Media (News): Aikido Taught in Hong Kong to Litter Enforcers

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[AikiWeb System]

7/16/2002 10:12am [from Jun Akiyama (akiy@aikiweb.com)]
Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_2131000/2131373.stm

I just got word that people enforcing the litter laws in Hong Kong are being offered three-day courses in aikido (http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_2131000/2131373.stm). As the article states, "Tommy Chan, a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, said there had been some violent reactions since officers moved from giving verbal warnings to handing out fixed penalty tickets last month" and goes on to say, "So far about 500 officers have taken the course in aikido, which uses throws and holds against an attacker."

[shihonage]

If they want to learn something valuable to their job in 3 days, they better stick to Richard Dimitri of Senshido or Peyton Quinn of RMCAT.

[DaveO]

I can't imagine how 3 days of training - intensive though it may be - could be of any help. They must know what they're doing, though.
Possibility: Do you suppose they've tailored the 3 day course to augment the Hong Kong Police's impressive regular training procedures, or teaching it as stand-alone skills? I'd be interested to see how they're doing it, and what they're learning, techniques-wise.

Dave

[L. Camejo]

Hi all,

Very interesting report. Not sure how valuable anything learnt in 3 days will be. But then again they may already have a great foundation in unarmed tactics from their general training regimen, so it may work for them.

I guess they think they will have ample opportunity to practice their techniques on the street:).

I'm not surprised that Aikido was chosen however, as it is taught to both the Tokyo and Osaka police forces for similar reasons.

Train Hard!
L.C.:ai::ki: