Aikido on Samurai Spirit

Hello folks. I came across this episode of a new show featuring Kyokushin practitioner and professional fighter Nicholas Pettas exploring traditional Japanese budo. This one features aikido, and I think you'll like it (especially you Shodokan and Yoshinkan folks).

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

They play the "samurai" and "never attack first" aspects pretty heavily, but is good nonethless. The iaido episode is also highly recommended.

Excellent find! Many thanks!

Excellent!

The best explanation of the basics of Aikido on video I have seen.

David

Thank you for posting this! Exactly what I needed today.

Thanks! That was an outstanding video!

Eric

^L^, Thank you very much 4 sharing..!

5 star.

This is very cool. Thanks much.

The propaganda machine strikes again!

Interesting... is that a custom yellow stick? Wow...

Last vid, did kancho get his neck chopped at 2.31? Angle of the camera wasn't good.

Ahmad Abas wrote: Interesting... is that a custom yellow stick? Wow... Last vid, did kancho get his neck chopped at 2.31? Angle of the camera wasn't good.

From what I can see on the frame-by-frame, Shioda Kancho is able to enter and Nicholas Pettas' wrist is what makes contact on Shioda Kancho's shoulder..

I have to say, it was a little reminiscent of those awful Spike TV "martial arts" shows where some goob gets initiated into the secrets of some new martial art every week (or so we are to believe)...in the tone more than the content, I guess. I suppose it's inevitable in anything intended for a general audience. Fun to watch though.

Does anyone else find it odd that Pettas kicks and then winds up with his back to Yasuhisa Shioda? Odd for a trained martial artist to attack and then leave himself so wide open.

Raul Thats a good question? i was wondering that too. the only think i can think of is that Yasuhisa Shioda drew the attack(his kick) in so much that he was left slighty off balance on the landing
(of his kick.) does anyone else have a better explanation....

That kind of kick is often seen in K-1 type fights, where kicks are allowed but strikes to the back of the head and/or grappling takedowns are not. Typically, if the kick misses, the kicker has the opportunity to simply turn around and face their opponent's again.

Of course, the other aspect of this is that the conditions of this particular encounter weren't that Pettas would attack all out with kicks and punches, but that he'd do a kick and Shioda would demonstrate an aiki response (in this case irimi).

Thanks for clearing that up, Josh. I was expecting more of a front snap kick or something similar--a kick that would keep the attacker's body oriented forward. But Pettas comes from a different background that I am not familiar with.

Raul

Perhaps Shioda Kancho managed to truly draw out Pettas kick and make him over-commit, but considering the demonstrative nature of the exchange, I doubt Pettas had the mindset to commit to any action, let alone overcommit. I'd think one would commit when a target was clear and accessible AND one had the intention of truly finishing that target off - with a demonstration like this, I doubt Pettas had any intention of making his blow connect.

To me, it seemed more like there was a bit of a gentleman's agreement going on - Pettas needed a martial art to explore for his TV show, and in exchange it'd be portrayed in a positive light, so he intentionally overextended and gave his back after the kick.