Classical Martial Arts: Aikijujutsu and Aikido.

As far as I know, and I am too young to have been there, but many in the Amercican military went to Japan after WW2 to study martial arts with the Japanese because they were shocked how effortlessly the masters over there could defeat them. Some of the most battle hardened Marines became students of Aikido and other classical Japanese Budo. Obviously there is something to it. To see the possibilities of what Aikido could do to the human body, I suggest watching some of Steven Seagal's old movies. Not that its any way of representing Aikido, but the way they filmed the joint locks and breaks was done well, in my opinion, in those old movies.

There has been long debate over the orthodox fighter and the unorthodox fighter. There is no clear answer. The fear I have is the uninformed minds watching UFC and thinking a Japanese style or Chinese style practitioner has no chance against a professional fighter, OR visa versa, they are not appreciating the true art of BOTH the fighter and Martial Artist. Both beautiful in their own right, and 2 different goals. The uki has to fall correctly for the benefit of the person performing the throws, locks, manipulations, NOT because he will get hurt, but for the reason of helping his fellow student to learn. The uki can easily step out, shift balance, use force to not conform to the throwand be perfectly safe. I feel these videos do a disservice to the arts by presenting this as "he falls so he doesn't get hurt, just look at my throwing capabilties" video and not as " I am using proper technique and the uki is assisting me in learning" I am a Judoka and Ju Jitsu player. I have a little experience (about 23 yrs worth) and understand Judo is also a sport not a self defence, though it can be used as SD it is a sport. oh and in reference to the Green Beret and the MMA fighter fighting if there are no rules it will forever be a toss up, because a good Green Beret is likley trained to kill and not submit or knockout the opponent. But we could put a ton of "what ifs" in here. Thank you for the video, keep spreading the art. Forgive my spelling and grammar.

Thanks for the comment, very insightful. I have not even trained half as long as you have, so I am grateful for the knowledge you have shared with us here. The relationship between Tori and Uke is very misunderstood, even by those who are training in the arts.

Many people seem to forget that Japanese Budo originally came from wielding weapons. Imagine a UFC fighter versus and armed Samurai with a sword. Now these days you will not see people walking around with swords, but you have people that adapted those sword techniques to use with a pocket knives, canes, mace, guns or whatever modern equivalent you can find. The empty handed techniques come from using weapons. I respect the UFC and mixed martial arts fighters because they train hard and are warriors and nothing to be messed with reckelessly. A person training in Budo can not wrestle with a grappler and hope to win. Its not possible, if you play into their game. As you said, you have to go for a break or kill right away, becuase budoka are not looking for a tap out. Also you can take enough distance so you can draw your weapons, or be very unorthodox to throw the mma guy off his game. You can not play by the rules in a real fight, thats why so many Budo, kung fu, etc. fail when they step into a mma ring. Budo will never work inside a ring. Imagine this: Take a trained Special Forces Army Green Beret and put him into the MMA ring against a decent MMA fighter, the soldier would get wrecked and pummeled. Now take that MMA guy and put him in the middle of Afghanistan and see how long he survives?

that soldier is using techniques refined by styles like judo, aikido, and karate and even tai chi. Wrist locks, disarming techniques, and killing blows were developed, refined and perfected by the masters of old. Aikido is best defined by a martial art that fully embraces the laws of physics, keniceology (sorry if i mispelled), and anatomy. If a person is moving forward, then by guiding his action, displaces his balance and makes it easier to direct their fall. By shifting your balance and bending their elbow/wrist against the joints natural motion will create a situation where if the person does not yield, their joint will fail. If this martial art was not true, there wouldn't be such a respected and long lasting following.

I appreciate your comments, and thanks for keeping an open mind. Like I said in another post. Budo will not work in a ring of any sorts. This why you see so many classical martial arts fail in the UFC. I know a corrections officer at Rikers Island, NY. He said many fight break out and guys who try the MMA stuff nearly end up dead. Especially when you have gangs of people kicking and stomping you as you are wrestling with one dude. Also he said many guys get shanked as they are trying to sweep and go for a take down. This is not say that MMA does not work, cause I have seen in it work, but I believe the mindset is wrong and potentially get you killed. I have friends training in MMA and they have a very closed mind, and can not think outside of the box. Strategy, adaptation, cunning seem to be lost on these guys.

If you truly wish to have this abiity seek it out and one day you will aquire. Just train and in time you will have it.

wishing achieves little.
effort and practice (and, if possible, a good teacher) is the only way!

Applied knowledge is. Thanks for the comment!

the ukemi (falling) from aiki techniques is not "fake" but it is intentional.
If the person receiving the technique resists it he can be hurt.
The only way to "unlock" many of the locks is to go with them.
Go to a good aiki dojo and feel them for yourself if you think they are "fake" :)

This is either combat or dancing. If it is combat then one person tries a move and the other one tries to stop him. If one person makes a move and the other one just makes it look pretty, that is dancing.

Imagine the stink if boxers pulled this kind of fakery.

aren't fighting each other, they are practicing budo.
If you think it is dancing - that is OK :)
If you want to know more about it you could try it.. you might be surprised.. if you don't want to, that is OK too :)

Thanks for the follow up. I agree with what you said. Unfortunately many people have not been on the receiving end and dont realize the consequences of resistence.

which is why beginners suffer so much unneccessary pain, isn't it :)
Aiki is like life, isn't it, we need to know when to resist and when to go with the flow. When to be firm and when to be soft and adapt as required.
Love it!!!!!!
:)

It may look silly but there are certain principles that you can learn from. If not at least you know what not to do. I been on the receiving end, and once your kuzushi (balance) is taken its hard not to fall. Also the sensei here was in a very bad auto wreck, lucky to be alive, and in severe back and neck pain, but still perservered to do this demo.