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/
Thank you for reading, Nick. I have trained with the Aunkai guy once, back in 2011. He's got something, yes, but whatever it was it wasn't enough to make me want to go back again. The same reason I never attend any Shihan's classes from Hombu Dojo (apart from Yokota Sensei). I've found a new love in catch wrestling, the sport of gladiators!
Hah! Interesting. I just found your, "it had to be felt" about Yokota Sensei. I was never part of Aikikai or really interested in it at all, but I did always have this sense that there were these exceptional people hidden within it (in plain sight, so to speak, to borrow Amdur's terminology), which I suppose is often the case in any large organization...not usually the people at the top/or the most famous, either.
You might be interested in the one I wrote--from what I've quickly glimpsed of your background, I think you would have done well around Maruyama Sensei and some of the tough and incredibly strong people I've practiced with that followed him: http://www.aikiweb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25253
(It's the second one)
Yes, catch wrestling seems good. Actually, it's long seemed to be that a really competent wrestler can probably beat just about everyone. Even when I read about the borderline-crazy exploits of Takeda Sokaku (and Ueshiba to an extent), some of what he/they were doing and what we call aiki or other such concepts seem almost like a kind of super-controlled wrestling that engages all the fascia and spine etc. to the next level. The Great Gama is still someone who fascinates me..and so was Andre the Giant.
That was a really nice read. Sounds like he was my kind of guy.
The thing about catch wrestling is that it's more than just wrestling, it's got the submissions in it too, so as long as you are able to deal with strikes, I think it's the greatest martial art there's ever been. Just my opinion :)
Thanks! He's still alive, home dojo is in Nagoya. When I visited for a few days 11 years ago, he barely looked at me the whole time except to yell, "don't bend elbows!"
"so long as you are able to deal with strikes," ha ha, I'd like to hear more about that..
I hope to return to Japan and practice with you one day and find out firsthand!
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/
Thank you for reading, Nick. I have trained with the Aunkai guy once, back in 2011. He's got something, yes, but whatever it was it wasn't enough to make me want to go back again. The same reason I never attend any Shihan's classes from Hombu Dojo (apart from Yokota Sensei). I've found a new love in catch wrestling, the sport of gladiators!
Hah! Interesting. I just found your, "it had to be felt" about Yokota Sensei. I was never part of Aikikai or really interested in it at all, but I did always have this sense that there were these exceptional people hidden within it (in plain sight, so to speak, to borrow Amdur's terminology), which I suppose is often the case in any large organization...not usually the people at the top/or the most famous, either.
You might be interested in the one I wrote--from what I've quickly glimpsed of your background, I think you would have done well around Maruyama Sensei and some of the tough and incredibly strong people I've practiced with that followed him: http://www.aikiweb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25253
(It's the second one)
Yes, catch wrestling seems good. Actually, it's long seemed to be that a really competent wrestler can probably beat just about everyone. Even when I read about the borderline-crazy exploits of Takeda Sokaku (and Ueshiba to an extent), some of what he/they were doing and what we call aiki or other such concepts seem almost like a kind of super-controlled wrestling that engages all the fascia and spine etc. to the next level. The Great Gama is still someone who fascinates me..and so was Andre the Giant.
That was a really nice read. Sounds like he was my kind of guy.
The thing about catch wrestling is that it's more than just wrestling, it's got the submissions in it too, so as long as you are able to deal with strikes, I think it's the greatest martial art there's ever been. Just my opinion :)
Thanks! He's still alive, home dojo is in Nagoya. When I visited for a few days 11 years ago, he barely looked at me the whole time except to yell, "don't bend elbows!"
"so long as you are able to deal with strikes," ha ha, I'd like to hear more about that..
I hope to return to Japan and practice with you one day and find out firsthand!
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.