Aikido, your thoughts as a Martial Art.

Jumpy

Thinking about taking it up, for some reason out of any of them (disciplines) it seems to be the one I would like to do, but this is only from what people have told me and suggested.

Is there anyone here who does it and can give me some idea of what it entails from a personal point of view (rather than broad internet descriptions).

Nothingcompares

who suggested you do Aikido? an aikidoka?

don't believe anything you read about martial arts on the internet.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Jumpy wrote: »

Thinking about taking it up, for some reason out of any of them (disciplines) it seems to be the one I would like to do, but this is only from what people have told me and suggested.

Is there anyone here who does it and can give me some idea of what it entails from a personal point of view (rather than broad internet descriptions).

Well I'd suggest trying it and see.

Almost all style have things which simply do not work, and Aikido is one of them.

The majority of people here will say that Aikido is useless, and it probably is mostly but that doesn't take away from the enjoyment that its practitioners obviously take from it.

Wiki has Aikido covered too.

Also MeaveD (a contributor here) is an Aikido black belt, so maybe wait for her to join the discussion or PM her.

But watch out, because people will knock it.

***Edit, talking about useless styles and enjoyment. One of the most entertaining and dare I say it, spectacular styles I've seen was a Kendo competition I went to (as a spectator) last year. So don't let the begrudgers turn you off before you check it out.

Mark Hamill

What are your reasons for wanting to take up a martial art? If you are just looking for a martial art to do for fun then you should just try everything and see what you think (nobody can tell you what you will enjoy). If its a case of self defense/exercise etc, then people here can tell you their opinions on its efficiency in those respects too.

MaeveD

Hi Jumpy,
I've been doing Aikido for about 13 years, I even went off foreign for a year to study it full time. I think it's a fantastic martial art, and hope to get back to it soon, I'm out through injury.
There is loads of what I consider crap Aikido out there and even more crap talked about it... I don't get into defending it because I really couldn't be arsed
The control and restraint techniques we teach are mostly adapted Aikido techniques. They seem to work well for the people we teach them to, and thats all that counts.

Go and have a look at one of Rays classes in Swords if you're out that way, even though I'm extremely biased, he's a fantastic teacher. If it looks like something you'd like to try, then have a go.

Things to avoid: people who quote Aikido books, say they trained with the founders last students, or talk about ki.... and of course people who tell you that any martial art is useless (except that one where you learn to absorb strikes all the time... now that is total crap!)

Just go try something and make up your own mind.

Jumpy

Thanks all. I am in Limerick, there doesnt seem to be much going here.

Einstein

I personally reckon the reason lotsa people will knock Aikido, is because ye go in on day 1, but takes a number of months before ye actually have a clue what you're doing, and a number of years before you can practically apply it well. Unlike from day 1 of a different style say kempo, ye might come out after the first night with something new in your head...
Normally the Aikido bashers are the ones that go for 2 lessons and say..."all i was doin was spinin in circles..,not goin back there again"

biko

I trained aikido a few years in my teens and recommend it, not as a defence so much as it teaches you the basics of grappling and throwing. Even now I use what I learned then, thinking of starting Iaido now.
It's a very graceful martial art and it gives you, I think, an different attitude than Muay Thai or MMA, which are competitive.

If you want to fight off scumbags Krav Maga would be a better option than Aikido, or maybe a mix of both?


Dojo: Limerick Aikido
Address: St. Francis Boxing Club, Mungret St.
Schedule: Tuesdays & Thursdays 19:30 - 21:30 / Sundays 15:00 - 18:00
Instructor: John Meldrum
Contact: Moylan Ryan Tel: 086 8328391 or 061 315777 (Work)
Tony Treanor Tel: 086 8471775 or 061 228333 (Work)
tonytreanor@fas-lk.com

Dojo: Limerick Aikido Club
Address: School Projects Centre, O Connell St, Limerick
Schedule: Monday 20:00 - 22:00
Friday 19:00 - 21:00
Contact: Darren Simming 086 8123895
Ken Stanton 061 202675 - kenneth.stanton@ul.ie
Gerry Begley 061 357541 - Gerard.Begley@tellabs.com

