Footwork

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[genin]

Are there any online resources for aikido that focus on footwork? For instance, an image of the floor with colored footprints representing uke and nage's feet positioning at each stage of the movement. That would be really helpful when learning moves, since for me, footwork is the first thing I look at.

My problem is that since I don't train in a dojo, I have to rely on things like youtube videos and confusing diagram-based images. But if I look up a move, I get 50 completely different demonstrations of that same move. I have no idea which one is right or which one I should be emulating.

[Michael Hackett]

Aikido 3D has that feature and several others you might like. It is based on USAF technique and may or may not float your boat.

[genin]

Found this too:
http://www.helixriver.com/mediabooks/aikido/p29_shomenuchi-iriminage.html

Pretty much exactly what I was looking for. Knew it had to exist somewhere.

[Adam Huss]

This will be a bit different than what you are used to, but if you youtube some Yoshinkan movements you will run into clips where crosses are taped onto the floor. Some Yoshinkan people use this to help with their footwork and may make learning through observation on a video clip a little more clarifying.

[judojo]

Dearest Members of Aikiweb.com, Discussion about foot steps of Shodokan Aikido from Sensei Kenji Tomiki brought out the Unsoku Waza.

[Carsten Möllering]

Found this too:
http://www.helixriver.com/mediabooks/aikido/p29_shomenuchi-iriminage.html

Pretty much exactly what I was looking for. Knew it had to exist somewhere.

Problem always is:
Is this what your style / dojo / teacher is teaching?

At least it is different from the footwork, I was taught and teach.

[Basia Halliop]

Personally, I think you may just end up confused if you take a bit of footwork from one place and a bit from the other. It's very hard to see patterns or principles that way and make the connections between different things you're doing. E.g. to me it feels hard to see the basic similarities and differences between different techniques if you're using one method for one technique and bits from another for another technique...

If it was me I'd try to find one style and stick to it for some time - in person if at all possible. For me I find as I get a bit more of a base then I start getting more out of my occasional exploration of different teachers and different patterns of footwork.