London Aikido Dojo - Tomiki Aikido - Unsoku - Tandoku

[BKICommunity]

Very good video in general. Unsoku (foot movements) are really good but I hope you dont mind a bit of constructive criticism. The movement all the way through is very fluid which is great but during the Tandoku Undo the Aikido kas fingers are open and thumbs sticking out. These moves are strikes and therefore the fingers should be together weather it is a palm, ridge hand, or knife hand strike. David Wilson Hanshi

[mitsourugi]

If you are in need of solo training these unsoku and te waza (hand movements & body/ feet displacement), in kata form is very interesting as it shows the body evasion, weight transfer, and much more according to the japanese saber and judo, thanks for the video mates! ... greetings from yoseikan Aikido, South America

[gutlic]

If I may ask - Is the guy counting brasilian?

:-)

Thank you

[mitsourugi]

no japanese, and yeah his pronunciation and mine are just as awful

[darkgreensoldier666]

looks like very fast tai chi :)

[wiccamelissa]

Hey! they could make some dance moves out of that!

[blackdragonUK]

Hi, I know nothing about aikido but im taking it up in a few weeks. This is really helpful

[gutlic]

You might never do this in your life! :-)

It all depends on the school you are in!

But yes! Althougt I'm not in a "Tomiki" Aikido, and therefore know nothing about "this", it IS very interesting.

In fact I find the Judo students (7th dan) that went on to learning Aikido under O-Sensei amongst the more exciting Aikido masters ever!

[markaval]

From a technical perspective there's lots of room for improvement (in my opinion) and I'm a relative beginner. Do other viewers notice how the heads 'bob' - they should remain at one level throughout the practice. There is no 'oomph' to the practice. Even when the count is slow the actual movement should be snappy and sharp but balanced and a strong centre with no rocking on heels. Momentum must be forwards especially when moving backwards. Does anyone agree/disagree with my comments?

[wakarimasen80]

not sure what you mean about momentum going forwards even when going back. I'm a 2nd dan in shodokan aikido and am poing a PhD in physics, so probably should know- please explain! I agree there's a lot of room for improvement in this video, but disagree that posture is generally weak in tomiki aikido. A lot of people practice badly, but that isn't a problem inherent in the system itself.

[markaval]

Re the posture, if you compare Tomiki posture to say, Yoshinkan posture there is no comparison. 'Everything begins and ends in posture' according to Gozo Shioda and who am I to argue! Re the momentum - not enough room here to explain properly - is there a way of getting an email to you?

[wakarimasen80]

That's not a sensible comment. Are you suggesting Tomiki didn't think posture was important? Don't know why I'm bothering to comment but I find your post just plain irritating.

[markaval]

What Tomiki Sensei did and what many current exponents of Tomiki aikido do today are entirely different things. Sorry if my opinion irritates you but it is only that-my opinion. Posture is an area that for many Tomiki aikidoka is largely neglected - if you don't agree with that statement then of course you are entitled to your opinion. On the issue of posture this is my opinion.

[wakarimasen80]

But that's not what you said. You made a direct comparison between two systems. If some people neglect part of one system, that is not a problem with the system itself. It just means you haven't seen the right people. It's irritating to see the system criticised by someone who doesn't understand it.

[markaval]

<Sigh> My comments were a comparison on one aspect of Tomiki Aikido and Yoshinakan aikido as I saw it - posture. I may not be an expert but I understand enough to see poor posture, and I'm sorry but there is a lot of poor posture practiced by Tomiki aikidoka that could be avoided by better application of established principles. this is supposed to be constructive dialog but your responses don't add anything to the discussion.

[wakarimasen80]

I have not seen decent yoshinkan aikido in person. I have seen sublime shodokan aikido (the system tomiki devised). Does that mean yoshinkan is weaker? No. I just haven't seen the right people. You're drawing ludicrous conclusions from your limited experience. You don't even know what momentum is!

[gutlic]

I understand both parts!

But it is more and more comum to see a disgrafull practice of aikido, regardless of kyo/dan :-(

It is most unfortunate.

But... I'm sure yoshinakan is no exception - in fact we can easily tell by lots of there videos here in youtube.

To tell the truth, schools are made of people, thus there is no "spotless" school.

By the way, I belong to the "Ten-Chi international" School (Portugal)

[mitsourugi]

mmmmm maybe is not poor posture, but misunderstooded check out sensei shioda Gozo notes on posture in his books

[davep118]

I've practiced 3 "styles" of aikido but not Tomiki. All the styles emphasised the triangular stance where the heel of the front foot is in line with the instep of the rear foot. They couldn't agree what angle the rear foot should be at - but that's by-the-by. I notice the participants performig the exercises don't take up this stance. Is this something to do with Tomiki style in particular or just these exercises in general?

[markaval]

Your comment is good - and I personally find it a weakness in Tomiki aikido. Unless you have reached a high level of understanding Tomiki posture is poor and techniques are often flawed and easily countered. In my opinion the Unsoku demonstrated above completely misses the point of the exercise: balance, solid centre, momentum ALWAYS going forward (even when going back!). Unfortunately this is also a major flaw in much Tomiki practice

[gutlic]

Although I practice in a school that works with the usual mentioned posture, (and know nothing about tomiki's system) I couldn't disagree more with your opinion!

I'm also a Judoka. And therefore I ask:

- Why is Shizentai a week posture easily countered??

Is a judoka easily countered?

(continue)

[gutlic]

(continued 2/2)

By the way regarding:

"...all the styles emphasised the triangular stance where the heel of the front foot is in line with the instep of the rear foot."

Well, great aikido sensei(s) that are also acomplished swordman (Kendo normaly) aren't really that radical.

I think we are too keen on repeating, thus exagerating/ritualising what we see. Must we really stand on ONE line?? Karatekas don't by example.

[mitsourugi]

well one the reasons of this is the turning needed in Aikido, In Karate (I am a Shodan in Okinawan Shorin Ryu, but I´ve been studying Shotokan Kenkojuku (japanese karate) for the last 5 years), and that in karate we seek to end the conflict with one strike if possible, while remaning stable, so the movements in straight line are preferable.