Tai Chi has nothing to do with Aikido. Chinese art doesn't come close to AIKI. People don't know anything and talk about what they don't know, that's what's ridiculous about modern internet times.
@@alexandrealves2877 only someone who hasn’t trained in both would say these arts have nothing to do with one another. There are several commonalities, and those are what I was comparing.
Speaking of absorbing an opponents energy, I can remember when I started out in BJJ. Like many white belts, I was aggressive as a means of compensating for lack of technique. At that time, many of the other students (white and color belts) would easily defeat me, but I could feel them meeting my aggression with resistance. They could shut down what I was doing, but I could tell they had to work for it. There was one blue belt (who I believe became Purple soon after) that I absolutely loved rolling with, because he didn't exist. What I mean is, no matter how aggressive I became, I could not feel any resistance from the guy. If I grabbed, he wasn't there. If I pushed, he wasn't there. If I pulled, he wasn't there. Then, all of a sudden, he would be locking out my arm, or choking me. It was like rolling with a ball of dust that had nothing but finishing moves. I felt completely helpless against that guy, but at the same time, I loved feeling that way, because I understood, this was the power of Jiu Jitsu. I have rolled with a lot of people and I don't know that I've ever met another practitioner like him. I wish I knew what he was doing now. Abu Bakr from Ann Arbor, if you are out there . . . I'm talking about you.
There are some basic principles of Aikido that I've used in security. The techniques are significantly more effective against highly motivated and untrained people, whom you have a professional obligation not to harm, than they do against trained martial artists in a sparring setting who retract their punches and have a strong sense of balance.
@Jeremiah "The Abbott" Harrington I help as an assistant instructor teaching Use of Force to Security and Law Enforcement, and I wish we had more officers with training like you. One of the number one reasons the gun comes out is because officers get stressed, tired, and don't have the training to handle the situations they find themselves in. It's a shame that they don't get better training, and that more time isn't spent increasing competency in high stress situations and physical confrontations. I'm sure the diversity of training experiences helped you to keep your composure, which is perhaps more important than any fighting skill.
@@nathanbateman4255 , I would think the number one reason the “gun come out” is because the LE Officer wants to go home to his family! The dregs of society don’t value life, and there are more and more dregs being created daily! Much easier to learn a gun than a martial art.
@@brianhartman3186 this is not the case, though it may be used as a justification. In high stress situations people frequently make bad choices, and higher levels of training and better hiring standards are the only hedge against those mistakes.
If an operator is tired and stressed they perhaps should not be on rota that day. A skilled operator will be able to assess and put himself in position without the aggressor realising it until its too late to do real damage. The use of weapons cannot be relied upon in every scenario and an operator should be skilled in as many ways as possible. A tool box if you will.
Aikido is not about catching a hand. It is about moving with the opponent. A hand slides in the direction of an opponent's hand and if you don't grab it, you do a next appropriate technique. The problem is that in most schools they do not teach what to do if you missed. They do not teach how to flow with an opponent from move to move. But there are a few styles where they do: Shodokan, Yoseikan and its offshoot Aikibudo in France and a few more.
Most people don't have to fight other people physically on a regular basis. Aikido's principles work for a wider range of situations, as well as being fun and flowing and linking energies, softening the ego and being more relaxed. And there are a range of "hard" and "soft" styles. The principles of aikido also link well with Buddhism and Taoism, with tai chi and qigong (and bagua with which there are some more visible similarities).
The more I train in other systems, the more I appreciate what Aikido is trying to do. When I did BJJ, I was very surprised by how often Aikido concepts would pop into my head while rolling. My understanding and perception of those concepts would grow, the holes would slowly fill and I would have a better and more complete view. The two systems complement each other really well. I'm doing boxing now, and just recently we were drilling a parry that was so Aikido-like that they were surprised that I picked it up so quickly. I never lost my respect for Aikido, it actually grew, but it definitely does feel like it would take an other-wordly level of timing and reflexes to pull off techinques as taught consistently.
Same way I feel about Wing chun but I am doing Balintanwak kali for weapon skills Boxing for striking skills BJJ for grappling skills. All to enhance my wing chun skills
Yeah but that's the problem. These things pop into your mind only because you're trained in another martial art. They pop into your mind while you're sparring, which you don't do in Aikido. Aikido was made by a guy who was probably good at martial arts, but the system he made doesn't teach others that level of skill. That's why a trained person who already gets it can see the principles in Aikido. That's also why a person with no other training is useless in a fight. If Ueshiba directed a movie, the director's cut would be just the last five minutes. The payoff only exists for people who saw the theatrical cut and already know the character arcs and plot events. Anyone who just sees the director's cut won't understand who the characters are or why they should care about the resolution of the plot.
