speaking about aikido

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[joff]

Have You noticed that all the people who practise aikido love to speak about it. You included. It is like a glue what sticks use together. Anyhow it is so in my dojo. When you go to Your training classes You and Your fellows for example talk about how to do correctly ukemi. And we all love it. It is like a endless story. And it is never enought for You. It seems like there is always some problem what discuss about. Sometimes I think that there is no answer for that problem. It makes me feel that aikido is uncompleated Martal art. There is always so many questions but such little answers. That is why there is so many sorts in aikido (In WingTsun even 700). And they differ very much from classic aikido. All these problems arise discussions. This discussion lasts until Your Sensei tells how is it. It is very hard to beginner to learn basic technics when every advanced aikido trainer tells his own way how to do it. As for me I know several ways how to do kokyuho. But which way is this right one???
It is how I think about it.

[Jorx]

Lao Zi:
Those who speak, do not know,
those who know won't speak...

Now... a COMPLETE martial art would be a DEAD martial art. Aikido can never be learned and it can never be taught:) that's why we do it, that's why at least I love it...

There is no "right" kokyo-ho. Yup there is ONE variant which is considered to be the basics. And that is taught by the sensei...

You have just to sort out what feels right for you... until the next time when somebody comes and says that you have got it all wrong...

There are senseis and Aikido practioners who feel the opposite way. There have been discussions here about that here. Yup in our dojo we like to talk a lot (look at the quoute in the top). I feel that helped me when I started. But there are dojos where they barely speak - only let you observe, then do the technique, observe, do, be corrected by showing - no words involved - learning only through your body.

Don't be shy to tell the big-mouth senior students that "I understand what you are saying! I have to try it out!".

Ultimately you can only learn through your OWN body and mind right? I just feel that words sometimes help...

Jorgen

[SeiserL]

Yes, I have noticed people love to talk about those things that bring them joy. Which is why this AikiWeb forum is so great. Many people talk about it. Others talk about talking about it. Either way, isn't it great to be able to share our passion with others who share it too. To all you that want to talk and practice, I thank you and look forward to sharing space and time.

Until again,

Lynn
Nidan Tenshinkai Aikido
Lucaylucay Kali JKD

[Lyle Bogin]

" As for me I know several ways how to do kokyuho. But which way is this right one???"

None of them, and all of them I think.

[batemanb]

I think talking about Aikido in forums such as this can only help to aid learning. It is always interesting to read other perspectives on any given subject, some which often cause me to stop and question my own perspective, sometimes about something which may have been taken for granted, or helping to strengthen a perspective that may have been a bit on the thin side. Either way, there is much knowledge to soak up and discussion is one method of absorbtion.

[Edward]

I think it is great fun to talk about our common passion and be able to exchange information about history, techniques, famous senseis...etc. However, as I paraphrase here my favorite quote of Osensei:

Aikido cannot be understood through words and idle talk, so shut up and practice.

(I took some liberties in the choice of words, but the meaning is intact ;) )

[Ali B]

Hey guys, I think it is great that we can all have our opinions about aikido and express them to each other in such a supportive envirionment. Not everyone in the world understands why we feel the way we do about our MA. you know? -Have you ever tried to talk about aikido to someone who doesn´t know what it is?

I live in Spain. When I came here 2 years ago I could not speak any Spanish and, as my teacher is Japanese I couldn´t understand his english very well either (sorry yuichi).

The point is the aikido transcended all of our differences.

I have to agree with edward that it is better to practice, no matter how much we might like to talk about it.