I Was an Aikido Sensei And Got DESTROYED
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2021
- I was an Aikido black belt for years and then one day I got destroyed by a BJJ blue belt. Little did I know where this experience will take me next...
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Welcome to the Martial Arts Journey UA-cam channel!
My name is Rokas. I'm a Lithuanian guy who trained Aikido for 14 years, 7 of them running a professional Aikido Dojo until eventually I realized that Aikido does not live up to what it promises.
Lead by this realization I decided to make a daring step to close my Aikido Dojo and move to Portland, Oregon for six months to start training MMA at the famous Straight Blast Gym Headquarters under head coach Matt Thornton.
After six months intensive training I had my first amateur MMA fight after which I moved back to Lithuania. During all of this time I am documenting my experience through my UA-cam channel called "Martial Arts Journey".
Now I am slowly setting up plans to continue training MMA under quality guidance and getting ready for my next MMA fight as I further document and share my journey and discoveries.
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If you want to support my journey, you can make a donation to my PayPal at info@rokasleo.com
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► • Aikido vs MMA - REAL ...
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#Aikido #MartialArts #BJJ - Спорт
"My life really changed when I lost my Stevie Seagull ponytail".
🤣🤣
😆
Seagull... 😂🤣😂
ponytail is the final belt in Aikido
@@vincev268 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
It sounds like your friend wasn’t “letting” you win. He knew what he was doing. He set a bar. When you could eventually submit him, he raised the bar, pushing you to do more. But not going all out every time so as to discourage you.
This. It is definitely the primary way for someone to vastly Superior skill to help people catch up. I got to train for several years under a manhood done martial arts for more than 50 years with a couple of decades of that being in japan. He competed on the US Olympic judo team one year, and had an eighth degree black belt in the particular style of karate he was teaching. Those are just a couple highlights among a ridiculous amount of qualifications that he had, and that weren't that hard to go verify. I learned a lot under him but if he had only ever sparred with us full force we would only ever have lost. I remember the first time I got to see him fight a black belt, and it wasn't until then that I realized that I wasn't even capable of comprehending the skill level someone can develop in 50 years of dedicated training. When he opened a school in our area, I started training from as soon as it opened, so there weren't black belts yet except for the one who was teaching us. I always wondered what it would be like for him as an old man to go up against one of the black belts who surely hadn't been training nearly as long, but was perhaps younger and faster and more athletic. when I finally got to see him spar one of the black belts, it looked exactly the same as when he starred with a white belt. his opponent had more skill, but the amount of effort he had to exert in order to win didn't look any different. If he didn't set us a low bar when grappling with us he could have just pinned us indefinitely. He could submit us at will. he could probably literally have killed us with strikes had he wanted to. Martial arts strikes don't kill nearly as easy as easily has a lot of martial artists believe or want other people to believe, but I got to see this man do plenty of things I would have thought were impossible beforehand. The point is, setting a bar for you to rise to, and then letting you actually achieve that bar every now and then before moving it again is by far the best way to bring you from knowing nothing to being an expert. It's still a slow process, obviously, but it sounds like that original training partner did very much the right thing.
@Chris Hoenshell Aikido doesn't shine in any competition. It shines on the stage, and it's also pretty good practice if you're badly out of shape, have horrible coordination, that stuff. Which is also important.
When I first tried Hapkido competition training, I got injured in the first session. After a few years of Aikido training, I tried BJJ, and while I did get injured again, it only happened after almost a year this time, and healed a lot faster, and without medical intervention.
That's usually what a lot of more experienced BJJ people do. They do just enough to destroy you and the better you get, the more they raise the bar. Eventually new people join the gym and you then see how much your jiu jitsu works against unstrained people. It's a beautiful thing
That's exactly how you teach BJJ.
Exactly
I respect this man so much for actually facing reality and putting in the work.
Same
He did not face reality, as he didn’t realize, that’s not the black belt and not Aikido are the problems, but the fact, that he’s not there yet and he lacks of self-reflection to realize that.
@@Memorixt ok bro. Sure 🙄.
@@Memorixt Someone need to eat a slap back to reality
@@akirosensei :)
I practiced Aikido for two years, and I will say the most practical and useful thing I learned was how to tumble out of a fall. In Aikido I must have flipped or tumbled out of falls thousands of times. I never used it for fighting but I used it several times learning how to ride a skateboard, inline skating, roller skating and even running.
Essential skiing skills. Hit the slopes buddy!
My dad trained in aikido for 30 plus years and taught me as well for about 10 and he always said the most important thing about aikido was learning to fall and roll. He fell off motorcycles, bikes, etc and rolling helped minimize the damage.
That is fine, and it may be true for you. But just because you and this guy were terrible, it doesn’t mean anything. I have see people suck in all martial arts; just as I have taken out many BJJ/MMA people that believed Aikido was BS because they don’t get it (like these idiots that put out these videos.)
Funny thing is that this guy in this video continues to be a terrible
Martial Artist in every sense, and he doesn’t even grasp that BJJ is a sport (per its creators.)
@@user-ww2mb3lk6z Better to be a sport than utter BS.
@@user-ww2mb3lk6z Who pissed in your corn flakes?
