Aikido and other styles

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[Shrike]

Hey,

I've just started learning another style of budo alongside my Aikido training, its called Tauramusoryu Kobujutsu.

What i would like to know is what styles do you think support your Aikido learning and work well with that?

Cheers.

[Kensai]

Well, I believe its down to the person. In some respects Aikido is a very complete system, especially in defence. So another system is not really needed. However, O Sensei did have alot of styles under his belt and I think the different perspectives that they gave him helped his ability to become invicible.

I train in Judo as well, this is because I really like grappling and the fully resisting attacker really helps me to understand Aikido better.

My advice would be to have Aikido has your base, then add on bits that you personally really enjoy. As I dont like Kicking, I dont train in it, however for those that do, study Karate or TKD for example.

Just IMHO ofcourse. :)

[SeiserL]

IMHO, just pick another style you want to study if you want to cross train. Some people like to train in something that is similiar in principle to support, as you said. Other of us like to train in something that compliments or balances Aikido. I personally also training in FMA (Filipino martial arts: kali/escrima).

Until again,

Lynn

[bob_stra]

Hey,

I've just started learning another style of budo alongside my Aikido training, its called Tauramusoryu Kobujutsu.

What i would like to know is what styles do you think support your Aikido learning and work well with that?

Cheers.
It depends on circumstances and on the persons interests. For example, I always wanted to try FMA, except there's none of it near by, so that's no good for me ;-)

Judo, because it has all sorts of "Murphy Law" moments. I figure, if you learn to do an ogoshi during randori, you've got a fairly good appreciation of it for real life.

Boxing for the same reason re: punching

Wrestling for the same reason re: close contact

MMA for the same reason re: fighting

Actually, the stuff that best supports my aikido is Feldenkrais, but that's not a martial art - more of an investigation of movement. Perhaps taichi, pakua, gymnastics, contact improv, break-dancing etc could serve a similar purpose but with a different flavour?

Finally, I have a friend who swears by "fencing" (western and eastern styles).

[mattholmes]

I personally am an advocate for training in a linear style. I think this provides an excellent base for finding the importance of the circular/sprial characteristic of aikido. I'm sure this works the other way around as well (I'm assuming that one wishes to keep aikido as the central style). Also, I find that a straight line striking style can really help out in those situations where your uke/attacker/future friend is one of those big and not-going-to-move types. Just some thoughts.

Matt

[Grasshopper]

I've always thought I'd pick up kendo or iaijutsu after gaining a few more years of aikido experience... Is there anyone out there who's done that that can share their thoughts?

Yoroshiku!

[Bronson]

The stuff I learned in tai chi blended nicely into what I later learned in aikido. Right now I'm taking iaido along with aikido, but not really to add to my aikido I just wanted to take iaido :rolleyes:
Finally, I have a friend who swears by "fencing" (western and eastern styles).
I fenced for a while before/during aikido. Looking back I think fencing really helped me with timing, instant/explosive speed, accuracy, and reading the opponents body language. The medieval armored combat I did helped with getting off-line and irimi. There's just something about moving right into someone who is trying to hit you in the head with a six foot pole with a 4lb weight on the end....what a rush :freaky:

Bronson

[sanosuke]

i heard that taichi really click with aikido, but i think it depends on the person which martial arts they want to learn. I took up TKD instead, and i find that tai sabaki is really helpful in sparring.

[Kent Enfield]

I've always thought I'd pick up kendo or iaijutsu after gaining a few more years of aikido experience... Is there anyone out there who's done that that can share their thoughts?I have, so I will.

I do both kendo and iaido. Iaido ought to teach you a lot about proper cutting technique, and moving in all sorts of ways you probably havn't thought of before (like turning and advancing while coming up out of seiza).

Kendo teaches a lot about attacking, both how and when. You'd probably also discover just how difficult it is to deal with a properly executed attack. The carried over benefits to my aikido have been a huge improvement to my striking skills, and the ability to quickly follow up an unsuccessful attack.

[bob_stra]

Kendo teaches a lot about attacking, both how and when. You'd probably also discover just how difficult it is to deal with a properly executed attack. The carried over benefits to my aikido have been a huge improvement to my striking skills, and the ability to quickly follow up an unsuccessful attack.
I have to admit a great curiosity for sword arts of all types.

I am curious to know how kendo and iado have improved your striking, especially following up after an unsucessful attack. I thought kendo was practiced as "one strike, one kill" (at least from the tv competition footage I've seen). Is there an element of randori / free play in kendo?

