Blind Aikidoka

I was wondering,
Has anyone ever trained with a blind aikidoka? Does anyone know of a blind person training in Aikido?
I know of a blind boy training in Judo (well, now he's probably a highschool student), but I was wondering about Aikido.
Thanks for any information,
Anat

Not long term, but I've trained at seminars or while visiting places w/ 2 different folks who are blind. both very enjoyable experiences.
Main thing with each of them was that I had to be very clear, in either role nage or uke, about staying "sticky" in physical contact or my partner would have to come "looking for me" which meant some potentially nasty atemi! and it is incumbent on the sighted partner to ensure clear paths for the blind partner esp for ukemi.
Don't know if it is coincidental but both ended up training longer term not in aikido but in aiki-jitsu of one or another form, where there is more pinning and control, less throwing into space.

I trained, ocasionally, with a woman who was blind, and thought she was quite good. She earned her shodan, but unfortunately passed away recently from cancer.

Jeanne

Here is something I posted in another thread about looking in your opponent's eyes or not here:http://www.aikiweb.com/forums/showth...4505#post74505

I'll just copy and paste it:

While visiting Hikitsuchi Sensei's dojo in Shingu, Japan in 1998, I had the opportunity to train with a blind Aikido practioner. I think his rank was 3rd or 4th dan. During one class, the attack shown was tsuki (punch to the midsection), and I was partnered with the blind gentleman. At first I was timid about attacking him at the normal speed, but he communicated to me (mostly through gestures, he spoke no English and my Japanese was pretty bad) that he wanted me to attack full speed. I figured "O.K. you asked for it" and went ahead and punched at the normal pace, and immediately found myself flat on the mat as usual . It was a completely amazing experience. This guy could sense my timing, spacing, and intent without being able to see. He obviously doesn't have to worry about where to place his vision...of course, the rest of us are handicapped with the problem though .

Another interesting story involving the same person... He was a masseuse by profession. During class one of my fellow American friends, who was also practicing, hurt his toe by catching it in between the tatami mats. After class was over, the blind masseuse came over to my friend and pointed down towards his foot. No one had told him that my friend had hurt himself, and they were not practicing together at the time the injury occured. The masseuse, of course, went right to the toe that was hurt without being told which one...he did his massage thing...and my friend stated that his toe felt much better after. FWIW cool story, maybe with a lesson or two about preconceptions and how we limit ourselves to just the visible world.

-Mike

I have. What do you want to know?

Used to have a blind chap in our dojo years ago. The club split some time ago and I haven't seen him since I went off to Japan a few years back, I don't know if he still practices. It was great training with him, I think he got up to about 4th kyu before I went. Hi Derek (if your reading), what became of Doug?


rgds

There is at least one blind dan grade in the UK whobI trained with once. There is also a blind Judo society.

I used to have a student that was blind. He was an excelent martial artist and held black belts in 2 other arts(a grappling art that was affiliated with Gene LaBelle, and a form of wing chung). He lost his sight at around age 28 and started training after that. It was a pleasure to have him in class, learned a lot from him.

I am familiar with the fella that Mike is talking about. Definately a fun time.

I met one at a seminar recently. She was still a beginner, and I didn't get to work with her, but later she asked me about visiting Shobu, and it was an interesting experience giving her directions. Makes you really think about what kind of non-visual cues you can use to navigate.

Michael Young wrote: Here is something I posted in another thread about looking in your opponent's eyes or not here:http://www.aikiweb.com/forums/showth...4505#post74505 I'll just copy and paste it: -Mike

Was his name zatoichi? If so, watch out for his cane...

RT

We have a blind aikidoka in our dojo, he has just reached 3:th kyu and he is very interesting to practice with

We used to have a guy who got to 4th kyu. Absolutely amazing. How he coped with ukemi I'll never fully understand. Trying them with my eyes closed lead to a few bad landings. His techniques from grabs was outstanding. From strikes we devised a way of letting him know where the strike would hit and the majority of times he coped admirally. On courses and at gradings most at first could not believe he was blind. Uking for him could get interesting when he used atemis. Sharpened up your reflexes!
Hi Bryan he moved to Wales about a year ago. Last I heard from him he was looking! to train with Gwyn Jones