A simple rule of thumb is this: If your goal is to be able to actually apply your art in combat and the style you practice only contains cooperative training, it's time to start looking elsewhere.
This! I took aikido when I was a kid and every "art" I was taught required the cooperation of the attacker in order to work. Never made any sense to me since if I decided not to "play along" i would never end up on the mat.
@@NateO123 yea but thats when your learning it as a kid, later you practice it on ppl throwing punches
@Ayeato that so? Pretty much all of the footage I see of adults practicing it still look like the attacker is cooperating, dude basically confirmed as much in this video too lol. Truth is time is way better spent learning boxing, bjj, or muai thai, or just good ol mma if you've got time.
@@iatsd I pretty much agree with everything that you just said, and that's just it, aikido generally presents itself as a legitimate self defense system, as do so many of its practitioners. And at least from what I've seen they never break their own illusion because they claim their philosophy forbids them from using their techniques in any situation other than one where its legitimate self defense. I absolutely encourage anyone that wants to train the philosophy and the lifestyle while also getting some safe and healthy exercise while they're at it to pursue aikido to their hearts content. But I do think most people choose to train martial arts out of a desire to learn how to defend themselves, and its pretty clear that virtually any other martial art is more practically applied to such a purpose than aikido.
@@Ayeato You're talking out of your ass. I wasted 4 years on aikido. Realism is and never will be a part of aikido. And if you want health benefits, take up yoga or pilates.
There is a huge difference between being a great martial artist and being a fighter.
That's so true. The founder of Aikido wanted Aikido to express something different to fighting. So, he didn't intend it to be a method of combat. I made a video about Aikido on my channel. Please check it out and let me know what you think 🙏🏾
This guy trained 10ys of Aiki-DO and never understood what was doing.
yea both dont exist .... and are faked ... cman mate show me some chi power lmfao .. fk off mate its all bullshit , any good boxer will destroy a kung flu flog fighter .. period !!
@@martialartsaddict9966 no its not true at all ... aikido is fake martial arts .. period and you sir are fake aswell
@@craigwatson4413 You are just a sheep. I bet that you have never had a fight in your life. You just speak out of your a**. The real application of most martial arts was war; therefore, they were meant to disable/kill the opponent. The real application of martial arts is illegal in an idiots sport. See, boxing and MMA were meant to continue gladiators, but with a different name. They were made to see others destroying each other for the pleasure of a brainless audience. Those boxers and MMA fighters, or idiots, are slowly getting permanent damage of their brain and body for no reason other than stupidity.
I’ve been training BJJ for 16 years, your story is interesting to hear. The examination you put your own martial art thru “Aikido” is impressive. Most people would never go out of their comfort zone to learn something new. I have a feeling you made a lot of friends along the way I bet, learned a lot about yourself, about others, about life. Sounds like a true martial artist, well done, congrats to you!
there is no such thing as BJJ, its JJ
@@gregoryeverson741 useless input from someone who doesn't understand basic martial arts history 👍.
@@JM.MEL_ I understand that JJ didnt come from fucking Brazil
@@gregoryeverson741 Jiu Jitsu originated in Japan in like the year 800 and incorporated so much more than any modern form of Jiu Jitsu. Than, guns were invented, and the military need for the art was lost. It eventually devolved into sport, devolving into judo, karate and modern japanese jiu jitsu as well as aikido for older more injury prone martial artists. Helio Gracie, a Brazillian, traveled to Japan and learned a much more combat focused jiu jitsu that was rooted deeper in older combat jiu jitsu. He refined the art and took only what worked universally. He went back to Brazil and started "vale tudo", which means "anything goes" in english. The Gracies were undefeated and became legends and that was where the term Brazilian Jiu Jitsu came from. In fact, he was so successful, they came to the USA and started UFC and was undefeated until other fighters learned BJJ.
Why dont we refer to things as Sumerian, Ancient Egyptian, or Mesopotamian, even if it originated there? That's because things are taken and evolved on. Maybe you read this entire comment, maybe not. If you did I hoped you learned a thing or two about the history of Jiu Jitsu and maybe wont make such a misinformed comment next time.
@@gregoryeverson741if youre gonna troll at least be creative 💀
I like your attitude of being totally honest with yourself and never giving up!
The journey is the destination. Great video Rokas!
Thank you Ramsey! Really glad to know you liked the video. Also, very well placed quote on the journey and destination 😊
Every journy has a destination. With martial arts, there is no destination
Ohh! I'm glad to see my two favorite "Martial Arts UA-camrs" interacting hahah. I love you both, dudes!
you should have gone to brazil....to a jiu jitsu academy and not to a mma studio, you would notice a great difference, with a focus on self defense rather than a competion based, or try the torrance gracie academy or the rickson gracie...
@@MartialArtsJourney Hi Rokas. Please, Check out Don's channel "CatchJitsu.com" here on UA-cam. I think he can show you how understanding body mechanics can make work any martial art, including Aikido. He applies Aikido techniques in Grappling, BJJ and MMA real sparring and matches. He might have some answers of what your looking for. :) /watch?v=n6BaK-huDRU
You rolled with and submitted your ego - the toughest opponent of all. Thank you for sharing!
Mad respect for your humbleness, persistence and willingness to keep learning!!!
