Quote:
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Mark Freeman wrote:
I also realised that many of the 'standard' attacks we work with in aikido are not really effective attacks at all and therefore of little real use when searching for 'true' aikido.
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Welcome back, Mark! I've been away from the forums, too, but not quite as long as you have been.
I am quoting Mark from a post in response to Corky Quakenbush. It was a very interesting and important topic and I don't mean to take anything away from it here.
But I did want to address this statement. I hear it somewhat frequently, but like many things, it just gets mentioned in passing as if it were true, and no more analysis is required.
What are aikido's standard attacks?
Are they ineffective?
Are they unrealistic?
If so, what makes them that way? Is it the form? Is it the execution (energy/intent/intensity/focus)? Is it something else?
If they are ineffective/unrealistic, why do we practice against them?
If only the execution makes them ineffective/unrealistic, why is that so?
What are effective and realistic attacks?
Please address these questions in your responses, and then feel free to add whatever you deem necessary to further the discussion.