What style of Aikido is this???

Came across these...um, interesting..."aikido bokken" clips on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px4YbdlchMw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeWa9CbfgFI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YSvbBxbQ6E

Anyone know which Aikido style this guy is practicing? Because none of this stuff remotely resembles any kind of aiki-ken I've seen.

I'd say Kompetitive Krotty Roo, with a bit of watching TSKSR vids on youtube. There are some Korean styles that flit about like that too, but it's not my bag.

The kick in the middle of a sword kata (first clip) is a dead giveaway. Someone is making stuff up All things considered, I've seen worse...

Best,
Ron

Yeah, well...at least it's a step above this other guy's "sword style" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lueuQu62nRQ

Seriously...I'm actually more interested in the Aikido style the guy in the other videos is practicing. Says he's a 2nd kyu, and at his dojo, everyone wears white hakama until shodan. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't white hakama normally saved for high-ranking koryu practitioners?

Hi Jennifer,

I wouldn't waste too much thought on it...woo woo is out there in many flavors. I'm trying to learn to just shake my head and move on.

Best,
Ron (to make bold statements means I actually have to research it, qualify my comments, etc. Too much time involved.)

Jennifer Yabut wrote: Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't white hakama normally saved for high-ranking koryu practitioners?

I know of certain places (ie one aikido organization in Germany) that wears hakama in accordance to the practitioner's belt color (eg white belt = white hakama).

-- Jun

Jun Akiyama wrote: I know of certain places (ie one aikido organization in Germany) that wears hakama in accordance to the practitioner's belt color (eg white belt = white hakama). -- Jun

Ah...gotcha.

Ron Tisdale wrote: The kick in the middle of a sword kata (first clip) is a dead giveaway.

Generally true, although Taisha Ryu kenjutsu is a notable exception. Legit by all accounts, but their history has so many red flags you'd swear it was all made up!

I mean come on, their second head master was a Chinese pirate kung fu practitioner? Wha???

Yeah, but the kick at least (if it's the one in the begining kata) made sense in that
a) aite's sword could not be brought into play to cut off your leg yet
b) the kick actually created space for shite to draw and cut.

At least that's what I THINK was going on...didn't waste a whole lot of time on it...

Best,
Ron (that's my story and I'm sticking to it...I think...)

PS I think I remember a Doshinkan short kata where we kicked the lead leg as it came forward, halting uke's progression, and actually effecting a throw of sorts. Again though, it was before or as aite was drawing...not after the sharp pointy thing was deployed. Though I guess if uke goes into jodan you could do the same thing...oh, I have no clue...

ok, I just watched some more of that vid Chris, and ... ew...no, it may be legit but I'm pretty sure *I* wouldn't kick there...

Best,
Ron

I dont know if im right. Isnt this Iaido? Or Kenjutsu? I can tell that this is NOT anything from the Aikido Style I take, and I'd be willing to bet my own Bokken this is not Aikido.

What a hoot!

Again.

Jeez, what a shame. The kid looks like he's had some serious training. Why do that stuff?

I was impressed by some of his movement...even when he lost his balance he recovered well. Shame really.

Best,
Ron

Connor Haberland wrote: I dont know if im right. Isnt this Iaido? Or Kenjutsu?

HRRRR

sorry, do not pass go or collect $200...

This is all the Kompetitive Krotty stuff, there's a whole culture of Krotty that does these tournaments. Lots of times it's to music and it's just how flashy and fast can you move. Pretty much crap.

Some other examples of the genus:

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

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

Real Iai or kenjutsu is often quite boring, like watching dry paint...
Me from a few years ago doing a couple Shinto Ryu kata. Keep in mind we're considered kind of 'showy' for Iai. (beware, shaky hand held video ahead... click at your own risk, may cure insomnia however.)

Christian Moses wrote: Real Iai or kenjutsu is often quite boring, like watching dry paint... Me from a few years ago doing a couple Shinto Ryu kata. Keep in mind we're considered kind of 'showy' for Iai. (beware, shaky hand held video ahead... click at your own risk, may cure insomnia however.)

I loved the way you moved sooo fast, the sounds came a second after the movements. Man, lighting fast.