@@TheMisterGuy That's true, Aikido concepts are too complicated and the training methodology doesn't do anything to help you see the practically to any of it. Aikido is useless for the layman, but I think Osensei understood that, probably why he never accepted green newbies off the street, only black belts. Most of his students were black belt judoka who trained under Kano. I know of one dojo in Europe that only teaches Aikido after you train in grappling and striking first.
@@tonyrodney9610 I was never able to verify whether or not Ueshiba taught beginners. But even if we agree that teaching someone who doesn't already know a martial art is incorrect Aikido, that doesn't solve the problem. Aikido still doesn't really work, because it doesn't teach you how to get from a neutral or starting position to the point where you can execute your awesome move. You have to BYO on that one, and that's the main thing you need in a martial art. It's not about the technique itself, it's mostly about positioning so you can do the technique. Same thing with the "oh, that's so clever" moments. They only happen for people who already know the principles and the applications from elsewhere, and then they see Aikido showing those same principles. Great, but Aikido didn't teach the principle, it just reflected what the student already knew. The fact that people without good external training, even with tons of Aikido (like Rokas) lose hard when pressure tested by almost any other martial art says a lot. "I know of one dojo in Europe that only teaches Aikido after you train in grappling and striking first." I don't know the place you're talking about, but I know martial arts places do that to mystify whatever they're teaching. Usually it's swords, because those are already pretty cool and esoteric weapons. For example, a karate school might only let you learn the katana system they teach after X degree black belt, and then keep it all intramural, probably with no sword sparring and maybe even no cutting. A fencing school that produces competitive sword-fighting athletes will not make you learn boxing or wrestling first, and you'll do drills but also spend a ton of time sparring.
Rokas, I’ve followed your journey for a long time now, and love to see the progress you’ve made in your training. Your videos are inspiring, and the humble approach to learning you’ve taken is refreshing. I’ve been in various martial arts for 40 years, and here is what I think most people miss regarding Aikido. Aikido was always a spiritual and philosophical approach to a martial art, & not a fighting method. It is a ritualized, artistic expression of simulated armed and unarmed combat that incorporates the five spirits of Budo- Shoshin, Zanshin, Mushin, Fudoshin, and Senshin. The blending dance of Uke and Tori are a physical manifestation of the flow state that can be understood as moving or “living” zen. Both Uke and Tori’s roles are an integral part of the process, and reflect the concept of Yin & Yang in a tangible, physical way. This is purposely hard to put into actual words, and, at its core, isn’t about a struggle at all. The real goal here is the state of mind that it intends to produce when approached in this ritualistic way. This state of mind is one of peace, harmony, & flow that represents an evolved state of consciousness beyond the barbarism of crude combat that has been, and still is a part of the human condition. Morihei Ueshiba was a mystic who I believe understood the violent roots of Bushido very well. He also understood that he lived in a time of great change, where the old ways and mindsets had to evolve or perish. He was sharp enough for his time to realize that the warrior spirit and teachings still had much to offer the world, but could be transmuted into a physical practice that was congruent with the physicality of Budo, but inseparable from the intellectual and philosophical tenets of Asian spirituality that he believed contributed to significant personal growth. The real question, then, is this practice valuable today when viewed through this lens? I believe that it depends on the individual and his or her long term intentions with training. But, under the right circumstances, the answer is a resounding yes- and that it doesn’t contradict the practice of a more direct method such as BJJ, Boxing, Wrestling, Muay Thai, etc. In fact, I’d say that it would enhance those practices significantly by adding the more metaphysical lessons that Aikido has to offer. All of this being said, MANY of today’s Aikido practitioners don’t get this. Many are delusional thinkers that have been trained by other delusional thinkers who have never understood the roots of their art, nor the need to pressure test things that they believe will serve them in a real, violent clash with a determined attacker. I realize this has been a long reply, and I hope it maybe adds a little perspective to your journey from the observations of a fellow martial artist. 🙏🙏 Best regards from New Orleans, USA.
Even Takeda said that only 1% of jujutsu black belts were capable of grasping Aiki. Aiki is the highest level of jujutsu - or even of martial arts - expression, just like Mr. Knight was saying in the video.
