Linda Eskin - Aikido 5th Kyu Exam - Aikido of San Diego

[SoggyGibblets]

This really reminds me of my 5th kyu test! the almost falling over, forgetting the technique and the puzzled look continuously on my uke's face and the weapons! thanks for reminding me of one of the best nights I ever had doing Aikido!

For what it is worth I think you did great, looks like your getting the basics down quite well, awesome job can't wait to see the 4th kyu grading!

[LindaEskin]

@SoggyGibblets LOL I love your description, and I'm glad you had fun. :-) Thank you for the nice note. My 4th kyu exam, and now 3rd, too, are around here somewhere. LOL You can probably see them in the sidebar, or find them by searching, if you like. Cheers. :-)

[russ1q]

In most dojos I know this would be considered a very, very good 5th kyu test. Linda shows the form very well and moves from center...most of the time:-). If she keeps training I'm sure she will enjoy self defensive capability and... much, much more.

Good luck in your training.

[LindaEskin]

@russ1q Hi Russ (?), and sorry for the very delayed reply! Thank you for your very nice comment. I'm preparing now for my 4th kyu test (in November). I hope I've improved... at least a little. Haha... Looking forward to checking out your videos, too. Happy training!

[MrMykl71]

@LindaEskin if you dont mind me asking .. what is your color system for that style in aikido .. are you testing for yellow ?? our system is .. 8th kyu/white, 7th kyu/white - stripe, 6th kyu/yellow, 5th kyu/yellow - stripe, 4th kyu/blue, 3rd kyu/blue - stripe, 2nd kyu/brown, 1st kyu/brown - stripe. then all the dan ranks as follows. im just confused about your ranking system. By the way your test was lax compared to the ones i had, they were grueling & exhausting. difficult sensei perhaps.

[LindaEskin]

@MrMykl71 No problem. In our dojo we start out as unranked (white), then 6th/5th kyu are still white. 4th/3rd are blue, and 2nd/1st are brown. Only yudansha wear hakama. It just helps everyone see relative levels of experience at a glace. Our tests aren't too bad, from an endurance perspective. Of course they get more challenging as you get to the higher ranks. All the best in your training!

[captainCip]

Thank you for sharing. It is brave to expose yourself to those that would presume to judge what they do not understand. Very valid 5th kyu. Enjoy all that you will learn on your Aikido journey!

[LindaEskin]

@captainCip Thank you for your kind words (which I did not notice until just now). As I have prepared for tests (and now am preparing for 4th kyu), I have watched a lot of videos by others, and some have been a great help. Not so much for learning techniques (which vary on tests from dojo to dojo anyway), but for seeing how tests go, generally, and the level at which people are performing. I've appreciated when people have posted theirs, so I hope I can do the same for others.

[maghmhor]

gambatte! Congrats!

[LindaEskin]

Thank you very much. :-)

[PainfullyWitty]

Thanks for posting this great video!

[LindaEskin]

Thank you. You're very kind, and thank you for forgiving the mistakes. :-) Do you practice Aikido?

[LindaEskin]

@PainfullyWitty You're very welcome. I hope you found it helpful, or at least amusing. ;-)

[Cheriec11]

Actually what she said was HER practice of aikido has nothing to do with fighting. We all come to the art with different goals in mind. Not a thing wrong with that.

Wht I get out of my training is not necessarily the same as what my dojo mate gets out of it, I don't think it is possible to ruin aikido or any other martial art. It is however possible to totally mist the point and therefore not get as much out of it as someone who looks at it beyond just the idea of fighting and self defense.

[bigblue162]

good luck in a street fight no offense

[LindaEskin]

None taken. In my 47 years I've never been in a street fight, and don't intend to go around starting any scraps in pubs. :-) My practice of Aikido has nothing to do with fighting.

[janubart]

@LindaEskin

..and that this the reason this unique, interesting and demanding martial art is dying....cause people like You practice aikido with firm belief that it has nothing to do with fighting..sad...

[LindaEskin]

Aikido is not dying, never mind being killed off by "people like me." Yes, it comes from centuries of fighting arts, and yes, it is effective. But O Sensei did not create it to help people become better street fighters.

The goal of most non-sport martial arts is not fighting. It's interesting that even in my video comments field you are trying to start one. If you want to fight, find others who want to fight, and have a great time. I'm not opposed to that, it's just not what I'm up to.

[CheetaRevised]

@janubart There is over 1.5 to 2 million people in the world today practicing Aikido. This includes militaries and police forces. With hundreds of other martial arts to choose from I don't think these numbers would classify it as a "dying art".