Humility*
The algorithm brought me here, and I gotta say I really enjoy hearing about your journey and though you could have made this a tale of regret, your infectiously positive spirit and drive to move forward is exactly what progression is all about. I love to see it.
I trained nearly all my life in TSD with a few years of TKD at one point (I'm a bit older at 48) and was fortunate to have a blast and study under some really great instructors. On a parallel, I've always been a skateboarder, and I believe if you remove the combat element of "martial arts," it may very well be one as well. I've been considering joining a local Gracie BJJ studio near me, as age and injuries have and will have some effect on striking, but they never change leverage.
Awesome stuff man. I let my journey seep more into the skateboarding world, and in that I can relate to the need/compulsion to elevate yourself in a way that feels legitimate internally (a term used in many professions is "imposter syndrome").
Respect to you. Keep crushing ahead.
Very candid reflection
Wat up my Asian brother
No way ofcourse I find you there
Of course youd be here lol, keep doing more of these debunking womens self defence techniques. They're amazing
Very humbling. Not many people are so honest with themselves.
Thank you a lot this is a very good lesson - perseverance in adversity actually builds your inner confidence, not despite but thanks to the losses. I also picked up one thing you sait in another purpose. "Make sure you opponent deserve his victory" looks like a good mental stance, as I'm always judging myself before a fight, letting fears coming and even during it when I feel like I'm loosing. It feels more comfortable this way to just give the best of myself without overthinking the result. Thank you !
Nice. Thank you. Your humility is a great strength and teacher. Respect for you from me.
INCREDIBLE!. Just incredible. No words for how amazing and inspirational this video was. 10/10 sir.
Thank you Martial Mind! Really cool to get a positive comment from you :)
This guy is fake and gay. No belts in aikido my friend. Only what are called
Dans, or levels. Inspirational, hahaha 😆 thats rich.
@@jackhammer7824 Aikido does have a belt system. 2nd degree black belt and 2nd Dan are the same thing moron.
@@captaincaveman8532 My nugget, MAYBE in jerk town USA you wear a G string . I don't know. My sensi is from Japan
Been here teaching for 50 years.
I was informed in Dogo no belts essistance I've only hear of. Dans .
So so sorry.....
Namasti
He scammed money from his students and u call him inspirational 😆 😂
I’ve been waiting for this; a condensed version that shows big steps in your journey, so that I can easily share it with my circles
Thanks! I'm happy to hear it will be useful for that!
You’re a great storyteller and I enjoyed listening to your experience. Thanks for sharing it and best of luck on your BJJ journey.
Thank you! 🙏
Thank you for being so honest. It's a rare quality nowadays. Truly appreciated.
Thank you
You are the realest out... it takes a lot of courage to get over the sunken cost fallacy and go again after 10 years effort. Kudos.
Years and years ago I studied Aikido and got my brown belt. I still have it somewhere in my closet. I sort of knew right away that it wasn't a fighting art and that it wouldn't fair well against anyone with a combat mentality. Sure, you could pull off some moves against a belligerent but untrained person, but that's about it. Still, I loved all that time in the dojo. Aikido introduced me to Japanese culture and aesthetics. I always liked the phrase dynamic zen when applied to Aikido. The focus of a good Aikido student in my opinion is inner balance and having a peaceful, calm and confident energy. Those were the lessons that I took from Aikido.
Much later in life I got into boxing and as you can imagine the energy was very different. Here I was confronted with people who were legitimately dangerous and out to hurt you, even in training. For one of my first sparring sessions I was with a very violent young man who tried to knock me out (and almost did before the trainer saved me). I needed to find the other side of myself, the inner animal, the cold-hearted warrior ready to give as good as he gets. I got to be around and to know a lot of legitimate tough guys, ex-gang members, prison guards and cops. Over the years I've had doctors point out the permanent damage I've sustained by this sort of combat training and competition. My nose will never be the same. The chips in my teeth tell a story and there is still a grey mass that shows up on xrays where part of my lower left lung was crushed with a body shot. The ribs healed but that lung isn't coming back. So I understand when the community at large distrusts the inner city boxing gym. They look at boxing coaches as people putting weapons into the hands of the violent and uncontrolled. "You're playing with fire" they say. But a very wise boxing writer once wrote that boxing isn't the fire, it's the stove. It's the thing that contains and controls the fire and turns it into something useful. Ah ha, I heard an echo of my Aikido training there. Sure enough it became true. Proper training, even in the potentially violent atmosphere of a boxing gym, can lead you towards an inner balance and give you a calm and confident energy. Just as Aikido does with it's pacifist mentality.
People are always going on about one martial art being better then the other, yadda yadda yadda. And yes it's true, there are obvious advantages that some have. But let's not kid ourselves too much. The vast majority of people, even life long martial artists, will never have to test their skills in a real fight, especially after they've grown out of their 20's. Humans are hard wired against it and we have all kinds of safety valves to avoid the potential dangers of real combat. Sports, for example. Things like BJJ tournaments, football, hockey and even chess are all surrogates for combat. They allow us to get close to and explore our perceived talents without really risking anything. But what good is your closed guard or Philly shell when the other guy is willing to return late at night and burn your house down with your children still in it? How does your kick-boxing fair against a street gang with a long memory and all the time in the world to get it's revenge? Reality check, no MMA champion stands much of a chance against a 14 year old with a handgun when he's willing to use it (and some of them are).