Address: University of Limerick
Address: University University Sports Centre, Plassey, Limerick
Schedule: Mon: 9:15 - 10:45, Wed: 7:30 - 9:00
Style: Aikikai
Instructor: Gerry Begley
Affiliation: Irish Aikido Federation
Contact: Ken Stanton/Gerry Begley
Address: Same as for club
Phone: 061 202942 Ken / 061 357541 Gerry
Email: kenneth.stanton@ul.ie gerard.begley@tellabs.com

moxiah

I was an on-again-off-again student of Aikido for a couple of years and thoroughly enjoyed it, despite ultimately deciding it wasn't for me. As a demographic, Aikidoka are a lot nicer than some and tend to be very pleasant to new students so you've everything to gain by giving it a shot.

Re: Aikido/Aikidoka being crap etc., I was advised to think of it as less a combative art and more a study of motion; where the combative applications are implicit, as opposed to explicit, and the focus of the art is blending with an opponent and moving him.

Hope that helps,

Mox

Charlie3dan

Aikido is a fantastic martial art. It is not fight sport.
Some people think martial arts are only valueable if you compete but in fact martial arts have much more to offer.

I would say try it out, keep an open mind, know your goals and above all enjoy yourself.

Kila

MaeveD wrote: »

Go and have a look at one of Rays classes in Swords if you're out that way, even though I'm extremely biased, he's a fantastic teacher.

I'd have to concur. I don't particularly like some of the "wishy washy" type aikido that I've seen in the past, but I very much enjoyed Ray's style of teaching!

pearsquasher

I only did Aikido for 3 months in college but left when I re-discovered Bujinkan. To me aikido seems to be the most "artistic" of the martial arts and there's absolutley nothing wrong with that. I think the "martial" side of it is amazing too but you do need to study hard.

Anyway I thought it was great when I did it and every aikidoka I've met, including my old man who studied with a Japanese master in France for years, was a very decent and respectable martial artist. Bujinkan has a lot in common with it due to similar early roots (koryu jujutsu).

It's well worth checking out a few clubs to see which one suits you because even within the same art you can have broad differences in style. Best of luck and enjoy the ride.

Nothingcompares

Aikdio won't make you look like this

Or Make you any better at this

It's also boring.

TKD SC

Jumpy wrote: »

Thinking about taking it up, for some reason out of any of them (disciplines) it seems to be the one I would like to do, but this is only from what people have told me and suggested.

Is there anyone here who does it and can give me some idea of what it entails from a personal point of view (rather than broad internet descriptions).

My advise would still be to try out as many MAs as possible before you pick one. If aikido seems to be one you'd like to do, and people have suggested then def try to give it a go (if you can find a club near you). However, until you go to a few classes you won't really know if it is for you. Also, there might be another MA out there that you'd prefer much more but haven't thought of. I wouldn't dismiss any MA until you give it a go and decide yourself. It's all about enjoying it and getting something out of it otherwise you probably won't continue with it. Therefore, I'd really urge you to try out as many MAs as you can now before you make a final decision. You might surprise yourself as to what you like. Do aikido, you may love it or hate it, try judo, kickboxing, muay thai, bjj, tkd, karate, tai chi, kung fu, etc etc - who knows what you will actually like the most and settle on. But it would be great to try out everything you can now - enjoy it all!, so you are really happy with your final decision...you may click more with a certain club, instructor, atmosphere, location, etc that will impact your choice also...

good luck.

Charlie3dan

Nothingcompares wrote: »

Aikdio won't make you look like this

Or Make you any better at this

It's also boring.

:rolleyes:

Luckily martial arts have much more to offer than this.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Charlie3dan wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Luckily martial arts have much more to offer than this.

+1.

BobbyOLeary

Aikdio won't make you look like this

Or Make you any better at this

WOW!! It fails at something it never claims to do. Stop the presses.

Pride Fighter

Just dont end up like Steven Seagal:pac:

mhairt

Hi
I took up Aikido about two months ago and really enjoy it. If you just want to have a little fun and stay in shape i would recommend it. A lot really depends on the club and instructor no matter what martial art you take up so go and see a few.
Best of luck

Martin25

Aikido is a great martial art but it may take a bit too long to get to the self defence bit for the streets and the nasty people who attack innocents.

beGood

Charlie3dan wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Luckily martial arts have much more to offer than this.

