Mike Lee, do you go to that aikido class taught in the army platoons?
Mr. Lee's perspective is an excellent point to take -- for an example on training in extremes. Are there any folks out there who train in an environment where there is little/no martial at all?
Too much martial constipates ki, as seen in Mr. Lee's message. There is no flexibility of thought, only the road of martial. Since "martial" is more of a concept than a definition, what happens to a student when one is not seen as "martial"?
On the other hand, not enough martial is the same effect. I used to err on that side: too loose and nimbly-pimbly.
I felt the effects and I ended up losing my effectiveness in technique.
Shouldn't we ask ourselves what is useful in life off the mat? Does aiki complement martial, or is martial actually a component of aiki (the universe)?
*Phil