I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you find yourself in actual combat then you've probably already failed as a martial artist. You were either looking for a fight or you were unable to see a fight coming from a mile away (and you can almost always see a fight coming from a mile away). So by all means lets all go through our martial arts journey. There will be times when we're destroyed and times when we're the destroyer. But for you, if I had to guess, I would say that years from now when you're in your 50's, 60's, 70's you'll circle back to where you began and the pinnacle of your warrior art will be deep breathing, a nice clean dojo, and a peace seeking demeanour.
The head of our akido federation used to say if someone really needs to defend themselves then they should buy a gun. It would be very odd indeed to spend years and years studying.
@@jeremymanson1781 bruh, not everyone lives in america
@@sw-gz9ps Thats true - I don't live in the USA.
As an alternative, another of my senior teachers told us boxing was the quickest way to gain some basic coordination, speed, strength and skills. A punch is uncomplicated and much faster than a kick.
Really effective aikido takes a very long time to learn compared to boxing and anyway, aikido is more focused on self development, rather than on street fighting and practical self-defence.
@@jeremymanson1781 boxing is useless if you end up on the ground, and since 90% of fights end up on the ground its best to know some striking (boxing is fine for this), grappling (like bjj), takedowns (like judo) and clinch work in case of close quarters (like muay thai) also might as well invest in some 100m dash in case you can just run away. you dont have to be a master in any of these, just decently proficient.
@@sw-gz9ps I agree. First don't be there. Second talk your way out. Third run like hell. Grappling experience is great. However that does add another level of complexity and time commitment. I was just looking at the quickest bit of fighting skill an individual could get a hold of.
What a beautiful and humble story! Thank you for sharing it. Wishing you continued growth and success in your journey. Oss 🤜💥🤛!
Rokas you are so humble. The "Martial Arts journey" is about a person, NOT about a style.
Thank you Shane
I just watched 3 of your videos when I searched about Aikido in YT. YOU ARE AWESOME. Your humility is a gift that many people don't have. That is what will allow you to touch more people's lives. Good luck!
Thank you 😊🙏
As the saying goes, "It's not the goal that makes you who you are, it's the journey that does"
Ok miley cyrus 😂
Another great video! One of my favorites from when I first found your Channel! 🔥
Great video man! It gave me a lot to think about. Thanks for sharing and greetings from Brazil!
I had a similar journey with Hapkido. I trained Catch Wrestling after my Hapkido black belt. Smart move. You need constant resistance to submission attempts, otherwise training is wasteful.
👊
Worlds apart in comfort zone. Catch is mean. Good on you!
@@clydenolet736 So, be mean back.
same sort of experience..still study a more traditional style but did some training in catch and it changes everything. You need to at the very least, know your way off your back and how to finish someone quick from the top. I love catch's approach... maybe less technical and more whatever you can get and principle based.
bruce lee said grapplers and wrestlers are tge toughest opponents to face. that is why he always preached be good at striking and grappling, be good at everything . the striker's kryptonite is the grappler and wrestler. be water my friend, adapt to the situation by having the skills on every thing
This video is the definition of "never stop learning."
Loved it man
Nice vid. Your search for confidence is very recognisable for me. I was a kyokushin brownbelt and 2nd grade wing chun technician with no confidence. Both of the arts didn't serve me well in real fights. Later I found my confidence because of experiences. Finding confidence is one of the most important things in martial arts. Thanks for sharing.
Kyokushin is pretty legit at least tho bro you guys spar hard, only downside is no punches on the face
That was very brave of you to go through and share. I think I'll have a brutal look at myself even at my old age and learn something or improve something about myself.
Awesome!
I feel that as well. I'm older, but want to believe that there is more I can still learn and apply.
Thank you Rokas for your video.
I am a black belt in Aikido. But I find it liberating to be a low rank belt in other martial art (in my case I'm a karate orange belt). I can go to a karate seminar and I don't have to prove anything to anyone. I'm just a beginner and I can concentrate just to learn new stuff. Partners in practice realise soon that I'm not a regular beginner, and I have experience in something. But I try to not to show off. If they ask, I tell them.
One thing I would like to point out to aikido folks: when someone from a different martial art starts in aikido, take that as an opportunity to learn. You can test how your aikido works on someone who doesn't move or behave like an aikidoka. Like Rokas did with his BJJ friend. Sadly I have seen a tendency in Aikido practitioners that when they meet someone they have difficulties to do a technique, they start avoiding these persons. They miss a great opportunity to learn.
I have had a pleasure to teach Aikido to "beginners", who are practitioners on Judo, BJJ, Kraw Maga, Muay Thai and Karate. One was a Russian war veteran, who taught me close combat techniques of Russian military. I think I learned more from them that what I teached them about Aikido, and I am really grateful for them.