Mairt wrote: »

+1.

+2

jim o doom

Anyone think it would be a good addition to kenpo? In (hopefully about a year to a year and a half) I should be going for my black - after that I was thinking about branching out and trying different arts to add on to my kenpo (kenpo will always be my base because I love it - but I've always been interested in Aikido and how you use your opponents movements and weight against them - we have some of those ideas in kenpo, but no where near the same extent

Nothingcompares

why call it a martial art if it has no relevance to fighting? aikido has zero substance as a martial art, as a hobby, what ever floats your boat.

Burnt

Nothingcompares wrote: »

why call it a martial art if it has no relevance to fighting? aikido has zero substance as a martial art.

Why would the tokyo metropolitian police riot squad, be bothered with Aikido? Why would the Kempeitai be bothered with aikido? What about Tomiki / Shodokan Aikido?

MaeveD

Nothingcompares wrote: »

Aikdio won't make you look like this

Or Make you any better at this

It's also boring.

In my opinion this is a ridiculous post... and at least spell it right.

I had a six pack when I trained Aikido 3 times per week, Philippe Gouttard a 6th dan who is in his 50's now is fantastic shape. Fitness depends on the effort you put in to your training, just like every other martial art or sport. GSP is in great nick though :P why didn't you post a pic of Rickson Gracie in those tight white shorts? hhmmmmm

If you want to be better at MMA.... ehhhh train MMA, Gunnar is a fantastic talented athlete and I love watching him fight, I've loved watching MMA for years, but wtf has that got to do with Aikido??

Aikido is most definitely not boring, I don't find studying BJJ any more or less intresting.

And to say "aikido has zero substance as a martial art" :D:D Now that's just funny!

Moxiah... I don't agree that Aikidoka are nicer than others, or very plesant to beginners, I've had some very nasty experiences... and I've actually found BJJ people much nicer. Maybe I'm hanging around with the wrong crowd.

And yes Pridefighter is right... do not end up like the Seagull

Nothingcompares

japan is probably the only place in the world you'd get away with trying to use aikido on the street.

Pingu

Nothingcompares wrote: »

japan is probably the only place in the world you'd get away with trying to use aikido on the street.

Oh Dear, we're reduced to "on the street" arguements.
Maybe they don't want to be a street fighter?

I do Judo, Sambo and train in a bit of MMA, so i'm generally the first to take pot shots at aikido.

But if people are happy doing a martial that they enjoy and feel they get much more benefit out of training in a fun friendly enviroment that they'll enjoy a workout, and learn a new skillset in addition to the other generic benefits that come with training in most martial arts

Why do you feel the need to knock them for that?

MaeveD

Nothingcompares wrote: »

japan is probably the only place in the world you'd get away with trying to use aikido on the street.

Ah now I get it, you spent the afternoon in the pub didn't you? :rolleyes:

burtyburr

Hello Jumpy,
I'm with TKD_SC on this one. Try as many types of ma and ma clubs as you can before you decide.
If anyone on this forum has a common complaint its trying to find the time to devote to martial arts as much as we would like too. So it makes sense to shop around a bit and try different systems on. While you might "think" that a particular style suits, you never really know till ya give it a shot.
I have a vague memory about a quote that went something like " .the technique is made for the man." There is nothing to say that you cant try out a system for a bit and then move on to another style. At the end of the day it is you who is doing the learning, you can take lessons learned in one style and apply it to the next.
At the end of the day it is you who will be trying to balance work/family with your training so you should reward yourself with what works best for you.

* Corpus Christi Martial Arts And Kung Fu ( A.K.A.I. )
* Limerick
* Contact : P.J. (061) - 453947
* Corpus Christi Kickboxing Club ( A.K.A.I. ) - ( I.K.F. Gan Teora. )
* Limerick
* Contact : Jeff (087) - 1234777
* Limerick Kickboxing Club ( I.K.F. Gan Teora. )
* Thomondgate Limerick
* Contact : P.J. (087) - 6987495

or

http://www.fightingireland.com/tx/club.asp?action.x=1&strAdd3=co.+Limerick&strStyle=

or

here is a similiar post on limerick here
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055215618

or

http://www.goldenpages.ie/detailsSearch.ds;jsessionid=D3B544F5597449B2947591F027DFCAF3?detailsListingId=IE_13921749_9999_1002

or http://www.fightingireland.com/tx/club.asp?action.x=1&strAdd3=co.+Limerick&strStyle=#
or

http://www.geocities.com/aimaalimerick/

or
http://homepage.eircom.net/~abbeykarateclub/

Nothingcompares

Just as long we are agreed it's not revelant to combat sports you can pretend it's really fun endeavour as long as you want.

