A question specificallly for those experienced in Aikido and Judo
 

What is/was it about the techniques of Aikido which keeps/kept you coming back to train more?

Re: A question specificallly for those experienced in Aikido and Judo
 

Not the techniques...its the process for me.

Asim

Re: A question specificallly for those experienced in Aikido and Judo
 

The interaction between the two arts. I love seeing the Aikido in Judo, and using the Judo in Aikido. Makes the whole process more fun.

Re: A question specificallly for those experienced in Aikido and Judo
 

I enjoy the intellectual and explorative process of Aikido training, especially in regards to development of kuzushi, kake and tsukuri through movement with the minimal use of "power and strength". Not that there's a single thing wrong with using power and strength (I say that as an Olympic weightlifting devotee)...just sometimes it's nice to "play nice".

It's also nice to work grappling off stikes, something that happens infrequently in judo. Well...then again, with some folks in randori... <_<

OTOH, there's a bunch of things in aikido that drive me insane and keep me away...but that's neither here nor there.

Re: A question specificallly for those experienced in Aikido and Judo
 

Yea, not techniques..it is the process as Asim says.

If you are in it for the techniques...I think you are wasting your time.

Re: A question specificallly for those experienced in Aikido and Judo
 

I don't see aikido being as useful to judo as judo is to aikido.

Seriously, and I'll tell ya why.

Judo is a sport with a very limited set of rules. Most aikido techniques fall outside of that ruleset. I'd venture to say a lot of the theories and postures aikidoka use are actually bad for judo randori. While there are some useful parts of aikido for judo, the majority of aikido simple does not translate well to judo.

Aikido however is lacking (at least the aikido I've seen) in the direct confrontation skills of judo. The randori of judo, the body contact throws, footsweeps, and other techniques of judo can be used in an aiki sense. The two biggest things judo gives aikido is resistance based drills/randori and ground work. These are two areas that I feel are majorly important that are often glossed over by aikidoka.

In terms of a whole self defense package, I think combining the two is better then either one alone. Aikido is going to make you think more about striking and blending (vs the push pull of judo) and judo is going to teach you to deal with adversity and stay relaxed under intense pressure. Judo will also help if the fight goes to the ground, and will help you with physical conditioning and hard body contact throws and foot sweeps often neglected in aikido.

Also people who study judo or any standing grappling sport seem to have a much better sense of when a person is off balance then those who dont.

Re: A question specificallly for those experienced in Aikido and Judo
 

Nice post Don, Thanks.

Best,
Ron

Re: A question specificallly for those experienced in Aikido and Judo
 

like them both, judo and aikido. each has its virtues. actually, I liked all martial arts. would learn them all if I could, with the exception of Iron Egg Skill Shaolin Kungfu.

Re: A question specificallly for those experienced in Aikido and Judo
 

if Iron Egg is what I think it is, an old buddy/employee of mine used to do half-time entertainment at football games by letting the place kicker try to put him in the air. No amount of misogi or diet kept him from getting crone's disease.

Re: A question specificallly for those experienced in Aikido and Judo
 

thanks