Good comment. The issue for me though was that encountering those who had proficiency in other arts was kinda what opened my eyes to the illusion I was engaging in with regard to my Aikido. It's not that I wasn't open to the ideas or concepts they brought with them.....but rather.....that I found my aikido almost entirely ineffective against how a Karateka would throw a punch (strangely they did not leave their arm hanging in space waiting for my kotegaeshi) or that a Judoka would not do a wrist or collar grab and entirely surrender their center of balance so I could lead them in circles for iriminage. I found myself subtly pressuring them to "empty their cup of preconceptions" gathered from their former art so they could be present in the Aikido dojo and learn what Aikido had to offer. This was intended to sound like wise Japanese folk wisdom..... but a distant part of me understood I was basically asking them to stop being so realistic so I could do my Aikido techniques.
Once you see it, you can't un-see it and then you begin seeing the delusion everywhere. In your own day to day practice, in the practice of your kohai and sempai, and even in other dojos' you visit or in the seminars you attend. Kata and cooperation with nary an ounce of reality.
This did not stop my Aikido practice immediately however. I simply continued to train with the understanding that although Aikido was providing me with many things I valued and enjoyed, martial techniques with actual real world efficacy wasn't really among them. What stopped me was the reaction that came from my fellow Aikidoka whenever I touched on my new understanding in conversation. I got tired of being told it might be true of "some" aikido but certainly not theirs. I realized I could not continue to be a participant and thereby facilitate what I came to regard as durable and dangerous delusion.
I'm still friends with some of those people and their delusions endure despite a complete inability to apply aikido techniques to me anymore. They rationalize this by suggesting it's not "fair" because I know the techniques they are trying to apply and can thus counter them. It bounces right off their information bias filter when I explain I'm not doing anything other than offering a real world reaction to their attempt to grab my hand or lead me around in sweeping circles. I explain to them the same is true in my day to day practice in BJJ. I train with people on a daily basis who often know exactly what I'm trying to do and actively try to counter me and that training WITH that resistance present, as opposed to forbidding it, makes all the difference.
Sadly as Carl Sagan once said about delusions: That's the thing about being bamboozled. Once you been taken in you tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle....you lose interest in discovering the truth.....and it simply becomes too painful to admit to yourself that you've been bamboozled.
These preconceptions I blame for the misunderstanding of martial arts from film and the like. It has been a mixed blessing. Aikido is exactly what it is. Think of fencing as opposed to it's more aboriginal forms it developed from. It became specialized and sportorized to a degree that is truly is unrecognizable. Including the weapons themselves. Though still dangerous and people have died from broken sabres they are themselves sportorized and meant to diminish harm as much as possible. Their weight and balance and feel are totally different from the sabres and smallswords they came from.
What I am saying is that one shouldnt look to fencing to learn to kill with a sword. Also one shouldnt judge fencing because it isnt the old art taught by swordmasters. It is an art and a sport.
Ideally one should learn from the art to train to fight.
"You can test how your aikido works on someone who doesn't move or behave like an aikidoka"....exactly my point.....as that's just another way of saying "Someone who has not learned the Aikido choreography yet."
This is a great tale of self knowledge, thanks for sharing, I appreciate a lot watching it. I've been training BJJ for the past 7 years and I remembered how grateful I was to acknowledge ny own development
Awesome story - very inspiring. I don't do any martial arts, but love to watch people take part in them. I respect the dedication and discipline.
A Wonderful video! Truthful, Honest and Dripping with Integrity! Thanks for sharing!
I wanted to do BJJ, but I live in a place without BJJ classes and then my health failed. Now, I'm lucky to have the strength to take a walk every day. My journey now is just to walk around the yard.
And that's an awesome journey! We all work with what we have and that'd what matters 👊
I hope you feel better 🙏
Do judo or wrestling or boxing just do even if there is no gym you can roll with friends read books train at home
In that case even vs aikdo would help. sure you might not fight with It, but you'll still improve coordination, mental focus, Tendon strength. Anytbings better than nothing man.
and that situations blows.
@@thac0twenty377 Recently, much of my exercise has just been shoveling snow. I can usually only do it for three to seven minutes at a time before I become too tired and need to rest for an hour, but I do what I can. I have a five pound medicine ball that I lift while I"m sitting in the recliner watching videos. I shoot a PCP air rifle sometimes, and refilling the reservoir requires using a high pressure hand pump that looks like an old fashioned bicycle pump. That gives me some squats every few days. I'm sure that there's no aikido class in my area, and again, my problem is an inability to do much of anything for an hour at a time. I'm still trying to do whatever I can in small increments. I have a heavy bag leftover from when I was healthy. It's in an unheated shop, but when the shop is warm enough, I'll go hit it for three to five minutes. I don't have much power any longer, but I can at least throw a few punches, elbows, and even a kick or two.
I don't know why this video popped up on my feed when it did but as someone who has been struggling with motivation while training BJJ lately, I needed to hear this.
I've been having serious doubts about myself lately while training/rolling and I haven't been able to snap out of it. Hearing stories like yours reminds me the journey isn't easy but it's worth making because I'll find my footing eventually. Thank you for sharing.
Watched your whole video. What a journey, thanks for sharing bro
Very nice inspirational speech applicable to anybody, any field. Struggle is real and helpful. Congratulations to you in your journey.
Your humility and hunger to learn shines through so many of your videos. I don't know that many people could do what you have done, breaking free of a community to pursue real and valid questions, all while acknowledging the good things your martial art taught you but confronting its flaws. It's inspiring, thank you for making this content.
superb telling of your story Rokas. the best and most admirable thing about it, is that you still keep your humility and your respect towards others.