Seriously, it was cool to see it. Thanks for the post.

Mark

Mark Murray wrote: I loved the way you moved sooo fast, the sounds came a second after the movements. Man, lighting fast.

First you see the flash...



Yeah, my camera does this weird thing where the sound gets off almost instantly. Drives me nuts... Between that and the shaking it looks like the video is sped up, but I *swear* it wasn't. You can trust me, I'm on the internet.

My shaky hand shot that video. thats real time

Don J. Modesto wrote: What a hoot! Again. Jeez, what a shame. The kid looks like he's had some serious training. Why do that stuff?

My Iaido sensei emailed us this video clip of a high-ranking Aikido sensei twirling around his jo like a baton, with a sped-up "Hooked on Classics" as background music. I don't remember who this particular sensei was, but apparently, Saito Sensei was among the observers - and he was *not* impressed.

Man, all these videos look really cool! Both new and old forms have their place. The good thing about Aikido and Martial Art in general is that it's a living art not a dead one. Meaning it is still changing and will change with time, nothing will stay the same. This is a law of nature and of the Tao. Hopefully we can make it better than before.

This seems to be an evolution of the forms portion of martial art, just like the fighting portion has evolved into Mixed Martial Arts fighting. Where will this go? Hm...interesting to find out! Maybe we'll hit a revolution point in Aikido that will bring it to an even better point!

-Alexander

Alexander Silva wrote: This seems to be an evolution of the forms portion of martial art, just like the fighting portion has evolved into Mixed Martial Arts fighting.

Er, except it's lacking any martial validity. These kids are too young to be 'evolving' anything. It's just gymnastics, they might as well be using those ribbon things and dancing about. I'm glad people have a venue for this kind of thing, but budo it ain't.

Christian Moses wrote: Er, except it's lacking any martial validity. These kids are too young to be 'evolving' anything. It's just gymnastics, they might as well be using those ribbon things and dancing about. I'm glad people have a venue for this kind of thing, but budo it ain't.

Exactly. I don't doubt that these kids have skills (heck, I wouldn't mind having more of their gymnastic ability), but I *do* have a problem when they pass off their showboating as "real" aiki-ken or Japanese swordsmanship - which it ain't.

So what would your problem be? Why does it matter?

We do movement with weapons that O'Sensei would have loved if he thought of it.

I hear him chuckle with glee every time we practice.

Mary

Mary,

So what would your problem be? Why does it matter? We do movement with weapons that O'Sensei would have loved if he thought of it. I hear him chuckle with glee every time we practice.

Oh, really? You knew Ueshiba Sensei well enough to know what he'd love and chuckle with glee over and about? Especially pertaining to weapons practice?!? And at your dojo???

It seems that in actuality Ueshiba Sensei actually was known to be pretty critical of his senior-most students for not "getting it", for not practicing the way that he'd been trying to teach them. By their own accounts he could be pretty ornery about it sometimes.

Unless your practice far surpasses theirs I'd suggest putting the Quija board away - aikido is not about channelling (IMO).

Al Gutierrez wrote: Mary, Oh, really? You knew Ueshiba Sensei well enough to know what he'd love and chuckle with glee over and about? Especially pertaining to weapons practice?!? And at your dojo??? It seems that in actuality Ueshiba Sensei actually was known to be pretty critical of his senior-most students for not "getting it", for not practicing the way that he'd been trying to teach them. By their own accounts he could be pretty ornery about it sometimes. Unless your practice far surpasses theirs I'd suggest putting the Quija board away - aikido is not about channelling (IMO).

lol
I don't recall asking for your suggestions nor do I need them. I am happily praticing Aikido.
Mary

Hey guys,

Relax. Take it for what it is and enjoy watching or ignore it.

Even the Aikido we often do in our day-to-day practices has much less martial validity than it probably should have.

If martial validity is all you seek, then go and practice on the streets by picking a fight with anyone who looks decently capable of taking your head off. You don't need Aikido to do that.

If you do want to do Aikido and have martial validity, then you would still have to go and give out some challenges to conduct research on other styles, test out your techniques, and test your abilities.

Rock