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Hi people. This is just a question to satisfy my curiosity, but that in the end can help you be realistic on your skills.
I don't want to enter the discassion of real fight already talked about milions of times, but the question is:
If you had to face a real fight, which one is the technique (if there is one) that you would never use? The reasons might be many, like you don't find it realible, too risky coz if you don't get it right will let your guard way too open to a counter, you think with your actual skill chances to pull out that technique are very low...and so on.
As a beginner I cannot answer to this question, because I still am not confident with none of my techniques hee hee.
I try to avoid using many Aikido techniques in multiple-partner randori. I find that they get in the way and slow me down. The ones that seem most effective for me are (the short) iriminage, kokyunage, kaitenage, and kotegaishi. It is rare that I find time to use ikkyo, unless it is into a throw, in which case it might as well be a kokyunage.
But, if I were to pick the technique that I execute most slowly and ineffectively, it would probably be shihonage.
No more Mr. Nice Guy. If another aikidoka (senior or otherwise) tries to challenge my technique he/she better be up to the same challenge from me (shihan excepted, of course).
You might just ask them who is teaching class, and point out to them that it is not them.
I had some fellow yudansha whose technique was lacking, who was of my dojo but who rarely trained, attempt to explain to me how to do a nikkyo joint lock so that it was more "effective" before they had even attacked me for the first time and even witnessed what I would do (and I had never done this technique on them in the past).
What do you think happened when I applied the joint lock? How hard and fast do you think it was applied?
And then I got this look of surprise and a "don't break my arm!"
I went on Saturday and Sunday to study at the Institute of Zen Studies (izs.org). They have Aikido on Saturday morning, and Iaido on Sunday morning. The Aikido looks Ki Society-ish but with a bit more in the way of application. The Iaido students looked very serious and impressive.
I'm really excited about this place because the instruction is solid, and because they are interested in sitting zazen, as well as tying Aikido and hara development to your state of mind in your daily life. Unfortunately, class is way early in the morning, and I would need to buy an iaito.
"You don't need to think about how that is/is done/will be done/works, etc."
"You don't need to worry about how that is/is done/will be done/works, etc."
Is there anything more demeaning than that?
Or things like..
"Its a business concern, you don't need to think about that"
That's the modern day equivalent to "don't worry your pretty little head about that" and is likewise a matter of control and serves only to remove ownership.
How is the relevant to Aikido? "Trust sensei without question" is along those same lines. It is one thing to acknowledge that one may not have the background to understand what is going on, it is another to also them to decide to avoid giving the background, or at least to delineate it.
Why should one trust someone who doesn't trust you? I guess they could ask me the same question, eh? So how does trust ever begin?
I went to the Hawaii Betsuin Aikido Club last night. That same instructor from Japan was teaching there as was teaching at the Ohana on Friday.
The space was a lot smaller and hotter, and the students were mostly younger and less senior. I saw many of the people from the Ohana at Betsuin as well for the seminar.
The Japanese instructor demonstrated the same techniques. I saw one slight altercation, but otherwise, it also looked like a good set up. Still, so hot!
I went to the Aikido Ohana Friday night.. Firstly, they have a really nice space to practice in. Secondly, they are very informal and friendly.
I saw a beginner's class. That is exactly like what I would like to see in other dojos (a lot like what I saw as a beginner in Pittsburgh, although that was concurrent, not serial).
I also happened to be there when this Japanese shihan (Yamashima-sensei and two others of some high rank, Yamaguchi-sensei, and another I can't recall) was there for a seminar. Apparently, he'll be traveling around Hawaii going to dojos all this week. Perhaps I should buy a gi and get on the mat.
It was very interesting to see how people took a seminar over here, vs. on the mainland. In addition, I got to see many of the other senior Aikido people from the island and to watch them interact and observe their techniques.
One thing I noticed here - ukes move a lot, nages don't move much at all. In addition, not so much atemi. Also, lots of on the mat casual instruction, and a lot more informality.
I went to Kane'ohe Aikido Club last night... Seemed like a nice enough place, but it was all kids, with adults instructing them. Not really a place that I can get much out of until I have kids. Next dojo..?
I went to visit a Kendo dojo last night, the Kaifukan. It seemed like a really good place to train. I need to check out more places as well. Perhaps Aikido or Hakkoryu next.
06-01-2007 12:02 PM 
