Seichiro Endo Shihan at 44th All Aikido demonstration

[arminfanni]

beautiful

[conety123]

the 10 people should spar with him......

[philoposos]

As free as John Coltrane ; as smooth as Chet Baker !

[Vitaminnn07]

@philoposos yes, but you can also say that about george sotiropoulos, for instance

[portenez]

It is so beautiful...

[sadtechie]

Beautiful soft Aikido. Endo Sensei is a great teacher. Even in his demonstrations, he executes the techniques slowly enough to show how a master does it. I love it. I also believe that Aikikai (The soft Aikido style) allows men and women to continue practising the martial art well into old age. O Sensei was still practising the year he died.

[Aikidopoi]

@sadtechie Aikikai isn't exactly the 'soft' Aikido style :) (That would be the Ki no Kenkyukai) There is great variation within the Aikikai, but the beauty of it is that you can practice all of it, from the hard to the soft. It is good to know both sides of the coin.

[kbub8]

That's one of the unfortunate things about aikido. You have to experience before you can believe it.

[Svittidiu]

Aikido is a very beautiful martial art with emphasis on the word art.

[bbroegger]

amazing talent Endo Shihan - such control he has, these guys are like ragdolls to him. im insanely impressed how fluid and calm his aikido is.

[tofutigr]

I'm completely new to Aikido and I really have to say it looks unconvincing from an unexperienced 3rd person perspective. I'm sure even though it looks calm and collected it would feel extremely different on the receiving end. Aikido is bomb, any ideas how I can start?

[ketsan]

Endo Shihan looks unconvincing to most Aikidoka too. That said I've come to rely on technical explanation and first hand experience in Aikido rather than looks. It's usually a good idea to ignore the uke too and see what the guy's actually doing.

Does look unconvincing though.

[MrAikidoka53]

Tofutigr find a school in your area that has good lineage... what city do you live in?

[salishaw]

This is nothing more than pure SHIT. Ballerina SHIT.

[NoisePollutionX]

Heh are you seriously commenting that in every aikido video? If you really don't like it why not watch something else?

[bushin64]

I have been studying this art for 18 years and have come to realize that I am still in the early part of my journey. Thanks for sharing this video

[supertotoro]

It looks so easy... but I know its not! :) One can not really understand how good some of these old senseis are (including Endo) until you experience their techniques for real, just watching does not do it. Ive been thrown once by a 6thdan and It was very different from seeing him do the technique on some one else. The reason why it looks so easy is because they can by using minimum energy get uke unbalanced and perform the technique.

[lordosaya]

i think i'm in love... =)))

[cwmak70]

graceful! awesome aiki!

[scrotertube]

He has beautiful technique and u have to know aikido to appreciate him. People who are only concerned with self-defense/fighting have really no idea what Budo is all about.

[sprinklemutant]

most people would likely take several decades of practice to be able to copy what he's doing. and truth is most people wouldnt be able to do even the ukemi, ever, whether it's fake or not. to reduce the complexity of what he's developed is kind of like looking at a rembrandt nude painting and complaining that it's not porn.

[sherman4970]

This is NOT avery good demo at all.Uke NOT DOING ANY FORM OF ATTACK,,JUST BEING GOOD BOYS AND FALLING OVER FOR TEACHER.

[lupocephalic]

I suggest YOU go attack Endo Sensei, then.

Also, your caps lock button is broken.

[sherman4970]

You are telling me that what you see is to you good aikido? What you are seeing here is my students level and pure basics.Why do you people believe the sun shines out of Senior grades arses?? If they deserve credit then be honest and give it but otherwise dont be all gaga and doh eyed.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lupocephalic]

So.... you're telling me that this is BAD aikido?

Are you extolling the advanced techinques over the basics?

If either of the above is true I'm happy not to be your student.

[sherman4970]

Any person with any experience can do the basics, that is why it is called so!!! You are obviously of the school where you ask no questions because sensei is always right. You are yourself a bad advert for Aikido in your very thinking if so!!!! Dont reply because you are not like minded enough and of a totally different school of thought. I would love to be on the mat with people like you.