Thank you Santiago!
Thanks for your honesty, man! And to share with us.
Thank you for this, I really needed it!
respect man, inspires me to continue my own journey
Awesome video, I definitely know where you’re coming from. Keep up your training, there’s a lot more to learn. 👍🏽
Damn straight bro 🤟! Nothing Of value comes easy!🙏
Thank you so much for this video. Very refreshing. Definitely helps me too. 🙏🏼🙂
"I went around the world submitting every Gracie I could find and after accomplishing that I reluctantly allowed them to give me my blue belt as there was still some Jiu jit su master in Brazil in the mountains I could not submit as I could not locate him!"
Haha 😂
Hey Kazushi Sakuraba. What’s up?
the gracie killer!
"After I finally found him, I took my two stripes off again prior to meeting him"
the Gracies were punks who lost most of their fights... they set absurd rules that heavily favored them and still got their ass kicked all the damn time...
I've loved watching your journey!
Thanks!
I love your videos . I'm going to watch all of them
Great video! I sincerely hope that you continue the journey.......
Respect to be able to humble yourself like that!
I've been watching this guy, saw his Aikido progression, proud of where his personal journey has come too...very cool guy...Bruce Lee was right, a belt holds your pants up lol.....
Haha, thanks Mike!
Did Bruce actually say it?. it would be hilarious if he did
@@trieulieuf9 I'm pretty sure it was a quote from Mr. Miyagi (Karate Kid) lol.......
@@trieulieuf9 if you trust google he actually said that. But its also a Karate Kid quote by mr. Myagi.
@@trieulieuf9 actually mr miyago was quoting bruce lee
That's awesome man. Love the Chanel
This is what a true martial artist is. Take in what works and discard what doesn't do not live in a bubble of self delusion that your martial arts is the solution to every hand-to-hand combat situation. I just started out my martial arts journey this year and joined an MMA gym sure I'm still a noob and get pretty rekt quickly but I am welcoming the long journey ahead. The channel title you picked is really true to your goal Rokas! I hope your journey takes you to newer and greater horizons.
That was nice to follow. I appreaciate the fact that you don't hold on your Aikido status despite the years of training and that you are capable of going further even if that implies going back to nearly 0. Your testimony made me wish I have pursued martial sports and going in it seriously.
He should hold to his aikido status. It is a lovely and noble art. It is inherently defensive and probably not the best choice if one wants to learn to fight in combat.
Now when you begin to learn a new sport or art you to let go of preconceptions developed from your former artform and unlearn any bad habits you might have developed before and after your previous studies.
But as you progress in your new discipline you can bring back what works from your past studies, finally divorced from the previous things I had mentioned and incorporate all the beauty and utility of the art you had studied before.
Throwing away any noble art is sad. It would be imo wrong to do so.
If you want to learn to fight in the streets, then forget the sports side. Real life fights have only one rule, SURVIVE, and by any means necessary. No mats, no rolling around on the ground and thinking you can fight. Sure BJJ is good for one on one, or in a controlled environment. Any more than one person though, your going to get your head kicked in. Stop believing the UFC hype, thats not real life, and is a very controlled environment, ON MATS. Impractical besides creat space and get back on your feet.
Amazing that you came forward and told the truth and spent the time to learn a totally different martial art exactly what I did at the age of 30 went into a kickboxing gym and got my ass beat stuck with you for 3 years and I thought I didn't deserve a beating every other lesson I walked out of there after 3 years and I thought myself screw the belt they gave me didn't mean nothing to me my knowledge and my dignity did and my training 25 years later I am accomplished Marshall artist I know art sometimes you've got to get down and dirty that's the only way to learn
Working against pressure in training is extremely important. Great video!
Great Journey. Respect for that much work.
This guy's speech should be shown in each and every Martial Arts Dojo
Really enjoyed watching that, thank you. I started BJJ at 37 with very little previous martial arts experience.
I'm 5 months into my journey now, still a 0 stripe white belt and I couldn't be happier to have found this sport.
It's improved my life so much.
That's normal at good gyms that don't promote to fast . I been rolling for a 1.5 years and the last year I been rolling 5 days a week and I just recently got my 3rd stripe
Really inspiring!!! - that's the best way to master with confidence with setting set to "VERY HARD""
Great journey. Great message.
I have respect for both Aikido and BJJ. But I've decided to train in Judo for the grappling part of martial arts.
Judo throw just feel so good :D
recently I got my brown belt
I’m a brown belt in judo. I personally think judo is under appreciated compared to wrestling and bjj. Very effective and beautiful martial art. Good on you. 👊🏼
@@rubituesday823 The Gracies did a great job marketing the SHIAT out of BJJ.
Aikido is sth I want to do after i retire in Judo because i can't do ramdori anymore
Not everybody suffers through disillusionment so humbly. Thanks for being a good sport.
Well told story. May your journey toward greatness continue.
Thanks Baron
Love your honesty. May the road rise with you.
I trained multiple martial arts, mainly Karate. I also gave Aikido a try, but not for long. To me it was clear pretty fast that the training style there does not really teach you to fight cause the "opponent" lets you beat him and then you do the same for them, exactly as you stated. But the training was not useless, you learn to fall and roll and how to move in a lock or throw so that you dont get hurt easily. If you are able to win a fight against someone by Aikido you would probably be able to do so by any other mean.
