Quote:
David Skaggs wrote:
Yes.
Effectiveness is the key to obtaining the other aspects of Aikido.
From the biographical book "The Founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba", written by Ueshiba Kisshomaru (translated and reprinted in Aiki News #62). Excerpt originally written by Okamoto Ippei and published in the November 1933 issue of Budo magazine.
"[Ueshiba] started with easy techniques using two of his students. Even for an untrained eye, it was clear that he moved very softly... However, in the meantime his students attack him with all their might and still tumble down in a shower of attacks (atemi) to their vital points.
In short his art reaches a conclusion before ordinary judo even starts its work. [The Founder] said, 'My technique is 70 percent atemi (striking) and 30 percent nage (throwing).' "
From the book "Budo Training in Aikido" (aka: Budo Renshu/ Aikijujutsu Ogi), written by Ueshiba Morihei - published in 1933. Translation by Larry E. Bieri and Seiko Mabuchi (Minato Research):
pg. 26 - "True Budo is practiced not only to destroy an enemy, it must also make him, or his own will, gladly lose his spirit (seishin) to oppose you."
http://www.aikiweb.com/forums/newrep...wreply&p=63425
(bold print by me, dps)
Aikido is 90 per cent atemi and the atemi is done at or before
the instant of contact to unbalance your opponent.
90 per cent of Aikido is done at or before the instant of contact.
To paraphrase a sensei of mine, " They should of called it (Aikido) Kuzushi.
dps |
Everyone who wishes to quote O-Sensei to express the idea that he did believe that martial effectiveness was central to the practice, always takes quites from his writing from the 30's. At that point he was doing either Daito Ryu or was just starting to call what he did Aiki Budo. It wasn't even called Aikido until 1942.
Ueshiba Aikido is really a post war art and if you read his writings from that period they evince very little concern over technical matters and especially over winning and losing. The deshi, who were not as interested in the spiritual side as the Founder used to get chewed out for sneaking out and getting in fights. The Founder specifically stated that Aikido was not for fighting.
If people really want to worry about fighting per se, then one of the styles started by the pre-war deshi, like Shioda Sensei, would make a lot of sense. Frankly, Mochizuki Sensei was doing mixed martial arts before there was a name for it.
Anyway, O-Sensei's ideas about things evolved. He died in 1969. There were 24 years of Aikido development and teaching which all the "it's about fighting" boys always ignore because it all sounded too la la.