[lupocephalic]

"Do"

How many years does it take to perfect irimi nage, sir?

Would you say irimi nage is 'a basic'?

One does not DO the basics, sir. The basics are the foundation upon which all other things are built.

And as for the veiled threat? Fuck yourself. I shit harder stuff than you out my ass.

Internet tough guy... pathetic.

[sherman4970]

Ha ha. You really are just one of the followers and the talkers.Listen to yourself. You sound like you have found the messiah you stupid cunt. You try to catch me with your meanings and words as if you are all things righteous and spiritual...you need to get a life. PLEASE just go the fuck away back into your bullshit dreamland little world you fucking prick.Ha ha ha!!!!!!!

[lupocephalic]

Impressive.

With no ability to defend your argument, you descend to the adhominum attack.

Not that I'm averse to the ad hominum attack, Nancy, I like it quite well... But it does illustrate that fact that you cannot defend your position.

Go away? The only way you could possibly get me to leave you be now, is to prove the assertion that admiring the mastery of Endo sensei is tantamount to nuthugging.

And you can't.

All you have for an argument is " Endo is doing basic techniques."

[Mo8787]

ofcourse, or else the sensei would break all the bones of his students

[Elfenlied89]

This guy is great.

[shaw0032]

Hey GUYS, we probably should keep this a secret. His moves are so scary. It's too scary to tell everyone, ohhhhhhh I'm so damn scared!!!!

hahahahahahahaha, bull shit

[Aikiaitor]

Incredible master!!! perfect hanmi, so good stability.

He flows

[frozenicelolly]

I don't think his uke's movements are exaggerated. He just does things more slowly. It's a demonstration after all. This is the first time I've seen his aikido and I like his style. I noticed that his hanmi is relatively wide, making him very stable. Seems like a masterful use of ki as well/

[koopava]

i think this doesn't work.

[WaitingforGuiteau]

Thank you for your expert analysis.

[patodefuego]

There is a great different between "I think" and "I do it".

Before you only comment "I think", it´s better that you try to be Uke from Endo Sensei and then maybe criticize a Master.

[koopava]

i wouldnt know all the unforced and unnecessary movements an uke has to do to make this look efficient, so he most likely wouldnt agree to take me as uke.

[Deke101]

I am quite positive he would take you as uke, if you asked. Pain is a GREAT teacher.

[koopava]

i have more pain from watching this than i could get from this techniques

[ficklampa1]

i dont generally like to write in these message columns but i will do it now.

there are a couple of things that need to be considered and number one i think is that i do not believe endo sensei continues his aikido for self defence or simple combat skills.

in this demo is something which he chooses to show and is what he has come to appreciate after years and years of dedicated practice.

my thoughts.

[samstreet101]

well said

[ficklampa1]

his aikido emphasise the connection between uke and tori and thus requires a special kind of ukemi. also in this ukemi uke moves to cove r his openings making it seem like they move and he does nothing and a number of other factors.

also you need to consider that someone who has been practicing for this long has to be quite diverse, this is simply what he has come to appreciate.

i do not believe THIS aikido in this specific demo is self defence, however i do not believe that is the purpose.

[peabean]

Endo sensei had a few of his essays online. He focuses a lot on the point of engagement, which he calls "atari"(アタリ). Apparently, this is a term that is more often used in the game of go rather than in the martial arts. I'm still wondering why he wld use such a term.

[shadowdusklives]

it's the uke that makes him look good. it's just two person kata. if endo really thinks it's ki, he's a fraud like watanabe too.

[Massmedja]

Have you tried to be his uke?

I have

[patodefuego]

people always forget that aikido is body, mind and spirit. A good sensei not only control your body. I have trained in Hombu Dojo, and I had proof what you do think. I have changed my uke beautiful move, but the 6 Dan had always resolved the my trick with very soft and power moved (People like to say "ki").

I´m agree with what say Massmedja.

[trzynastywojownik]

go and learn

[wawisan]

It would be a great honor to meet and learn from this person.

[teemingup]

I did, this August in his dojo in Saku, Japan. It was fantastic! I am very happy to have been a part of his seminar.

[jimbeam90210]

Incredible and beauitful