Self-Defense Aikido (Video)
 

I was cruising good ol' Google, having a random curious thought of looking up self-defense dojos in Tokyo, should I ever have the chance to return.

By accident, I stumbled across this video, on the youtube channel, from one of the sites.
I thought I would share it here, for thoughts, and as always, endless and tireless debate! :drool:



It's interesting/fun seeing Aikido techniques paired with (in, dare I say, 99% of cases) very non-Aikido techniques!

EDIT: for those that would like to know what website the YouTube channel belongs:
http://tokyosafeguard.web.fc2.com/do...gado/home.html

Re: Self-Defense Aikido (Video)
 

which ones aren't aikido? i thought they were all aikido.

Re: Self-Defense Aikido (Video)
 

But I thought the claim was 99% of aikido is atemi.... :) looks like aikido to me. Not as I practice it but definitely aikido.

Re: Self-Defense Aikido (Video)
 

Looks kinda like Hapkido to me.

Re: Self-Defense Aikido (Video)
 

Contrived, lacking aliveness, zombie like compliant attacker.... clearly Aikido.

Re: Self-Defense Aikido (Video)
 

Demetrio,
Amusing comment.Joking I hope??The stuff on the vid is fairly contrived. Cheers, Joe.

Re: Self-Defense Aikido (Video)
 

I am not a fan of training where the attacker throws an attack and then just poses while nage executes a combination of moves.

Re: Self-Defense Aikido (Video)
 

Why not? Not bad at all.
Quite close to Systema, also.
:)

Re: Self-Defense Aikido (Video)
 

They were all aikido techniques!

I think I love you, Demetrio.

Re: Self-Defense Aikido (Video)
 

ya! don't you just hate that? methink, most of the self-defense videos on the net are kinda like that though. very strange.

Re: Self-Defense Aikido (Video)
 

What makes this "self-defense" and other aikido not? This is just as static and just as contrived as anything in any aikido dojo.

Re: Self-Defense Aikido (Video)
 

I can honestly say that in the three systems I have practiced in, I could say those techniques are from any one of them. There are only so many ways the body can be hit, thrown or manipulated. Eventually, martial art systems begin to overlap. Also, another question that will arise and did earlier is how are we being attacked? A defense versus a man attacking in armor is obviously different than one who isn't. A criminal will attack with far different intent and execution than a duel between two idiots in a bar fighting over status. When I started asking that question I, somewhat ashamedly, starting looking at fight and crime videos from places like youtube, liveleak or warriorspathredux. It was illuminating for someone who hasn't had those types of altercations, which I don't.

Re: Self-Defense Aikido (Video)
 

Dear Matthew,
Do not know what or where you trained in your own training.When I was in San Diego Aikikai for example , studying with Chiba Sensei /Murashige Sensei there was nothing static or contrived when you practiced in that particular dojo. If you think that this is typical of the vast majority of aikido dojos maybe you should get about more???Cheers, Joe.

Re: Self-Defense Aikido (Video)
 

Phi,
Agree with you 100%.A lot of the vids on Youtube look as though the came out of a George Romero movie. Aikido of the living dead, Zombie Irimi nage/The plague of the crap attacks.
Lets be honest the video is meant well , but the stuff shown is laughable.Then again on a positive note we would not have something to criticise if the vid was good would we?? Cheers, Joe.

Re: Self-Defense Aikido (Video)
 

I think you and I are using different definitions of the words static and contrived.

I didn't say that this video is typical of the vast majority of aikido.

Re: Self-Defense Aikido (Video)
 

The only impression I got from this video is that the guy would be fairly easy to smash.

Re: Self-Defense Aikido (Video)
 

Looks like a demo of waza to me more than anything else. I'd like to see uke a little more active in places and generally more fluid; some of the punches seemed extremely telegraphed...I like that it included somewhat atypical (for Aikido) atemi to the shins and I liked some of the ryotedori ideas around :42 (e.g. using the downward suppression to stuff/attack the knee).
...My wooden nickel.
:D

Re: Self-Defense Aikido (Video)
 

Dear Matthew,
Define your understanding of static/contrived please.Cheers, Joe.

Re: Self-Defense Aikido (Video)
 

I kinda like it. I think it could be handy to show beginners how they might use what can often feel like overly formal Aikido moves in a bit more of realistic/practical light. I think flipping the bill of his partner's hat is a good way to show/imply atemi as well. When folks are up front about "self-defense" techniques, I tend to cut them some slack as they're generally concerned with conveying only the most basic concepts, and of course they can't go around punching in the face either. I like think of it in musical terms. To me, this is more like a free form jam session rather than a concerto, or symphony. Not a demonstration of perfect, classical techniques by any means, but some decent adaptations of familiar ones. Of course, anything that can help someone escape/avoid a violent situation is good thing. Even if it's just yelling for help. Although, yelling "Fire!" tends to be more effective, as more people will come to see what's going on, whereas they will often run away, or ignore you if you simply yell for "help!" :/