@@Getnodrama Thanks! I’ve often wondered why this isn’t more apparent. I feel Aikido is generally judged from the wrong viewpoint, and often by Aikido practitioners themselves. I think it would be much more popular if people had the correct expectations-
One of your last videos, you left open speculation on why Kano Jigoro, the founder of Judo, was so impressed by Aikido as "the true Judo". From what I can observe as an outsider, I think it's because Aikido further distills the principles of efficient use of energy (one of Kano's central principles for Judo), by using pain compliance to supplement the throwing. It's why Sensei Lenny Sly always said that "if it hurts, it works": because I suspect that Aikido was always originally meant to use the induced pain from small joint manipulation, in order to further minimize the force you have to use to get someone down. Will this always be practically doable? Probably not. The direct use of strength and positioning for grabbing and leverage in Judo throwing is still, for example, going to be more commonly doable. But Aikido's use of minimized flowing movement while supplemented with pain compliance, is certainly still biomechanically and psychologically sound. It tells us a lot about how the human body and mind works, which can always find itself implicitly manifest in how we deal with fights.
@@trobson9952 Correct. That is the history of Aikido. Descends" from Aiki-jitsu. And a lot of it doesn't feel too humane, LOL. And it's not about speed., It's about blending and flowing.
As a fellow Aikido Black Belt, I am also training in BJJ, Kickbxing, Filipino Kali and JKD. I see the links and gaps from one to the other. I also, see the trends where techniques from one are the big new thing in the other art. I haven't personally met Professor Knight, but I like what he has to say and hope to meet him soon and maybe even get to train with him.
As a former Aikido practioner, my opinion is it's moves and concepts have it's proper place (as with all martial arts). Admittedly learning how to fall has by far been the most useful in average life and even saved my ass twice!
I’m actually happy there’s a place in Aikido, how the locks can be applied properly, while applying the original katas/techniques and keeping the tradition. It’s good to see this
In truth Eli is saying something that applies to ALL martial arts at a high level. All paths no matter how different eventually lead to the same destination.
I've practiced taekwondo, 2x styles of kung fu, muay Thai and judo. Now at the age of 40 I've started learning aikido partly out of curiosity and partly out of a love of Budo Japanese martial culture. Aikido (compared to Judo and other martial arts) is - infinitely more subtle, footwork, balance, posture is far more important. Footwork is very very similiar to wing chun interestingly. It's far more cognisant of anatomical structure of the human body. I believe it's more focused on "balance" even than judo, also hand positioning is far more important than in judo. I think aikido is kind of a far more efficient and refined version of Judo, but it comes at the cost of requiring significantly more precision and training. The benefit is if you can make it work, you don't need any strength in your techniques. I also think aikido is more effective the more aggressive the attacker is. There are better offensive martial arts. I'm finding it's actually quite a close range art, like judo and Wing chun. Wing chun pairs with it better than any striking art by far, which isn't surprising because it also isn't a strength dominant stiking art.
You have a misunderstanding on mushrooms it's not the marsh art it's more effective there is no such thing as a martial art more effective it's all about the martial artist can the martial artist make the martial effective, So there's no Marshall art more useful than another there's no such thing. Only a marsh artist that isn't any good would think that there's a Martial art more effective than another, There is no such thing as another more effective because all different they're not the same it's comparing Apple with a banana , They're both fruits but completely different martial arts are both are both martial arts but completely different, You literally cannot compare a martial art with another martial art they're completely different not the same style fighting not the same country that they come from. But they're both a style of fighting so to compare and say a Marshall is better than another that's not true it's only the marsh artist makes Is the marsh art effective or infective.
Lots of traditional martial arts place a huge emphasis on energy. Tai Chi teaches you about rooting, relaxation, understanding of your own limb position (proprioception), energy and etc.
few month ago about 5 guys attack me on the street. They started pushing me and punching. All what I was doing was blocking, moving forward and avoid punch as I could. I was not agrresive, no punch or graps or levers even when was oportunity for it. When they noticed that I do not want fight they just went. And I'm quite sure if I was aggresiv and start against them, propably they would beat me more becasue they looking for fight. I was trainig Akido for 8 years, BJJ 0,5 year, Krav Maga for 1 year, and now Karate for 3 year. And for sure only blocks, moves and dexterity which I was lernead on Aikido and KravMaga propably saved my life. Punching and be agressive agains many oponents on the street never work, becuase they always could grab knife and kill you when realized that you want also hurt them.
