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04-10-2006, 08:57 AM
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#1
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Location: Canada
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 45
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Aikido and Traffic
Am I the only one who thinks that changing lanes, elegantly, on a busy highway during rush hours requires substantial blending skills?
So many can do it well on a hwy, and so few can do it well on the mat...
Does it mean driving a body is much more complicate business then driving a car?
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04-10-2006, 09:05 AM
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#2
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Location: Tulsa, OK
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 166
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Re: Aikido and Traffic
Usually, the other drivers are not trying to hit you.
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04-10-2006, 09:11 AM
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#3
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Location: Canada
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 45
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Re: Aikido and Traffic
Depends on your perspective - they don't hit you, but they they don't want you in either, so you have to do Irimi, not Tenkan.
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04-10-2006, 09:25 AM
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#4
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Dojo: York Shodokan Aikido
Location: York, United Kingdom.
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 406
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Re: Aikido and Traffic
Yann's rule of traffic number one: EVERYONE else on the road is trying to kill you.
Yann's rule of traffic number two: Never be in a hurry when you drive.
... nothing to do with Aikido at all...
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04-10-2006, 11:13 AM
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#5
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Location: Baltimore Maryland
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 29
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Re: Aikido and Traffic
Quote:
Dmitry Doronin wrote:
So many can do it well on a hwy,
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I don't know where you live but I'm in Baltimore and that is most definitely NOT the case
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04-10-2006, 11:50 AM
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#6
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 62
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Re: Aikido and Traffic
Well, in the UK, I've often found myself agreeing with you Dmitry, especially on roundabouts. Sometimes the circular flow can be very elegant, and sometimes people crash
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04-10-2006, 12:24 PM
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#7
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Dojo: Team Combat USA
Location: Olympia, Washington
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,376
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Re: Aikido and Traffic
in the Metro DC area...yes you have to irimi the car quite frequently. Where I live in Germany, it is not so true as most people follow the rules, drive politely, and don't have such a huge chip on their shoulder and take out their frustrations on fellow drivers!
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04-10-2006, 04:29 PM
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#8
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 20
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Re: Aikido and Traffic
I thought this thread was about various methods of avoiding oncoming vehicles. I think practicing ma-ai and zanshin while on the road are two main wazas. The other thing is being courteous and providing the uke the opening whereby you lead them to place where they cannot hurt themselves or others. A police officer said the shizoku is behind an opponent that is likely to cause trouble.
You have to remember that in America a driver license doesn't mean the driver has mastered the way.
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04-11-2006, 12:41 AM
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#9
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Dojo: Aikido Verein Esslingen
Location: Duisburg
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 193
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Re: Aikido and Traffic
Quote:
Where I live in Germany, it is not so true as most people follow the rules, drive politely, and don't have such a huge chip on their shoulder and take out their frustrations on fellow drivers!
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Really? My (British) husband always complains about the Germansī driving being egoistic, dangerous and rude... itīs nice to hear the opposite for once.
I find that aikido doesnīt only happen on the street but also when changing gears as one releases the clutch and accelerates . My husband sucks at that and I keep telling him that itīs all just blending... it hasnīt helped so far, though
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04-11-2006, 04:52 AM
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#10
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Dojo: University of Ulster, Coleriane
Location: Northern Ireland
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,654
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Re: Aikido and Traffic
I think a relaxed mind that doesn't get angry at other drivers but instead focuses on the real objective of getting somewhere is extremely beneficial (I think anger and attempts at retribution often result in accidents).
Once a van pulled out about 5 yards in front of me at a junction whilst I was going around 40 mph. There was also an oncoming car but I managed to swerve gently between the front bumper of the van and the uncoming car with only a couple of feet to spare. If I had attempted to stop or slow down I would have still hit the van. It seemed so natural and easy at the time, but about 5 minutes later I was sweating profusely as I realised I'd narrowly avoided quite a major accident (not sure what the other drivers must have felt!).
I think aikido is about doing the right thing at the right time - and this can only be achieved through not having excessive attatchment to one course of action, but by adapting.
P.S. I do believe there is a cultural/local bias which affects our driving behaviour (though Germany doesn't really come to mind when I think of this)!
Last edited by ian : 04-11-2006 at 04:54 AM.
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---understanding aikido is understanding the training method---
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04-11-2006, 05:21 AM
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#11
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Location: Orlando, FL
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,502
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Re: Aikido and Traffic
Quote:
Yann Golanski wrote:
Yann's rule of traffic number one: EVERYONE else on the road is trying to kill you.
Yann's rule of traffic number two: Never be in a hurry when you drive.
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Rule #3: Everybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and everybody driving faster is a maniac...
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04-11-2006, 06:06 AM
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#12
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Dojo: York Shodokan Aikido
Location: York, United Kingdom.
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 406
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Re: Aikido and Traffic
Quote:
Clark Bateman wrote:
Rule #3: Everybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and everybody driving faster is a maniac...
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Sorry, I'm one of those weirdos who keeps to the speed limit -- which is 30 in built area and 70 outside,,, more or less. I find it makes driving much more pleasant.
