Good summary I more or less agree with. I've been intrigued by catch wrestling and related disciplines ever since it was introduced as a dark art by a very powerful villain in The Legend of Korra, many years ago!
I started my martial arts practice in Yoseikan Budo--Mochizuki's art, under one of his top students--Patrick Auge. I probably would have stayed in it had I not moved away. It took me a long time to find another aiki-or any-kind of teacher or art that were up to the same standard, or even remotely near it. I finally found something like it in Kokikai Aikido, which I was doing for many years before branching out to other things--but I agree that most aikido is pretty bad, and there's not much aiki in there to begin with. The real meaning of aiki, by the way, that Ueshiba meant, and has been taken out of context, is harmony within yourself, and your own connection, fascia, etc..which then allows you to control other people and generate a lot of power. Same thing Sokaku Takeda had, and the really good people in the internal Chinese martial arts have. Since you are in Tokyo, I would urge you to visit the dojo of Akuzawa Minoru. By all accounts, he's the real deal, is one of the few people actually capable of generating real aiki, and has done significant cross-training and core conditioning he's incorporated into his own art. If ever go back to Japan, I'll 100% visit. Ellis Amdur, among others, has written about on sites like Aikido Journal how he literally felt like he was having electricity sent through his spine from Akuzawa's strikes and spinal movements. They seem pretty open to visitors: https://www.aunkai-tokyo.jp/en/
Rionne, what a fantastic and well put together article. It really is a pleasure to know there are people out there who share a similiar outlook to my own. I really enjoyed this one. Thank you.
Thank you very much Rick!
Good summary I more or less agree with. I've been intrigued by catch wrestling and related disciplines ever since it was introduced as a dark art by a very powerful villain in The Legend of Korra, many years ago!
I started my martial arts practice in Yoseikan Budo--Mochizuki's art, under one of his top students--Patrick Auge. I probably would have stayed in it had I not moved away. It took me a long time to find another aiki-or any-kind of teacher or art that were up to the same standard, or even remotely near it. I finally found something like it in Kokikai Aikido, which I was doing for many years before branching out to other things--but I agree that most aikido is pretty bad, and there's not much aiki in there to begin with. The real meaning of aiki, by the way, that Ueshiba meant, and has been taken out of context, is harmony within yourself, and your own connection, fascia, etc..which then allows you to control other people and generate a lot of power. Same thing Sokaku Takeda had, and the really good people in the internal Chinese martial arts have. Since you are in Tokyo, I would urge you to visit the dojo of Akuzawa Minoru. By all accounts, he's the real deal, is one of the few people actually capable of generating real aiki, and has done significant cross-training and core conditioning he's incorporated into his own art. If ever go back to Japan, I'll 100% visit. Ellis Amdur, among others, has written about on sites like Aikido Journal how he literally felt like he was having electricity sent through his spine from Akuzawa's strikes and spinal movements. They seem pretty open to visitors: https://www.aunkai-tokyo.jp/en/
Rionne, what a fantastic and well put together article. It really is a pleasure to know there are people out there who share a similiar outlook to my own. I really enjoyed this one. Thank you.