Quote:
Christopher Li wrote:
1) You're conflating a much earlier film with an interview done more than 20 years later in a different context. Nothing wrong with evading, but that doesn't mean that it's the same thing that he's talking about 20 years later in a different context. This is very different than if he had made a specific video demonstration in the context of the interview.
2) You're ignoring Greg and Carsten's comments on the subject.
3) You're ignoring a large body of discussion by Morihei Ueshiba in which he talks about "Aiki" in context in favor of a single out of context comment in an interview meant for popular consumption.
Best,
Chris
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Chris, you can look at any of Ueshiba's clips on Youtube regardless of the era and see the same thing. He demonstrates a clear pattern in his movements that fully support the statement, regardless of how you choose to interpret his words. I chose the 1935 video precisely because he is doing prewar Aikido and in fact it looks pretty much the same as what Mark Murray refers to Modern Aikido.
Examples:
First, lots of leading, blending and very little overt control:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxxb2ctulEs
Here's one where he demonstrates a more power oriented Aiki:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoDK3XuvZWw
This one contains both aspects of Aiki:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkRbVdmTmIA
You seem to be of the opinion that what I call two sides of the same Aiki coin cannot both be Aiki, or composite parts of the totality of Aiki. I don't see it that way and based on what I can see Ueshiba doing and reading from what you say is a pretty straightforward translation of his own words, I don't think he did either.
Ron