I was told on my first night of training Aikido that it’s not for winning fights, it’s for quickly subduing an attacker and then getting the hell out of there before they get back up
So it takes years to teach you stuff you'll learn in your few weeks of training any actual martial art? Lol just teasing you but as someone who trained aikido as a teen and went to train BJJ at uni when I was 18, the intensity and speed of learning in BJJ classes was seriously like 100 times quicker than aikido which was more like a very weird dance class for the elderly and little children and completely, and I mean COMPLETELY useless.
To me, it seems like Aikido is something that is intended as a supplemental art to whatever ones you practice rather than a complete art to use. It doesn't teach you any real offensive techniques for example, and is fully focused on defense. This then becomes an issue when some guy gets his black belt in Aikido and begins to teach people Aikido that doesn't work because he himself doesn't know all of the parts he should've already known by the time he started it.
you did not truly practice Aikido and to say it is useless shows your lack of knowledge @@aw2584
Just go to Thailand and try learn Muay Thai and keep doing your bjj and mma practice..you are an amazing man, i'm sure one day you Will be a great martial artist
Thanks :) Thailand is on my list
@Rune Age Mage One of the many cool things about MT is that there is some grappling (clinches) in it already! I used to train in it and that was one of my favorite parts about it.
Just to be charitable, "one day you will be a great martial artist." I'd say a black belt makes him a great martial artist already. It's debatable how applicable it is in combat. But martial arts are so much wider than combat. There are martial arts in drawing a sword, martial arts in dance variations. No less "martial arts."... An art is an art, and I can respect anybody putting ten+ years into self-expression and study.
Just being kind here, without insulting him. Hard work and devotion to receive a black belt is a rare, top 1% of the population sort of thing.
@@scottrogers1493 True. And aikido is not a martial art that hands out black belts after just a couple years. I used to train in aikido for many years, at several different dojos, and I never saw or heard of anyone getting a black belt in under 5 years. It was usually much longer than that.
You are honest and after many years of training, i know it isn't easy.. respect
I’ve found both your videos and others to be very informative as to how I’ve wanted to pursue my martial arts career. I was lucky enough to start out with bjj. That gave me lots of confidence to be able to handle myself. But I still felt that something was missing. I added taekwondo and hapkido. Thinking that would be all and end all to add to my tool belt. But then I started watching these videos. Ive come to a realization it really isn’t the martial art, more how you use it. My tkd sparring may be foot-fencing as I’ve seen people so say. But the concept of the kicks working? That’s been proven. And it’s more how you apply that knowledge. Not how much you know. Just that little token has shifted my mindset and got me thinking a lot better. I wanna say thanks for that. I still have time to go before my name will mean anything in the world. But you my friend, remind me that it is possible at any point in time in your life to start doing what you want to do with it
Aikido teaches you how to take a fall. I was once hit by a car and walked away unhurt because I knew to roll with the impact. Something I learned during years of Aikido training.
Just like Pro Wrestling.
That is good but I think Judo would offer you the same, plus some more applicable martial arts skills. I don't think Aikido is useless, but it's definitely not the most usable for combat.
Yes did Hapkido I have taken 3 hard falls onto concrete and walked away unhurt.
I have learned Aikido and I and my friends have similar accidents and it works. It's a long journey and many things to explore about Aikido.
@@nongluxzhao574 get a black belt after ten years to prepare you for a deadly fall 😂😂
Man, I've watched a few of these videos by Roka since he first started posting, but this is the first time watching in a long time. He sure has changed. Even his voice has changed. He still sounds quiet and gentle... but at the beginning, in the early videos he sounded, ....dunno ...kinda wimpy, now he sounds strong and confident. Anyway, I'm impressed.
I had not visited your channel since 4 or 5 years ago, after you had your "wake-up call" after a MMA sparring. Glad to see that you're now enjoying BJJ !
I really appreciate your honesty and your integrity. Great job
Honesty always prevails!
Solid video! Thanks for testimony; I feel like a lot of people feel similarly when switching from, pretty much any martial art to BJJ, myself included!
Thank you for your humility and honesty.
This is a great video. Thank you for your honesty.
Thank you Rich
You're such a decent bloke. Love listening to your videos.
Thank you 🙏
Yours was truly a MARTIAL ARTS JOURNEY. The channel's name is more fitting now than ever before! Thank you for taking us with you throughout this journey Rokas!
Thank you 🙏
great lesson, thank you for sharing
I enjoyed this video. Nice breakdown.
As someone who learn aikido for around 12 years since i was 6, this feels so relateable. I struggle a lot with self confidence right now, and i know and realized that i always lacked confidence. Training aikido for as long as i can remember didn't expose me to any resistance nor struggle to get better or to compete. I didn't grew up with that and ends up growing like a spoiled brat who never taste the dust.. Your story about trying something new and struggle through defeats is really inspiring for me. Thank you very much.
