Aikido and Kempo - a good mix?

My dojo teaches both Aikido and Kempo. Since there's no extra charge for attending Kempo along with Aikido, I was wondering if it's a good idea to take both classes at the same time. Do the two arts complement each other in a major way?

Originally posted by jaxonbrown My dojo teaches both Aikido and Kempo. Since there's no extra charge for attending Kempo along with Aikido, I was wondering if it's a good idea to take both classes at the same time. Do the two arts complement each other in a major way?

Hard to give a firm answer to that. Depends on what flavors of aikido and kempo you're talking about. Some work well together, some might not be so easily meshed.

In my dojo, we study a system of jujutsu that's similar to aikido in many ways, and that is complemented with a system of kempo that meshes quite nicely.

Many of the waza are darn near interchangeable ... the underlying idea is that A: you have to know how to strike in order to gicve your partner an honest attack to use a pin or throw against, B: a punch is a pin is a throw is a strike anyway, and C: while aiki and jujutsu techniques do give you a wide spectrum of tools, sometimes it's real nice to know how to make a punch that actually works.

Unless the two systems you are studying are already integrated (I understand some of Nishio's folks do this quite well, BTW), I suggest a potential cross-trainer get a strong grounding in one art before attempting to learn a second.

Chuck

Originally posted by LOEP I suggest a potential cross-trainer get a strong grounding in one art before attempting to learn a second.

Hi Chuck;

That used to be my mantra too but like all things its degenerated into a depends. If you are totally commited to Aikido yes - make sure you have a grounding before you cross-train. Problem is that most of us really don't know what suits us in the wide world of Budo. I don't consider a year capable of delivering a strong grounding but I would suggest only one new Budo per year and then when you find what you really want increase that and limit your cross-training to what you think helps.

Originally posted by PeterR [b] Hi Chuck;[/B} Hiya! How's trix? Man, you missed one helluva seminar here in November!!! That used to be my mantra too but like all things its degenerated into a depends. I agree totally. Hell, I'm a poor example of NOT cross-training. From the start, we did jujutsu, weapons and kempo almost simultaneously. AND after a couple of years, I'd put in a class a week, most weeks, at some other dojo. However, I was not really what you'd call sane and was spending probably 20-30 hours a week training at that time, too. Most folks, they come to the dojo one or twice a week for a couple hours and go home. For most of _my_ students, cross-training is a non-issue because of the broad spectrum of what we do IN the dojo. However, if they want, I'm happy to let 'em. world of Budo. I don't consider a year capable of delivering a strong grounding but I guess we're saying the same thing in different ways. Strong grounding, maybe not. Grasp of the basics, maybe? I would suggest only one new Budo per year and then when you find what you really want increase that and limit your cross-training to what you think helps.

Sounds reasonable to me. Hope you and yours had a grand holiday season and your New Year will be dead frigging brilliant!

Chuck

Hi Chuck;

And Happy New Year to you and yours also. I was considering the seminar but with the Japan trip this summer and moving back to Japan this winter something had to give - I understand I missed a great time.

Of course we agree - haven't yet come across something where we haven't excluding a few minor variences and my preference of a good beer over whiskey.

Yes, I would say those two style complement each other nicely. I did Kenpo and danzan jujitsu (pretty soft). If you do your best in both and can accept multiple answers to the same attack then you will do fine. It is best to take styles that are very different from each other and find the common principles. Some people just like to get one thing down "perfect" before they learn the next. This attitude has benefits but is hard to cross train with. If you have an open and accepting attitude then you will have fun.

Originally posted by jaxonbrown My dojo teaches both Aikido and Kempo. Since there's no extra charge for attending Kempo along with Aikido, I was wondering if it's a good idea to take both classes at the same time. Do the two arts complement each other in a major way?