[gasman]

i trained TKD and taichi before I was lucky enough to come across aikido.

IMO all martial training benefits aikido as aikido benefits training in all other styles.

For fistwork I personally find chinese styles more interesting than japanese. For kicking, TKD seems like the natural option, however this style has a very repetitive training philosophy and thus has the highest injury rate as far as I know. I had to stop training TKD due to a badly strained senew in my right hip.

While I still benefit from the kick training in TKD, I found that the taichi, both techniques, stances and philosophy, was more portable into aikido.

In martial taichi you have closed and open hand attacks, grabs and (mostly low) kicks. All of which are excellent for atemi.

But I do somewhat miss full force training and have been considering taking up either boxing or jiujitsu at some point. I think that training full force will aid my aikido very much, but I would be reluctant to start combining arts as a novice. Better to get a stepping stone in place before going on to the next.

to sum up: I guess it is up to the individual, really...

[paul keessen]

as long as you don't get confused, training in more martial arts is good!! lot's of people do it! i think most peope will get more creative by different training!

peace!

[Ghost Fox]

I'm not speaking out against cross training, Goddess knows I've done my share.

I was wondering if any aikidoka have dedicated serious time to cross training within the Aikido? (e.g. Shodan in Yoshinkan, weapon scrolls from Iwama, Nidan from Aikikai Hombu, Sandan from ASU)

[deepsoup]

I was wondering if any aikidoka have dedicated serious time to cross training within the Aikido? (e.g. Shodan in Yoshinkan, weapon scrolls from Iwama, Nidan from Aikikai Hombu, Sandan from ASU)
Tetsuro Nariyama, the current technical director of the Shodokan, might be a good example of that.

His main teacher was Kenji Tomiki, but he also spent six years training as a deshi of Hirokazu Kobayashi. (At the request of Professor Tomiki, I believe.) Whilst training under Kobayashi Sensei, Mr Nariyama became an Aikikai 5th dan. (He's an 8th dan in Shodokan).

Sean

x

[Kent Enfield]

I am curious to know how kendo and iado [sic] have improved your striking, especially following up after an unsucessful attack. I thought kendo was practiced as "one strike, one kill" (at least from the tv competition footage I've seen). Is there an element of randori / free play in kendo?There's an enormous free play element in kendo, usually called jigeiko. Most clubs do jigeiko every practice. Some practices are entirely jigeiko.

It's hard to explain how kendo has improved my stiking, but I'll try. I think most of it has to do with utilizing the whole body in a coordinated manner, as well as a better sense of what is actually open and what isn't.

As to the folling up stuff, one of the cardinal rules of kendo is to always be ready to attack. Even immediately after executing an attack. So there's not the "attack and freeze" that one unfortunately sees with a lot of aikido. If you've ever seen kendo, that's what all the running through after an attack is about. If you're at a good striking distance, chances are that your opponent is too, so you don't want to stay there.

The goal is definetely "one cut, one kill," but you never assume that it worked. You always keep the option of attacking again open.

[Daniel Blanco]

MY GENERAL ANSWER TO CROSS TRAINING IS THAT IT CAN BE SOME WHAT CONFUSING; ESPECIALLY TO A BEGINNER. YOU CAN DEDICATE MORE TIME TO ONE STYLE TIL THE ART COMES NATURAL. I AM A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND AIKIDO HAS PROVEN ITSELF TO ME REPEATEDLY.TRAINING IN ONE STYLE WORKS FOR ME . PLEASE REPLY.

[akiy]

Daniel, can you please turn off your CAPS LOCK? It makes your postings very hard to read.

Thank you.

-- Jun

[Shrike]

One thing that i forgot to mention is that the club i train aikido at also has Iaido and Tauramusoryu Kobujutsu (and i don't have to pay extra to train the other two styles ;). My Sensei teaches all three styles and as such i would like to think that they support each other to some extent.

T. kobujutsu is 60% Jo techniques and 40% other old weapon techniques (Bokken, Bo etc).

What i like about it the most is that there are a lot of warming up that also strengthens the muscles you use with weapons.

Cheers.

[Kung Fu Liane]

I think any style of martial art can help with aikido training.

i started studying kung fu and tai chi before aikido, and although i had some problems to overcome (changing stances, posture, learning to ukemi, being a complete beginner again etc), i stuck with the training. now i can put what i've learnt through aikido into my chinese styles.

every style has its downfall, so learning more than one style is always a good idea, especially if the styles compliment each other. this is not to say you should try and study every martial art under the sun, that would be impossible, but 2 or 3 is great if you have the time

-Liane