Also just to make it clear I'm just not trolling here. Why are people so defensive about Aikido? Only one person does it here anyway. If I posted a message here saying the colour purple was horrible and the worst colour in the world would people be going bananas to defend it? Aikido (like a lot of martial arts) is just some silly dudes in pyjamas rolling about the place. There's nothing sacred about it. IMO it's just a nonsenese martial art. Other people say things like "aikido just takes a really long time to appreciate" or "there's more to martial arts than combat sports or functional training methods" but you have to the accept the fact that the only people defending aikido are those that have never done it, or spent 10 years on it and are passed the point of no return.

As i said on similar thread, don't beleive anything anyone says about martial arts on the internet, go and try aikido and if you like it, good luck to ya.

Black Swan

Jumpy wrote: »

Is there anyone here who does it and can give me some idea of what it entails

Suggest that you shop around. Visit and compare. Some MA training centres offer short introductory sessions for free or a discounted price. If you are serious about taking up an MA and envision a long term commitment towards some level of mastery, then it's worth taking the time now to find the best fit for you, be it Aikido or some other MA?

arybvtcw0eolkf

Nothingcompares wrote: »

japan is probably the only place in the world you'd get away with trying to use aikido on the street.

On the street, eh!..

Well at the risk of you trying to mock my doorwork experience (again) I'll refer back to that anyway.

Outside of doorwork, and once when I tackled an armed robber I've NEVER been in any type of fight on the street, never!.. And now that I'm off the doors almost 4 years now I don't think I'll ever be in a fight on the street again, so why do I continue to train Judo?.. Because I love the style & the craic I get out of it and not because I think I'll ever use it on the street.

And even if I was still working on the doors and at risk of fighting probably 90% of the stuff I train and study in Judo would go out the window anyway.

Really, your not making a valid argument at all.

BobbyOLeary

japan is probably the only place in the world you'd get away with trying to use aikido on the street.

Call me stupid but I don't get this on a number of levels. Why would Japan be the only place Aikido would work "on de streeeh"? Are their wrists and so forth anatomically different to the rest of us? Do they react differently to the rest of us?

You've confused the hell out of me with that. Your arguments are usually pretty well formed (alive training, reactive partners vs dead patterns, kata, etc.) but this just doesn't make any sense.

Charlie3dan

Nothingcompares wrote: »

Just as long we are agreed it's not revelant to combat sports you can pretend it's really fun endeavour as long as you want..

Absolutely. Believe it or not combat sports are not the ultimate test of a martial art. You can kick the pads all night and fight in cages all you want but don't think that's all that's involved in being a martial artist.

Nothingcompares wrote: »

Also just to make it clear I'm just not trolling here. Why are people so defensive about Aikido? Only one person does it here anyway. If I posted a message here saying the colour purple was horrible and the worst colour in the world would people be going bananas to defend it? .

It's not being so much that people are being defensive, it's more that you are both overly dismissive and poorly informed.

Nothingcompares wrote: »

Aikido (like a lot of martial arts) is just some silly dudes in pyjamas rolling about the place. There's nothing sacred about it. IMO it's just a nonsenese martial art..

Which illustrates my point above.

Nothingcompares wrote: »

Other people say things like "aikido just takes a really long time to appreciate" or "there's more to martial arts than combat sports or functional training methods" but you have to the accept the fact that the only people defending aikido are those that have never done it, or spent 10 years on it and are passed the point of no return. .

Even if you were correct I think this is a stupid arguement. In any case you are incorrect. I have done aikido but I haven't spent enough time at it to be proficient.