Nice video as someone who practised aikido for many years I agree with a lot here. When people talk about aikido not working I've always said the science works, the theory is sound but it's so technical and has to be so precise that it works but it rarely works. As someone who comes from a tomiki background where we do compete against a resisting opponent I can testify how hard it is to pull off and that's against somone sticking to a competition rule set. Most the time we don't get the technique it becomes like a game of the chess and eventually somthing happens and you get a throw. A lot of the time guys are also cheating themselves and muscling it too so even when we do get a throw its not always strictly pure aikido. But as Rokos says theoretically if you were able to catch that punch at that right time etc it will work and it does work because we get it to work in competition. Now when people talk about putting it up against a skilled mma fighter any aikidoka that claims it would stand up is either delusional or lying and I say this as somone with many years of aikido under me. You would have to be so good and so perfect it's just not going to be happen in reality even if you put the best I've ever trained with in there. The science is good enough to win but there is nobody who could pull it off in real time. Because when we find it that hard to pull off in an aikido competition rule set where you don't have to worry about getting kicked or punched etc. Then you have no chance in that environment. We have to remember the aikidoka of old were highly skilled in other arts before ueshiba would even train them. To compare it to mma is pointless it will loose mma has more weapons. Aikidoka are working on a certain skill set. Of course the person with more weapons will win. Having also studied Japanese sword work, escrima and Western fencing I'd say well how long do you think your ufc fighter will last against those? If we were putting an mma fighter against an akidoka I'd be far more interested in seeing how well the mma fighter lasts under a tomiki aikido competition rule set. Both armed with just the basic 17 randori no kata. I'd like to see how it pans out. I already know the akidoka will loose in the mma environment, the mms fighter has twice as many weapons. Aikido has its place. Its a beautiful art and not everyone does things because they want to be a fighter and that's fine. That's why you still have people practicing sword arts that they are never going to use in a real fight. If you want to learn to fight don't do aikido. There is room for both and both should be respected and we should always keep an open mind and have fun with it.
Nothing made me fall in love with aikido more than practicing mma. I had been trying not to use aikido BECAUSE I didn't feel that it would work well in the situation. Training partner throws a superman punch and out of sheer instinct I had thrown him gedanate. I went back to aikido to develop my aikido in that area and more "self defence" application.
@@jacobharris954 Aikido itself is pure principles. So kuzushi and atemi and irimi and ma-ai are probably the most important principles, but you don't really use principles, they're just inherent in the way that you approach techniques. If you mean my favourite techniques, I'm rather short so gedanate is a go to for me, mai-otoshi and sumi-otoshi also. But the whole point is that you don't pick techniques, the opponent's movement and position informs which technique you will end up attempting. In Aikido you never go for a technique, you use what is most suitable at the time. So I'd never think "I'm going for sumi-otoshi" and try to get them into position for it. Instead, we end up in whatever position, and if they move into a position in which sumiotoshi feels right, I take it.
Love your videos. And your phrase “owning your journey” is so true. I took up aikido over 25 years because I wanted an activity to help improve balance, coordination and health in other activities including kayaking, dance, squash,swimming... I found out more about aikido and I was drawn to it’s principles, the “listening” and connection, flow and the sheer fun and atmosphere of the aikido class. Learning to fall, to stumble etc was useful on numerous occasions. I only had to disarm someone once (someone attacking someone else with a spade, and the other person would have had his head smashed in)- the bokken practice was handy for that I’m sure and I loved aikido sword work- the flow, feeling the weight change and extension through various movements. Later, I took up tai chi and qigong and loved those too for the meditative, awareness and energy aspects. I was very, very surprised at how much “zhan zhuang” (standing form) improved my aikido.
At my bjj gym we call it the funnel. You have your own personal A game and you funnel your opponent into it. The wider your funnel is, the more effective your bjj is
Coach Ramsey Dewey has a story about a quick fight against a real practitioner of Taijiquan. He was submitted quickly by this old man who was clearly a talented fighter. How long had the old man been trainin? (I forgot his name) He said 80 years, basically all his life. Taijiquan literally means "supreme ultimate fist". My understanding is that Taijiquan is meant to be a capstone to all other training. On top of your Muay Thai, BJJ, Sanda, Sambo, and what have you, Taijiquan acts as a pinnacle on top of which to advance your training. Taijiquan does have legitimacy. And there are still people out there who preserve effective Chinese martial arts. The problem is that a lot of the schools and teachings were lost during the Cultural De-evolution under Mao, creating contemporary wushu, which is cool and all, but a shell of what it used to be. This was not just a tragedy for Chinese martial arts, but martial arts as a whole imo. I can't speak for Aikido though. I'm less well versed in that history.
I see aikido as the Latin language of the Martial Arts World. Nobody speaks Latin (anymore), but you have a solid foundation in learning other (especially european) languages. Aikido will give you a very solid understanding in Martial arts, which will make it easier to learn other fighting styles.