But, that doesn't mean i dont love aikido. I love aikido and i'm sure someday i will get my own black belt and hakama. But not so soon, i will be back to aikido later after i learn more experience from my own martial arts journey
Aikido is useless in real life learn a real fighting art
@@EndingVisions well it saved me from bullies during my school years.. so im still grateful.. but yeah maybe if i live in a place like US where bullying could probably result in going to hospital or worse, actual fighting martial art would be more useful..
“I do not deserve my blue belt” says everyone ever... till they realize they do deserve it 🤙🤙
Haha, good point :)
Thanks Brother for this great video
I love everything about this story!
man this guy is so humble most people in his place would just keep the stripes but he gave them away due to the fact he didn't think he earned it very inspirational
That's why he kept losing cause he didn't believe in himself and kept expecting way too much from his opponents. "I dont deserve it, I dont deserve it" to the point he believed it you should be confident not too humble.
This video shows you are an incredible martial artist, because of your open minded mentality to learning new disciplines and humble attitude 💪🏼🤙🏼
Thank you for posting this. So many ppl will delude even themselves, but instead of constructing a false narrative to save your self esteem/pride/years wasted, you had the balls to tell the truth.
Not alot of men could bring themselves to do that these days. You are a true martial artist.
I want to let know man. You inspired. I love your content bro 😎. Thank you
Thank you! Means a lot to me
This was very interesting. I trained Judo in an organized gym and with my uncle who is a black belt and while I was only a yellow belt (first grade after white), I was able to take down blue and even one brown belt once! Simply because I wasn't focusing on learning ALL the techniques, which you are required to if you want to gain higher graded belts. Instead I was focusing on a small array of techniques that were physically easy for me to do and master, and I wanted to really FEEL like I had mastered each technique before moving on. The results were enormous, and my uncle once said, and I quote: "For a minute there I really thought I was going to tap out to a yellow belt". I did not win that sparring duel, but it just goes to show that a coloured belt doesn't decide how good you are, in the end it's all about your willpower and determination.
My point here is: Don't ever doubt yourself or your opponent!
100% this. Specialization generally trumps generalization. I practice HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts), specifically Germanic Longsword with Celtic Shortsword as a side focus. There are so many people that want to perfect every move at once who lose to beginners that only know the basic concept of weak/strong (The 'weak' of a blade is farther away from your grip, the 'strong' is closer, you have more leverage against an opponent with your 'strong') and some footwork. I'm not saying there's no point in striving for perfection, only that one should perfect that which works easiest first. All those niche techniques will only be useful .1% of the time, work on what works most.
That's what's the problem with today's MA practitioners. They all focus to get that belt instead of the technique done right. And then they all will self-doubt if they should go for another MA. I remember hearing Steven Seagal saying he practiced one technique for 2 years, 8-10 hours a day. Now that's what I call a dedication.
A colour belt just gives you a benchmark on what level they are supposed to be, as I do nogi a lot I always ask new people what belt they are so I know what I should be expecting and what effort i should exert, if it wasn't for the belt system each match would start off me asking them how long have you been training, what techniques you are comfortable with me using which would be tedious.
I practice taekwondo and my instructor takes a lot of care to focus on technique of skill. It isn’t enough to know a technique, but to do it with mastery before moving on. I’m old and just started back after 16 years of being out. Are my kicks high? No. But they are really good kicks for their height because I focus on proper technique.
*"I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks, but I fear the man who has practiced 1 kick 10,000 times"* - Bruce Lee
This makes a great point and emphasizes the importance of the journey. Belts, trophies, patches, medals, they are signposts along the way. They may provide a bit of historical knowledge, but after the moment of achievement, they have very little use beyond accessorizing your do-gi. Whatever martial art you study, it is important to realize the destination. If you realize this, it doesn't really matter where you begin as long as you begin. Once this is done, as long as you keep your eye on the destination, you will know when to turn, speed up, slow down, or stop and take a look around. So was Aikido really or mistake, or was it just the place you began that would eventually lead you to the artist and the person you are now? In martial arts and in life, making a deliberate and conscious effort to improve and become more is the secret I would think. 1000 victories, still a beginner.
I trained with a Korean master he wanted his black belts too be examples. He has a great personality. Went by to visit him the other day he's very old and retired now.
Respect man you never give up ,you deserve it
Good on you for learning from your loss
I spent my teenage years learning Chinese Kenpo Karate and, very much like you, I felt it offered little hands-on training. I wasn't the least bit surprised to find out it wasn't a useful technique when MMA became more a part of mainstream culture.
Kenpo should be useful if it was taught correctly. I haven’t personally trained in Kenpo, but seeing it, I think there are transferable skills.
It’s funny how as we progress in martial arts (anything with resistance), or even in any type of skill, we never really feel like we’re as good as we are. IMO that’s a sign that the hunger to improve is solidly ingrained and the pursuit of learning is what is the real gift and not then chasing of belts or “wins”. Great channel
🙏
Needed to hear this. Currently in the being destroyed stage. Thanks.
Thanks for these videos. I have been having lots of inner doubts lately about my Aikido journey. I love the way of this art and my friends that I practice with, but some inner voice is telling me that my journey needs to go somewhere else too. I am thankful that you are providing us with some great insight about how to put one's martial arts practice into perspective.
I was told on my first night of training Aikido that it’s not for winning fights, it’s for quickly subduing an attacker and then getting the hell out of there before they get back up