Single-side movement

Most students seem to simply accept that when tori executes a technique (either good or bad), aite falls. Because they think thet is what is expected. Plain and simple. It takes effort to get rid of that mindset.
Dan's remark is an interesting one: it is what my teacher always says (and have Tamura heard saying on occasion): let them think they control you (in role of aite), but in fact it is still you in control. That is where taking ukemi as a teacher is interesting and I will change my ways and start doing that.

Dan Harden wrote: Nice.... First up your answer to the thread was revealing. I didn't imply...you wouldn't understand. I think your answer revealed that you didn't understand. If you wanted to say something different than what you did say...how do I own that? And hey..so what if you didn't understand?. You're a nice chap, I have no reason to imply/suggest or want people to feel bad or be wrong, otherwise I would not be taking part in discussions so more and more us..me and you...can be right! As for Saito Why is it that not knowing something belittles people? When did we become all knowing and hyper sensitive? Almost all of those guys were not conversant in Traditional weapons as well. Was there a requirement for them to be so? Are they belittled for not knowing? They admitted they were not. Yet every time one of them even whispers a word about sword everyone hushes to listen. I think the nature of your question is key to the real issue, and that was the assumption of so many Westerners that their teachers with Asian faces were all knowing, so when caught short of the full knowledge of their cultures arts...they are some how belittled. It's nonsense. There were any number of second and third son wanna-bes, ner do wells and untalented egg heads struggling in the Asian arts as we see in the West. Putting a black belt or silk outfits on them and shipping them overseas did not make them experts in any way. And please do not imply that I am saying that was Saito, or Shirata, or Shioda, etc. There were any number of these young men who willingly stated that they had no idea what Ueshiba was talking about. They were upfront and vocal about that. Should we apologize that we...do understand things that they...admit they didn't? Seriously? Would you feel better if I was a Japanese Shihan telling you that a Japanese Shihan doesn't know everything? What about actual feet on the ground, rubber meets the road, skills? What if some very real shortcomings are in existence there as well? Again are these poor guys -who otherwise do well- now required to know everything and be faulted for not knowing. Suffice to say that Asians, like everyone else, were mostly (not all) good people doing their level best, but suffered for lack of information and talent like everywhere else in the world. New translations I made a single line reference to some new translations work being done. It is irrefutable and one of the Shihan who did the previous translation work was recently asked why he mistranslated certain things, Joe. You know what he said? "I didn't know what he was talking about there." There ya go. What is true is that many times what Ueshiba was talking about is practiced in other arts (like the ICMA) every day and some of his writings are actually copies, almost word for word of Chinese material. Are we supposed to apologize, cover it up again like so many things have been, or simply tell the truth? There are many inept teachers in the arts...who wear an Asian face. In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king, so they can get away with much. Westerners wanting to import Eastern expertise, imprint it on an Asian face who has some credentials. In an era where the Aikikai is talking about the Ura of Aikido needing to be only learned and graded in Japan and Menkyos are stating that the gokui is reserved for the Japanese, and Grand master level Chinese teachers are not producing foreign grand masters, I would expect this type of complaint from an Asian teacher, not a Westerner. It is what it is. Regards Dan

Like any other group be it aikido or whatever there will always be a peer group.Like you I agree that not everyone has /makes the Grade A .I am also aware that for possible political /social/the maintainance of exclusiveness etc not all of the message of O Sensei was transmitted.My view is this with the widespread growth of Aikido a degree of dilution took place.Even at Aikikai level.
I have seen this at first hand in the U.K.Grades are sometimes self promotions.We really need to try and get back to the roots.So rather than possibly perceive me as a potential critic why do you not
perceive me as someone who genuinely want to address these important issues-better still resolve them.
I also do not doubt that a translation of any text can be subject to mis interpretation by the person translating the subject.I would be interested in any newly translated document which gave an alternative view of O senseis material. All the best , Joe.

Greg Steckel wrote: Some people call it that, but the IP guys I am familiar with don't. In short, double weight is what I described above - heavy weight in the upper and lower body of the same side with lighter weight in the other side of the body - I think we discussed that a little while ago here on Aikiweb Also, a point to remember is that when when one part of the body moves, all parts should move as in whole body connection. If you are doing something on the right side of the body, the left side side needs to be doing something as well, preferably something that counter balances the energies on the other side - think in-yo Greg

My understanding is that double weighted more or less translates to "don't commit kuzushi upon yourself".

In so much as what CXW is discussing in the following clip (4:00 onwards), it doesn't seem to have much to do with weight distribution between feet, stance or the like, directly. Rather it seems more like "don't get stuck, because....".

Of course, YMMV

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxrdPNw4Nyo