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Shwance 07-31-2000 11:10 PM

Hello

I just helped my friend find a local place to learn Jeet Kune Do and in my search I came across the art of Aikido and became interested. My mom would also like it if I got another activity other then friends and the computer. She tried to get me into Kung fu but that wasnt my style. I didnt like the whole focus on kicking and punching, the whole idea of hurting people even though it was self defense. In my readings about Aikido I found alot of topics on throws and such. Id prefer to throw my opponent and if need be hit them with a fist or a kick but mainly if i could sideswipe there attack and throw them to the ground Id feel alot better.

I know there are different versions of Aikido and I was curious if anyone who takes a certain style of this martial art if they could tell me about their training routine as in what "moves" you learn, if they are physical blow oriented or more tossing your opponent. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

JJF 08-01-2000 01:47 AM

I'll give it a try....
 
Hi Shwance!

I haven't practised for very long, and from your description I think I can say, that most styles of Aikido will fit you just fine.

However I will give it a try:
I myself practice the so-called Aikikai-style. As far as I know, that's the style taught in the Main-dojo of Aikido in Japan. Each Sensei that teach this style adds small differ-ences and a personal touch to it. I practice the style created by Shoji Nishio Sensei who travels a lot to the states and the northern part of Europe. If you go to this website you might get puzzled as it is in Swedish, but you can find a link to a page with mpeg clips that shows some of techniques practised in this style.

There is a style by a Sensei called Tomiki Sensei. I know very little of this, but as I un-derstand, the main difference between this style and most of the other styles of Aikido is, that in Tomiki style Aikido it is common to have competitions, which is otherwise considered impossible in most other styles.

In O-Sensei's old dojo in Iwama (a small Japanese village) one of O-Senseis very close students called Saito Sensei teaches Iwamaryu Aikido. It is claimed that this style is taught the way O-Sensei thought Aikido just before he past away. I cannot explain to you exactly what makes it different from Aikikai aikido, so you will have to ask some-body else if you want to look into that.

Some dojo's put a lot of attention to the effectiveness of the techniques - while other dojo's focus more on Aikido as a means toward enlightenment. What suits you best is for you to find out.

I guess the best advice I can give you is to go and watch classes in a couple of dojo's and perhaps talk to some of the instructors or senior students. Ask them what style they practice and what they consider great about it. Take some time to decide which dojo you liked. It can be for many different reasons, but remember that it will be a place you will spend a lot of time in and people you will see a lot, so go for the place that makes you feel the least uncomfortably.

I hope this helps. If you have questions to my answer then post them or mail me. I'll be happy to try and help you.

The best of luck

JJF 08-01-2000 01:51 AM

whoops - here's the link....
 
http://hem.passagen.se/hafstrom/

Sorry!

Shwance 08-01-2000 10:17 AM

Cool. Thank you for the link. Im watching the mpegs now and this is certainly that art Id like to learn.

JJF 08-02-2000 01:48 AM

Where do you live ?
 
Glad to be able to help!

I think you should try to find a Aikikai dojo - and it wouldn't be bad if it was under Nishio Senseis influence. Try the dojo search.

By the way: Where do you live ? Your name gives the impression that you are german but your Profile dosen't really tell. If you live in europe there's pretty good chances of finding this type of dojo - and you can find a lot of great seminars as well. Actually one of Nishio Senseis students will be teaching a seminar in Kiel in Germany late september and theres is another seminar as well in the third week of august.

Good dojo-hunt!

Shwance 08-02-2000 10:41 AM

heh heh
 
well my username is my nickname in real life. my name is Shawn and my friends cousin gave me this nickname cause our little group of friends had nicknames like that. at first i had no idea what i meant but i liked it so i kept it even after learning its meaning.

i do have german in me but mostly irish. i live in USA in Pennsylvania.

JJF 08-03-2000 01:47 AM

Hmmmmmm
 
Guess there's no reason to invite you to visit our dojo then ..... It might be somewhat out of your way.

Pity though, since next Easter Nishio Sensei will teach a seminar here in Denmark. It's usually very inspiring - but then again, he'll probably go to the states before that.

Try taking a look at his homepage now and then. It might tell you when and where the next seminar will be:

http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~nisio/HTML/eigo.html

And you might want to take a look at:

http://www.aikikai.org/about/index_e.html

Hope you find a great dojo.

jxa127 08-03-2000 06:14 AM

Where in Pennsylvania?
 
Hey, Shwance, where in PA do you live, and where do you train? I'm in Harrisburg, and I train at Susquehanna Aikido in Red Lion, PA (near York).

-Drew A.

Shwance 08-03-2000 09:39 AM

Thanks again JJF.

I live near Pittsburgh and currently in search of a place to train.


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