold something for you to hit....
Just use your ingenuity a bit.... I'm sure you will manage;)
Press ups are good way to strengthen the wrists and is a good body core exercise. If ya can'y do the full press up do it from the knees or at an angle you can cope with, like using a chair to support you.....
I find gravity stretching good for the back ....
That is stand with your feet shoulder width apart, bend forward from the hip and allow gravity to stretch your spine by breathing in and out deeply, do this for at least 60 breaths.... works wonders!!

Tony

[Ian Keane]

Well I'm a snake then, so bunnies watch out for my fangs or I could be an anaconda and squeeze the living daylight's out of 'em..... slither.....:hypno:

aiki-bunny vs. anaconda (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXdFoZNkmfQ&feature=related);)