There's definitely more to this martial arts stuff than just fightsport.
A bic biro will write just fine, but it's not a parker pen.
Westlife can play the trump card that they outsell real musicians but that doesn't make them real musicians themselves.
American pie is a great movie to pack a cinema but don't expect academy awards.

Don't get me wrong I'm not knocking fightsport, I'm a fan of it. But there are other elements to martial arts that fightsport is trying to leave behind. That's fine if that's what you wanna do, but don't kid yourself into thinking your practising martial arts.

Tim_Murphy

Don't get me wrong I'm not knocking fightsport, I'm a fan of it. But there are other elements to martial arts that fightsport is trying to leave behind. That's fine if that's what you wanna do, but don't kid yourself into thinking your practising martial arts.

So if one is doing a 'fightsport' then they are not doing a 'martial art' and vica versa? Are the two mutually exclusive in your eyes?

Mark Hamill

I've seen this argument of what makes a martial art so many times before that I decided to make thread on it here.

Charlie3dan

Tim_Murphy wrote: »

So if one is doing a 'fightsport' then they are not doing a 'martial art' and vica versa? Are the two mutually exclusive in your eyes?

No not at all.
You can be doing a martial art and compete in fightsport. Competition of any form can be a very beneficial part of training in martial arts. You can start out just interested in fightsport and then develop an interest in the art.

However, it's when you shift all your focus to competition and disregard the other aspects of the art then it just becomes sport.
I'm hugely involved in competition myself and I enjoy the sport side, but there's more to the art than just that.

ryoishin

For fightsport the art form is in the effectiveness of the technique.

I do think aikido is a martial art. It has its origions in war practices used by the army, the jo work is more like bayonet fighting than actual jo jutsu. It has sword work which is a tool for war. I agree that it is not the most practicle martial art, but its an art form that expresses itself in the antagonism of combat, all be it co -operative.

The same came be said of fight sport, just one is a martial athelete with the art form coming from scientific application and the other a martial artist whos art comes from being part of a tradition and expressing that tradition in movement.

Burnt

ryoishin wrote: »

It has its origions in war practices used by the army, the jo work is more like bayonet fighting than actual jo jutsu.

Interesting point ryoshin AFAIK Ueshiba was a pretty advance Jukendo
(bayonet fighting) practioner from given his time in the imperial japanese
army as a younger man

Tim_Murphy

Competition of any form can be a very beneficial part of training in martial arts. You can start out just interested in fightsport and then develop an interest in the art.

Yes, but that only really makes sense in some thing like Karate or Taekwon-Do. In what I do for example there is no real distinction between 'fightsport' and 'art', it's one and the same. There only real difference is that the intensity is likely to be a lot higher for somebody getting ready for a competition than it might otherwise be.

However, it's when you shift all your focus to competition and disregard the other aspects of the art then it just becomes sport.

I love the martial arts types talk about things being 'just sports' as if what they do is somehow more important or grander.

I'm hugely involved in competition myself and I enjoy the sport side, but there's more to the art than just that.

Indeed there is some to just about any sport than just competition.

getz

as i have said many times on the threads ,i have trained in a lot of different martial arts [and teach] for over 40 years one of the styles i trained in is aikido its known as the thinking mans martial art-the london police are trained in a variation of aikido-and i can say its a brilliant style-non contact non sporting but very effective

Charlie3dan

Tim_Murphy wrote: »

Yes, but that only really makes sense in some thing like Karate or Taekwon-Do. In what I do for example there is no real distinction between 'fightsport' and 'art', it's one and the same. There only real difference is that the intensity is likely to be a lot higher for somebody getting ready for a competition than it might otherwise be. .

Maybe there is art in what you do, I can't say.
My post was to counter someone who was criticising and dismissing martial art because they don't value anything other than how it makes you look and how you'll perform in a cage. That's not martial arts, for me at least.

Tim_Murphy wrote: »

I love the martial arts types talk about things being 'just sports' as if what they do is somehow more important or grander. .

Not more important or grander, just more.

Boards is fun though, I love driving the sports guys mad by not admitting that everything apart from what they do is shoite. Fun to be had here I tell ya.

Tim_Murphy wrote: »

Indeed there is some to just about any sport than just competition.