That final bit about uke having the hardest job is true, but it also made me realize something. In 3 years of Aikido practie I learned mucho more valuable things from the uke side than the nage side of it. Because the techniques one learns, aside from basic principles like moving your center of mass and a few locks, aren't useful in a practical situation as they are taught. But as uke you have to learn how to fall right and get un quickly again in a very harmnious way, and also how to react to an opponent in ways that aren't intuitive for an untrained person. You also gain some resistance to pain from the locks and learn where your limits are. The main thing is falling though, because several times in life you will fall to the ground, wether it's during a fight or just cause you sliped on some ice, and knowing hoy to fall correctly might actually save your life. The same can be said about judo and I don't know how much of this is trained in BJJ, but I would expect they train this too.
Great, thoughtful video. It can be helpful to think of martial art systems in terms of 'tiers' - some are high level but essentially useless without combat experience or black belts in pressure-tested systems underneath them. Aikido, Taji and perhaps some other estoric systems (keep in mind, many are total BS) are a kind of 'finishing school' art that you place on top of the other hardcore systems. It is easy to understand Aikido in this light, particularly when you consider when it was created and where in his lifetime the founder happened to be.
From what I read a while back most Japanese martial artists who did Aikido had already trained in Judo and Karate prior to training Aikido and they have a good base then with which to make Aikido work.
@@jestfullgremblim8002 From what I read Aikido was the hardest to master effectively so the other two arts helped with that. Not sure how true that is, sounds logical though. My old college tutor was taught by a guy who was a good evel Judo guy before he did Aikido.
@@grayalun yeah, i wouldn't say that Aikido is harder to master, but rather harder to start applying it. Mastering a martial art is a whole 'nother history haha
Calling it "hard to apply" isn't a good thing. What you're saying is it doesn't work well. It's hard to use a musket, compared to a modern military weapon. Because the musket is worse. If the martial art requires more of you - more training time, more strength, more speed, more anything - to get the same or worse result than another martial art, then it is worse than that other art.
I love how you bring new light to Aikido might be more relevant in military than ever. Most discard it as outdated just for samurais fighting in armour when lost their weapons. But maybe relevant than ever again as modern infantry again wear quite heavy body armour. I’d love to see you test how well Aikido would work dressed in full modern military body armour. Thanks for sharing your journey.
Aikido really shines on that situation, with heavy gear you can't jump around. And most the attacks we learn to handle in aikido is based on attacker trying to get hold of a weapon on your hand. For example some techniques can be done when some is holding your assault rifle too. But almost all with smaller object like knife.
"I love how you bring new light to Aikido might be more relevant in military than ever. Most discard it as outdated just for samurais fighting in armour when lost their weapons." Well that's silly, since no samurai ever used Aikido and it was never practiced with armor. Because the samurai were gone for decades before Aikido was founded.
@@TheMisterGuy Aikido is based on Japanese jiujutsu and all the foot work and all the weapon work (disarms, hand grabs) are still there. Military still has to train close combat and wear armor.
I see Aikido more as a way of self defense and, like other self defense methods, it works pretty good when the attacker is not expecting any kind of attack and is caught by surprise.
My favorite begginers trap is the double hook. I really like when a big guy who dosen't know the position just rush to smash me with full momentum, just to get rolled over and to be mounted.
Rokas, maybe you can try to get in touch with a guy named Roy Dean? He's a BJJ and Aikido black belt and teaches some aikido principles and moves for BJJ, for example wrist locks
Really enjoyed this, Eli is one of the most intelligent person you have interviewed and your topic was spot on as it's a subject he had something important and insightful to say on.
I'm pretty critical of youtube grappling teachers, but Eli has one of, if not the best BJJ info on youtube. Explains very well stuff that works. HUGE knowledge base.
You can fall in to someone's rhythm very easily in the dojo. You can even be hypnotized by their skills. High level BJJ doesn't translate to the streets or Self Defense just the basics.
Right! I have respect for what BJJ brings to the table. My only critique is how applicable is it in a street defense scenario where u fall down on concrete? Does ur attacker have buddies nearby? These r legit risks. No martial art is perfect. Use common sense 1st then martial ability as a last resort.
@@cj4life390 most people never take their system to the next Level. I did Tae Kwon Do and earned my black Belt then I went to other schools to see it didn't translate. Then I fixed some stuff. I can now use it vs Muay Thai, BJJ or MMA and The streets (if it's only hands).The learning curve was extremely ruff. Same can be done with BJJ however I've been at this 20+ years most people quit after three months.