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04-11-2006, 06:34 AM
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#13
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Location: Manchester
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 29
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Re: Aikido and Traffic
Quote:
Yann Golanski wrote:
Sorry, I'm one of those weirdos who keeps to the speed limit -- which is 30 in built area and 70 outside,,, more or less. I find it makes driving much more pleasant.
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I guess that ties in with Yann's rule number 2?
I should really check my speed more, but I like to drive fast!
I'm bad... i know....
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Thanks,
Rob
"You are not truly dead until you are totally forgotten."
"Courage is the mastery of fear, not the absence of fear."
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04-11-2006, 09:06 AM
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#14
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Dojo: York Shodokan Aikido
Location: York, United Kingdom.
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 406
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Re: Aikido and Traffic
Quote:
Robert Townson wrote:
I guess that ties in with Yann's rule number 2?
I should really check my speed more, but I like to drive fast!
I'm bad... i know....
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*grins evilly* Yeah, it does...
As for driving fast, why don't you go go-carting or ralley driving? I am sure that there's a place that does either eithin 2 hours drive of your house. That way, you get to drive _really_ fast, learn how to do it properly and get a massive adrenaline rush as a bonus.
/just an idea.
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04-12-2006, 12:24 AM
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#15
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Location: Left Coast
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 4,339
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Re: Aikido and Traffic
from my mirror column on irimi:
I often joke that irimi is the operating principle of my driving: take the path of least resistance; unhesitatingly but smoothly slip into openings as they appear. So perhaps what I need to bring back to the mat is: perceive everything that comprises the attack (ma'ai really being the integration of speed, distance, intent and time that experienced drivers automatically work with), have faith that the opening is there, and simply MOVE.
and
Once again, driving a car teaches me the lesson. My standard Brooklyn style u-turn on a busy street to physically claim a parking space reveals the irimi within tenkan: there is no way this maneuver involves an iota of backing up or retreat. It is nothing less than a fully committed entry. It just happens to involve a 180 degree pivot.
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Janet Rosen
http://www.zanshinart.com
"peace will enter when hate is gone"--percy mayfield
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04-12-2006, 08:15 AM
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#16
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Dojo: Aikido of Petaluma, Petaluma,CA
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 834
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Re: Aikido and Traffic
Having experienced Janet's Irimi Driving (TM) on more than one occasion (like yesterday) I can testify that as a passenger her Entering U-turn can feel like a well executed kotegaeshe...and actually is a lovely illustration of "circle and center"!
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04-12-2006, 11:25 AM
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#17
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 74
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Re: Aikido and Traffic
I ride a motorcycle, so I guess that counts as hanmi handachi.
(It's a Ninja, appropriately.)
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04-12-2006, 01:55 PM
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#18
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Location: Canada
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 45
Offline
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Drive-by-feeling
I've been lucky (or not?) to experience a need in entering very busy lane where no one agrees to let you in, in many places; Tel Aviv and Montreal were the most impressive in this regard.
Highway is a place where use of brute force is very dangerous, even though too many do that. What I noticed is that I could do more-less elegant entry (i.e. not forcing nearby cars to hit breaks) only in drive-by-feeling mode, i.e. not thinking and considering any separate moves, but reacting instantly on the changing situation. I also noticed that even very brief hesitation while employing the opening breaks the established rapport and... I have to pull back.
Something tells me this is about how I should feel my techniques on the mat.
For some reason on the mat it appears to be much more difficult...
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04-16-2006, 11:46 PM
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#19
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 534
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Re: Aikido and Traffic
Quote:
Dennis Good wrote:
I don't know where you live but I'm in Baltimore and that is most definitely NOT the case
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haha, too true!
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A secret of internal strength?:
"Let your weight from the crotch area BE in his hands."
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04-17-2006, 02:28 AM
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#20
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Dojo: Team Combat USA
Location: Olympia, Washington
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,376
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Re: Aikido and Traffic
Sonja,
All I can tell you when I am driving on the Autobahn at 190 KPH and I come up on a car that has GB tags, is I slow down and make sure he sees me! I have had too many British Drivers pull out in front of me, or stay in the wrong lane!
Germans do seem to drive fast, and they have their own sense of the "rules". they are not patient, but they do not do many of the stupid things we do in the United states.
When I have driven in GB, once I get over the fear and brain lock of driving on the Left, I find that british drivers drive fairly patient, politley, and consistent....so yeah I guess from their perspective, Germans are a little rude...but much less so than the Wash DC area, or NYC!
Now you want to see aikido in action in traffic, try Beijing or Nanchung China! Holy cow, people, carts, bikes, and autos all in the same intersection at the same time...it is absolutely a dance of amazement! I never say aikido in action until I sat at a rush hour intersection in China!
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04-17-2006, 01:42 PM
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#21
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Dojo: seishinkan
Location: Texas City.
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 133
Offline
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Re: Aikido and Traffic
Quote:
Dennis Good wrote:
I don't know where you live but I'm in Baltimore and that is most definitely NOT the case
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If more people then not are bad drivers... maybe it's not them driving badly?
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I put my right foot in, I put my left foot out, I do the Aikipokey and throw you all about
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