Poll: Is absolutely everyone suited to learn aikido?

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Tsubaki Kannagara Aiki Taisai - 4/27-29 Aikido, Misogi & O'sensei memorial in Shinto Jinja, Granite Falls, WA

[AikiWeb System]

AikiWeb Poll for the week of August 29, 2004:

Is absolutely everyone suited to learn aikido?

I don't do aikido
Yes
No


Here are the current results (http://www.aikiweb.com/polls/results.html?poll_id=236).

[akiy]

HIi folks,

So, anyone want to comment on how they think this week's poll (above) differs or does not differ from last week's poll?

This week's poll:

* Is absolutely everyone suited to learn aikido? - 9/4/2004
* http://www.aikiweb.com/polls/results.html?poll_id=236

Last week's poll:

* Is aikido suitable for absolutely everyone to learn? - 8/28/2004
* http://www.aikiweb.com/polls/results.html?poll_id=235

-- Jun

[billybob]

terry schiavo is in a bed across the bay from me, mainly unresponsive to outside stimuli. not a good candidate for training. all or nothing is pretty broad.

i have seen the chair bound do tai chi chuan and that is pretty cool.

billybob

[Chris Birke]

My comment is, excellent polling.

I can't speak on the nature of the bias it reveals. But I'd love to hear someone with a bit of language study speak of it.

[Edwin Neal]

thanks for the polls Jun... i amswered YES to all... i was quite surprised that the majority voted NO on the question Is everyone suitable for aikido, although the question was worded absolutely everyone... i still find it to be central to aikido that it is absolutey about 'absolutely everyone, especially those farthest from the path... the ones most in need of unity and harmony rather than excluding these people shouldn't we all have a kind of 'bottisatva' attitude of helping everyone... compassion for all and the sincere desire to help then realize and practice the principles of aikido... wouldn't this lead to more benefit for all?

all or nothing is pretty broad.

i agree this is problematic... as absolute statements usually are...

terry schiavo is in a bed across the bay from me, mainly unresponsive to outside stimuli. not a good candidate for training.

Probably not for your definition/type of training... does this mean she can do no training in any sense of the word... Ibuki is breathing... my take if you're breathing you are doing aikido... one type of training anyway, maybe that is all you can do or ever will do, but this does not make it of no benefit... if you're breathing you are producing CO2 this keeps the planet warm and helps the plants grow this is of benefit to all life... aiki...

[aikidoc]

I think it depends on how you define suited. Physically capable-no. Certain medical conditions may be made worse (bad backs, etc.). Mentally capable-perhaps depending on how you define it. Schizophrenic-not in my opinion-especially if paranoid. They might think students are after them during randori and hurt someone. I do think however it takes a certain set of physical and mental attributes to successfully pursue any martial arts.

[Edwin Neal]

agreed John, just sitting on the other end of the seesaw...