I like this video. In my humble opinion any martial art practiced with dilligence becomes a viable form of self defence, including Aikido. In my journey with Aikido I met so many Akidoka that were also trained or training in multiple arts. In fact they came from other arts to Aikido simply for the fact that it can compliment and enhance a martial artists repetoir. I have found that it is a situational martial art. A particular opening will present it's self and having trained enough my muscle memory takes over and the Aikido technique simply flows out of me. So many arts have useful and amazing techniques that are wonderful to have in your back pocket if needed. But there are several Martial Arts that truly bring to light the spiritual and inner strength that a long time practitioner eventually seeks and I believe Aikido is one of them. It almost seems like a graduate school for a martial artist. As others have stated it brings a whole new level of understanding but I don't think it is meant to stand on it's own.
I really enjoyed this video! Its always good to look at Aikido from a different angle, from a more realistic pov - I'm sure you know what I mean. The love is still there! What I just realized is that the stupid ppl are still there also... With that said, I would like to hear more from Elly aout this, though... As always, ty Rokas! Great stuff!
Another guy worth talking to is Paul Cale black belt in 3 styles of Aikido and professor at machado Sydney Australia, he also holds black belts in Judo and Kudo, he is a Australian commando(famous for storming a enemy stronghold in Afghan and choking out a taliban leader) and the CQC instructor for the Australian defence force, why do I mention him because Paul has stated that Aikido gave him the tools/principles to learn combat.
if i remember correctly, Aikido, Judo and JuJitsu are all subsets of aikijujitsu. Each just focusing on a different area. its interesting to see its adaptation from armed warfare to unarmed individual competition or how culture modified them.( brazillian jujitsu on the beach and wrestling and boxing in the parking lots.) With modern MMA its combing the areas again more. As society continues to devolve we will soon go full circle and see martial arts in its purest and most effective form again.
AikiJujutsu is separate from Jujitsu. Every samurai clan had their own Jujitsu, AikiJujutsu was the Jujitsu used by the Takeda clan. Jigoro Kano himself studied 2 different forms of Jujitsu before making judo.
As said in multiple of my earlier comments of this channel I never understood why you broke so hard with aikido. I always thought that it is a very good martial arts for recreational use when you cut all the esoteric stuff some places have. Personally I did judo as a kid and young adult (not competitive) and when I startet with some Aikdio I really understood many Judo techniques better. I learned using more round movments and working more with "the natural flow of movment". In German there was the phrase "Siegen durch nachgeben" = Winning by giving in. I think this mentality works best in stand up grapeling. Also you shouldn't forget where many of these thenics orginiated from. What can you do on the battlefield, with armor when you lost your sword or are in such close distance where you can't swing your weapon any more... (doesn't matter if asian or western cultures, same problem same principles)
I think part of my "hard breakup" was because I was so invested into it and I was also promised by my instructor many things of what aikido was supposed to be. It wasn't a breakup just with the martial art but also with a person who was influential and later I came to a conclusion, was toxic. I also came to a conclusion that the way aikido is structured to a degree breeds these toxic people. Throw all of that into a pot (and even more) and you can maybe better understand why I was so frustrated :)
I think it depends on your motivations, if you only want recreationalism.. and you want a specific sort, then maybe it’s more cut for you, it’s like the difference between a Kendoka and Judoka.. even tho some concepts could be considered interchangeable there is a pretty core difference
@@MartialArtsJourney I follow "your journey" for some time now and I find ut fascinating how you reflect on all those different aspects. Since you are probably still one of the most known Aikido influencers, do you think there is a culture shift happening? or could happen?
I remember back when I was preparing for my sandan examination in Aikido, my instructor said that I was now in charge of my own training. In that context he was referring to Aikido concepts for the exam. However- I had quite earlier been doing that already in a martial arts sense. I had come in to Aikido training after doing 10 years of full contract kickboxing. As I continued in my Aikido training I began to recognize the gaps, holes and false assumptions that the art (like all arts and systems have…..even MMA/BJJ have). So I have been incorporating aspects of Kali, BJJ, small circle Jujitsu and judo Into my aikido to address them. I focus on the aspects that fit best with my aikido and address the holes. I like the challenge and it keeps it interesting! I think of it as Aikido being the hub and the other aspects of the complimentary arts as spokes. When you acknowledge your art has holes you address them because there is no perfect art or system. That doesn’t negate the metaphorical applications that aikido has to offer in a non martial context IMO. 😎
So, the end product of a "Functional Aikido" would probably look something like a hybrid of Tomiki Aikido and a specialist in this Flowing Style/Approach to Jiu Jitsu. Yes, Tomiki Aikido is able to do what they do because of the ruleset they use. But it's still Aikido moves performed with resistance, therefore the set ups for them might be different in a real fight or in MMA but it should still be possible to do them. Also, as Joe Rogan says sometimes the best way to train techniques is by doing them under a ruleset that isolates them.
