AikiWeb Aikido Forums

Taking yourself to seriously? (Janet Rosen)

Janet Rosen — 2009-11-07T13:23:54-07:00

General: Taking yourself to seriously? - 6 Replies

From: Janet Rosen on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:23:54 -0700

1. I take my training seriously. 2. I try not to take myself seriously. 3. I try to train joyously. 4. I see no inherent contradictions in # 1-3.

Bokken and jo set from Aikiwood (Paul Conway)

Paul Conway — 2009-11-07T12:46:03-07:00

Weapons: Bokken and jo set from Aikiwood - 13 Replies

From: Paul Conway on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:46:03 -0700

I recently stripped my inexpensive jo & bokken, and gave them four or five coats of Devon Wood Oil (mostly boiled linseed & tung oils). Revealed a nice grain and made them far more maneuverable. However, I also found that the jo was rather too slippery, so I gave it a wipe with a damp cloth to bring up the grain a bit. Seemed to work. Amazing what a bit of elbow grease can do for a reasonable bit of wood. I imagine the finishing side is a big part of the cost of hand-made weapons.

Bokken with longer tsuka? (Paul Conway)

Paul Conway — 2009-11-07T12:39:04-07:00

Weapons: Bokken with longer tsuka? - 10 Replies

From: Paul Conway on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:39:04 -0700

There should be an approximate one-fist gap between the right hand near the tsuba or tsuba mark, and the left hand at the base. Personal preference may vary, but I believe this is a simple though valid test for optimal tsuka length. Drew

So 3x the size of your fist? My fist is ca. 10 cm measured from the top of the second joint of my thumb to the outer edge of my little finger. That would make it about 30 cm or 11.8" - call it 12". Yes?

Intro (Jeremy Morrison)

Jeremy Morrison — 2009-11-07T11:55:57-07:00

Introductions: Intro - 1 Replies

From: Jeremy Morrison on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:55:57 -0700

Welcome!

Carnegie Mellon aikido schedule? (Jeremy Morrison)

Jeremy Morrison — 2009-11-07T11:48:13-07:00

General: Carnegie Mellon aikido schedule? - 6 Replies

From: Jeremy Morrison on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:48:13 -0700

Thank you!

Toyoda Center Accepting Uchideshi Applications in MI (Michael Hackett)

Michael Hackett — 2009-11-07T09:53:24-07:00

AikiWeb System: Toyoda Center Accepting Uchideshi Applications in MI - 5 Replies

From: Michael Hackett on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:53:24 -0700

Thanks, Alvin. This was the article that I recall best (but not well enough obviously). I've seen others as well. I appreciate your quick research - now I have some Saturday time free.

Please, advise on a dojo in Sapporo (Vadim Volkov)

Vadim Volkov — 2009-11-07T03:53:21-07:00

General: Please, advise on a dojo in Sapporo - 0 Replies

From: Vadim Volkov on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:53:21 -0700

I am going to Sapporo for 4 months from 1 December. Please, help find a Yoshinkan dojo or closest style. Dojo finder does not yeild anything. What's the Aikido scene in Sapporo in general? Thanks.

Advice on Aikido and a school/dojo. Help please (Mark Gunther)

Mark Gunther — 2009-11-06T22:01:38-07:00

General: Advice on Aikido and a school/dojo. Help please - 13 Replies

From: Mark Gunther on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:01:38 -0700

In Taekwondo you will start sparring in a month or two. You test your skills against a live opponent who is also out to tag you. He kicks, punches, side steps, closes the gap, throws a fake, constantly moving, everything fluid. You are not confined to waiting for an attack before moving into action, but have the option to initiate your own attack. Outside the dojang, you can spar against other strikers from different arts: boxing, karate, muay thai, etc. TKD provides a good cardio workout. Aikido works for real. But i think the years spent sparring helped give me a sense of distance and timing, in order to execute the aikido technique against a live opponent in the street.

Introduction (Jeremy Morrison)

Jeremy Morrison — 2009-11-06T21:28:54-07:00

Introductions: Introduction - 1 Replies

From: Jeremy Morrison on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:28:54 -0700

Welcome!

I can't seem to keep my clothes on! (Ashley Carter)

Ashley Carter — 2009-11-06T21:03:03-07:00

General: I can't seem to keep my clothes on! - 50 Replies

From: Ashley Carter on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:03:03 -0700

Glad you find all of us entertaining. :)

Noble Silence (Dean Suter)

Dean Suter — 2009-11-06T19:10:01-07:00

Spiritual: Noble Silence - 1 Replies

From: Dean Suter on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:10:01 -0700

I enjoyed reading your post. As for talking during training... I thought my club did not talk THAT much but one night I went along to watch rather than train due to injury. It was an eye-opener! There was a lot of talking and like you I have since limited how much I talk with my partner's on the mat. Just train. It is amazing how much energy goes into training when you are not stopping to talk :) My fitness increased ;)

Would You Train Under A "No Rank" Sensei? (Dean Suter)

Dean Suter — 2009-11-06T18:34:13-07:00

General: Would You Train Under A "No Rank" Sensei? - 51 Replies

From: Dean Suter on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:34:13 -0700

There's a difference between No Rank and Independent. I have no problem with Independent. But there are a lot pf folks out there who claim rank that is bogus... wouldn't train with them, for a variety of reasons.

I agree. I have been trained and ranked by a man who is independent. He holds a rank which may or may not be recognised by large aikido organisations. Yet I still train with him. Why? He has personal integrity, is sincere and I can leave, when I want, if I choose. Money is not a big driver for this guy either. Those characterisitics tell me a lot more about this person than his belt colour. I do know the lineage of this club and I agree with those that say aikido traditions do hold some importance. I have also trained at other clubs that are affilitated with other groups. This is important for a bigger view of things. It's a tough one. As others have said, in a martial art that does not include competition, assessing quality of an instructor is tricky. Be cautious newbies.:D

Picture of Robert Koga Teaching "Aikido" to LAPD Officers in 1966 (Jun Akiyama)

Jun Akiyama — 2009-11-06T17:21:24-07:00

General: Picture of Robert Koga Teaching "Aikido" to LAPD Officers in 1966 - 0 Replies

From: Jun Akiyama on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:21:24 -0700

Published caption: "Officer Bob Koga shows other policemen at a special school how to use aikido to remove a seated demonstrator without injuring him. Koga applies pressure behind "demonstrator's" ears, above, then quickly grabs arm and twists wrist below. At right is Officer Bernard Finks, head of Civil Disturbance-Riots Control school. In role of sit-ins, from left, are policemen Ron Meade, Robert Calentino and Gary Garrison." http://unitproj.library.ucla.edu/dlib/lat/display.cfm?ms=uclalat_1429_b575_232849&searchType=subject&subjectID=219156 -- Jun

Aikikai Dan Ranks (Peter A Goldsbury)

Peter A Goldsbury — 2009-11-06T17:17:04-07:00

Anonymous: Aikikai Dan Ranks - 14 Replies

From: Peter A Goldsbury on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:17:04 -0700

Hello, I am glad that Makoto Ito responded to you and that his response was of use. Best wishes,

By the way Professor Goldsbury, the response I received was from M Ito. Best regards.

Vid: Saya...Nage? (Jory Boling)

Jory Boling — 2009-11-06T15:46:32-07:00

General: Vid: Saya...Nage? - 3 Replies

From: Jory Boling on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:46:32 -0700

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4A6lSf7F48 this video also has a few applications...