It's not really the same thing. Let me ask you this, would it be fair to say you see no distinction between sport and art?

getz

the problem with sport in martial is that it is a young mans game -to fully enjoy , one should learn the full meaning , in a way its like music when young, one likes pop but as you get older you start to enjoy classical music

FruitLover

Burnt wrote: »

Why would the tokyo metropolitian police riot squad, be bothered with Aikido?

In fairness Ted, when's the last time you heard of a riot in Tokyo?

deegs

Mairt wrote: »

***Edit, talking about useless styles and enjoyment. One of the most entertaining and dare I say it, spectacular styles I've seen was a Kendo competition I went to (as a spectator) last year. So don't let the begrudgers turn you off before you check it out.

Useless?
Why if you attacked me with a sword and I just happened to have a sword handy I may or may not give you a good seeing to

getz

most of the police in japan are trained in shotokan karate and jujitsu-from the shotokan katas weapons can be used as arm extensions also believe it or not the fith kata shows how to block a sword[but i wouldent try it]-in the 1970s when the police first got the new stick i was asked to show them how to use it in the katas try it its good fun

TKD SC

Charlie3dan wrote: »

You can start out just interested in fightsport and then develop an interest in the art.

disregard the other aspects of the art then it just becomes sport.

I'm hugely involved in competition myself and I enjoy the sport side, but there's more to the art than just that.

Hi Charlie,

Could you please put down if you don't mind, for you, what are the other aspects - i.e., what is "more to the art"?

I'm just curious what your answer would be...

Thanks

Simon

MaeveD

Nothingcompares wrote: »

Just as long we are agreed it's not revelant to combat sports you can pretend it's really fun endeavour as long as you want.

Also just to make it clear I'm just not trolling here. Why are people so defensive about Aikido? Only one person does it here anyway. If I posted a message here saying the colour purple was horrible and the worst colour in the world would people be going bananas to defend it? Aikido (like a lot of martial arts) is just some silly dudes in pyjamas rolling about the place. There's nothing sacred about it. IMO it's just a nonsenese martial art. Other people say things like "aikido just takes a really long time to appreciate" or "there's more to martial arts than combat sports or functional training methods" but you have to the accept the fact that the only people defending aikido are those that have never done it, or spent 10 years on it and are passed the point of no return.

As i said on similar thread, don't beleive anything anyone says about martial arts on the internet, go and try aikido and if you like it, good luck to ya.

I really can't believe that this thread is still going or why you haven't been banned.... relevant to combat sport?? another silly comment, 99% of Aikido isn't sport. Of course you're a troll, all you do is whinge and give out. Who's defending Aikido, I'm not, it's full of arseholes just like every other martial art and I'm not excluding MMA there of course.

You make me laugh though, passed the point of no return... hilarious Have you even tried Aikido? Are you one of these people who did it for a few years then decided is was sh*te? Then I understand, takes me about 5 minutes of watching something before I know if its for me or not, I knew BJJ was for me after about 30 seconds on the mat.

I agree with you though, don't believe anything anyone says about martial arts on the internet.... they could be a spotty kid with a bad attitude sitting in front of their pc all day picking arguments to make themselves feel better, copying and pasting from wiki etc and waiting for their balls to drop

dasmoose

Someone's getting defensive.

I'm not even going to bother responding to the spotty kid remark, I would just like to point out that slagging someone off for sitting in front of a pc on an internet forum...

Pot, meet kettle.

Burnt

FruitLover wrote: »

In fairness Ted, when's the last time you heard of a riot in Tokyo?

The Kidotai were set up in the early 50's in response to riots
and protest near the Imperial palace. They seen lots of action
in multiple anti-american riots in the late 60's early 70's.

The last major disturbances were soccer hooligans durning the World Cup'02,
there were also some scuffles durning the olympic torch relay earlier this year.

MaeveD

dasmoose wrote: »

Someone's getting defensive.

I'm not even going to bother responding to the spotty kid remark, I would just like to point out that slagging someone off for sitting in front of a pc on an internet forum...

Pot, meet kettle.

At least quote me right, what I said was: they could be a spotty kid with a bad attitude sitting in front of their pc all day picking arguments to make themselves feel better, copying and pasting from wiki etc and waiting for their balls to drop

I don't do the above, and I don't have balls, so I'm neither a kettle nor a pot!