There are many Judo moves that seem like they are impossible to perform in a resisting opponent, and yet one can see them being done here and there. Is because different moves work against different reactions, and some of these reactions only happen when you do an specific thing. So yeah, you gotta set up these techniques or they will not work. If you want to have them mover forward, push them. If you want them to move backwards, you may pull them. Now then, this obviously doesn't apply to everyone, people do react different to the sane situation, that was just the regular reaction.
Pretty much, yes. The great think about Tomiki aikido is the foundation of it. The randori and hitetakkgaeko elements mean that it is easier to develop aikido for use in combat sports or self defence if those ate the paths you wish to take. People overlook the striking elements in aikido far too easily. I know Dan grades who have no idea about the striking side of aikido. it's a real shame.
While I was standing beside my motorcycle with my helmet held by the strap on my dominant right hand, a hobo grabbed my left wrist with hobo number 2 standing behind him wanting money. Turning my wrist palm up and pushing into him, I leveraged his wrist and unbalanced him, throwing him back into his buddy. I was ready to follow up by swinging the helmet but didn't have to as the white belt Aikido move worked perfectly. They slithered away and stopped bothering me. Also, as a doctor I might have to control a psychotic patient without punching him in the face, a situation where Aikido can be very helpful. In medical school an athletic football player type medical student classmate was cornered by a psychotic patient and he punched the patient in the face, resulting in a major reprimand.
Yes aikido is about controlling the other person. It’s used by bouncers and corrections officers. Staying away from hobos and psychotic patients also helps.
You may not be able to grasp a fist but it would be easy to touch a elbow. If you can touch above the elbow, a puncher can not retract his elbow. Many people talk about Aikido of Aikikai but Yohshinkan Aikido is used for actual Police techniques where is no harmony.
Aikikai isn't always all flowers and singing folks songs either, but definitely Yoshinkan has... shall we say 'vigorous' rep for sure! But people like to mock kotegaeshi as a technique by saying their jab's too quick to be be 'caught', or that if they stand in perfect posture -- or even, bracing themselves in the opposite direction, to be really silly! -- and challenging people to 'force' the wristlock against their 'full resistance'. Totally missing the point. Don't try and do the technique that's not been left available, do the one that has been.
Aikido , I used aikido in a street fight when attack by 2 people . And did good . The technic I got was from a book . I did punishing to one the other I used aikido .
Great video, Eli is very knowledgeable I see. I will say aikido and tai chi are very different from my experiences. Chen tai chi in particular is very focused on good body structure, yielding, off balancing and neutralizing incoming force. A lot of what I’ve seen from aikido is very compliant partners allowing someone to throw them without much effort being given to the throw. Tai chi is very explosive as well with great shoulder strikes and great power from being very well rooted and using whole body power. One part moves all parts move. That’s the beauty of Chen tai chi.
Sincere aikido partners never 'allow' someone to throw them! The only time that is understandable is when someone is first introduced to a technique in order to learn what to do. A good uke will keep control of themselves in order to counter or escape on their own terms.
I’ve been practicing different MA and now I’m in Tai Chi Chuan. I like comments about usage of TCC: using opponents energy, if someone is committed it is easy to manipulate, weak v.s. strong, yielding etc. It is hard to tell that TCC is very useful due to (mostly) bad teachers and masters that are “selling” TCC for health and never been fighting. So they erased most topics and issues from TCC. What I learned in last few years is eye opening about TCC. I have to say that TCC is mostly structure, proper alignment of a whole body and relaxing (not collapsing). Then it comes yielding, following, issuing etc. represented by punches, kicks and other "tools". Which are just the outcome of previous issues. We do practice them (also with MMA gloves) in sparing, so that one can properly understand what TCC teach and has. However, it is a hard and long way to understand it. In addition, on top of all unfortunately, most of the time people (instructors) are not teaching those basics. Rokas so, a video with someone (that really knows TCC) would be gr8!
We’re all just looking to have fun. Aikido is fun and you can practice it into your 80’s. That’s reason enough for me to continue practicing it. It is a martial art.
Jujitsu (foundation) >>> BJJ & Aikido. this martial art have same similar basic only different on application and method. the higher level they will back to the basic. the similarity taichi and aikido are they use aiki. different from aikido that practice more simple and focus on ki, taichi use many form of practice and some times hard to do in application until you really understand it. in my experience taichi really can help in healing. when i got broken bone in my shoulder (my nage make mistake doing technic so when i do uke i got injure) it recover my hand so now i can move it normal again. although after injury i can't practice aikido in normal way to avoid my old injure got injure again, i still practice the basic to make my reflect and ki training not dull. i see you learn many thing with other practitioner and teacher. that's very great it can help open your mind and sharp your aikido. i do the same when still training Aikido i have friend from taekwondo (we share same building for practice) we exchange knowledge which at that time i still not train with my sensei yet.
