Aikido: Is it Technique or Principle ?

What are your thoughts?
I approve all comments as long as there is no foul language.

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[FrogmortonHotchkiss]

I think you are asking an intelligent question recshooter, and I suspect that the answer is that while the classic techniques and training-exercises form a body of 'fundamentals', in a real, unpredictable fight all of these should be forgotten and sort of blend seamlessly into your spontaneous, exactly appropriate response to challenges in real-time.

[recshooter]

My thoughts exactly...didn't Ueshiba himself say that aikido, at the highest level, was supposed to be spontaneous?

[FrogmortonHotchkiss]

By the way, Ueshiba also said that anyone who really understood the core principle of Aikido could become as good as him in six months.

While I suspect that this is an exaggeration, it is I think intended to be demonstative of how much Aikido was essentially about spirituality and state of mind rather than technical wizardry.

Still, Ueshiba trained his body and technique relentlessly.

[recshooter]

@FrogmortonHotchkiss

To be fair some have said that Ueshiba banned Tohei from doing any techniques here. IF that is true then that brings up another set of questions, namely that aikido is not "safe" to apply on non-practitioners. The film is kind of jerky but it looks like a kotegaeshi at 39 seconds. Some said that Ueshiba was furious at Tohei for roughing this guy up too much...I don't know

[Fangen88]

well put. When asked if Aikido works for self defense, my teacher always answers with a big smile : "I've been doing Aikido for 40 years now and I never got in a fight, so yeah it works".

Train to fight and you will get into fights, train not to fight and you wont have to.

[shinjukool]

Realize what you are watching? Not that long after the war, a Westerner comes in to shoot a TV show and then wants to do some randori. Though outweighed by 50+ pounds, Tohei sensei is just keeping him off him and putting him down gently. Then the guest goes home. Relief.

If you know even a little about Japanese culture and history, you realize this.

Aikido is a martial art first and foremost, regardless of how some may chose to practice it.

[recshooter]

@Ronnock I practice Systema although that might be an overstatement lol

[nasgaf]

its cool how in reality, when you use it, all aikido is pretty much koykunage

[iexcalibui2]

imagine people add this to their stand up grappling arsenal??

[jmikejapan]

@recshooter Ueshiba's old dojo was known as hell dojo, because the students were injured frequently. His pre war stuff was VERY rough. I have never heard of Tohei as being a rough guy. Having trained in both Aikikai and KI society, I would have to say that Aikikai is more rough and alive. This is just my observation. I'm not aware of Tohei being too rough in any way. A lot of Aikido guys I know say that he was too "nice" when they trained with him, but that doesn't mean he couldn't deliver pain.

[Ricarmem]

Aikido pode até ser eficiente, mas contra leigos e desde que o praticante esteja num nível muito avançado.

[Godfathergame]

My understanding is you must first learn the principle, so that you can create the technique. The technique is the formula an expression of the principles.

[salisburyross]

Roy Suenaka explico esta situacion los norteamericanos eran visitas en el dojo y por lo tanto no se les podia lastimar severamente como en una pelea real

[Ronnock]

@recshooter What do you practice currently?

[FinalKenny2]

My Shihan always is very clear about Aikido NOT being self defense.

I various talks with martial artists I always came to the conclusion that Aikido ultimately is the "formless" martial art.

Also for the attacker it feels that way. Any Aikidoka who trains with good blackbelts knows what I mean... It feels like you are facing nature itself. Sucking you in, letting you fly away, pushing you without being able to resist.

That is what Aikido is about. The katas are there to understand it.