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Chris Knight wrote:
Hmm thanks Thomas. I agree. I suffer from lack of funds andfamily ties and until i can save to try to meet dan or mike or similar ive been looking online for a starter guide. I would never solely train online and my teacher trains with dan when he comes im looking for a guide in the interim to develop basics of body connection and intention etc
regards. Chris
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I see where you're coming from, Chris, and I can empathize . . . . many of us interested in training for internal connection and strength have been in the same position at one time or another. However, you need to be careful of what and how you train, and be clear on your long-term goals. It's been suggested, for example, that you get the Aunkai DVDs and train from them. I would agree with Lee that the Aunkai DVDs provide clear, detailed instruction that you can follow on your own and with a partner . . . . clear, detailed instruction on the Aunkai methods, that is. However, if your long-term goal is to supplement and develop what you are training with your own teacher who's been training with Dan Harden--then immersing yourself in the Aunkai methods may lead you away from that goal. Akuzawa and Harden do not teach the same methods and there are some significant differences--for example with respect to the place of and training of tension. Similarly, Mike Sigman also teaches skill development for internal strength and has DVDs describing the training and exercises that he advocated from several years ago--but still really good material, even if his current approach has evolved to emphasize some different things. But what Mike Sigman teaches is again not the same as what Dan Harden teaches.
I'm not saying that you cannot explore all of these training paradigms and others. The risk though is that, at your self-described beginner's stage, you may encounter conceptual and proprioceptive confusion.
One other consideration is which approach best fits into your goal of integrating the internal strength practice with aikido. I haven't trained aikido in many years, but if you check with other people you will find differing opinions as to which approach fits better into aikido. Try to find someone who's had some success with integrating one of these approaches into their aikido.
I like your thinking about integrating internal strength and connection training early on in your aikido path. Best wishes for successful training.
cheers,
Tom