To be honest, I think that aikido is good, but what it used to be is difficult to find and learn and many end up not learning what the initial creator made it as.
Aikido has NEVER FAILED ME. In the army combative tournament in many many fights. Even some in bjj classes. I just got sick of bjj people having such a negative view until they couldn't sink much on me. I'm old now. Torn muscles etc. Aikido keeps me moving. Keeps my jab sharp without having to pound a bag and cause more damage. Ukemi is not dancing for someone. Anyway people should take it for what it is. A brilliant blend of yoga, dance, swords, humility and a dash of what some would call karate. I never tell anyone to expect the technique we practice to look like it in altercation . It just a language for communication of opening and balance breaking that won't destroy your body . Have a great day!😊
This is by far the best realization about aikido yet. Im not really an aikidoka but i see it all the time in other arts and when i do its amazing! And feels amazing to find.
I love Eli, I've pondered similar things Ive been training bjj and judo for over 10 years, and would love to also train aikido if given the chance. You can extract good principles of footwork and leverage from it.
I'll start taichi chuan. I'm already I striker, and more I realized about myself more I can see how to use the wrestling of taichi. I was never an agressivo fighter until last year, when I realized the place I have more fear in a fight is where I can get flow state, the infighting zone, the ground where it begins to come a wrestle but still can be a striking zone, now I use my elbows and knees much more effectively. And in that middle ground if you understand the wrestling behind taichi you can be a beast. Like the wind, flow gently yet can bring down mountains
Rokas, you should look into a seminar called hard ready. It's in October. Eli will be there, icy Mike will be there as well some other great instructors. Some of the best training I've had. The guy who runs it is named Ryan Hoover
My experience with aikido is that it works in many situations, but you can't force aikido techniques on someone. You really must use what is coming in your direction, otherwise it won't work. The "blending with your opponent" is crucial. You also should use some atemi when you can, in order to shock your opponent and put them off balance.
I have a very smart young girl in my aikido class who is a bit childish but in a good way. Her behavior has often proved to me that some techniques don't work when the attacker switches to a defender. When I try to grab her hand or arm she often does the opposite and instead of attacking, she tries to push me back or escape the grip by running away and turning my aikido locks and holds into those of an attacker. When someone resits it's hard to do the typical Aikdio moves, but when the person is just attacking, it works for me. My teacher said if she refuses let her go, don't use a technique when the attacker dosen't want to attack you. We want to push something away when it seems to be dangerous or comes with force, but that dosen't work in every situation you want it to work, cause your opponent is not static.
It took me 3 years of Aikido practicing to start, just start, understanding how can be actually applied in real life. But I could have not used it in real life. At 5 years of practicing, I could see how to use it. And of course, just then you understand that you don’t expect to execute the technique as per sensei’s execution. My sensei always said that, at least the Iwama Ryu Style, encouraged the provocation of the opponent so this latter would create “space” to apply the technique. And that would rarely end up looking like what we do in the dojo, at least in terms of “catching the fist” kinda thing. It is quite interesting to appreciate certain trending animosity towards Aikido, specially from jiu jitsu. The kind of mockery that indicates rather fear over true, sound-based criticism.
I did aikido for a few years in japan. In japan, it is considered "away of life" or more like a religion, and we sat and read the aikido Bible then meditated as much as the dancing.
@@joereidy5732 fr people should just dump it completely. There is nothing useful in it other than learning how to fall correctly, which you learn in three other martial arts as well.
@Martial Arts Journey My friend once told me the main problem of Aikido in now days are they teach you how to defense yourself with no harm to opponent and all tourntament rules, but in past you'v got moves that could be dangerous for enemy life and that's the point. Aikido in time started to be more and more polite if you could restore old school Aikido from how it was at the beggining that could be deadly martial art. He told me previoulsly previously Aikido meant to be way to disarm and defeat armed enemy with Katata etc....
My Sifu called it "leaving the door open" when we leave opening for the opponent to take. Many advanced Chinese Arts use the idea of limiting the choices of the opponent and practicing ways of changing shape/structure to reduce their movement "impose your structure upon the enemy".
The story he refers to @ 3.35 is what happened to me, pretty much verbatim. I never knew that you could drown on dry land, without any water in sight, until that day.
8:12 i really hope no one takes this literally. choking someone out is extremely dangerous and you can not reliable tell if somebody has passed out. brain damage is a huge risk.
My dad taught me to push hands from Taichi. I now use it to bind a person's blade and hit them with close quarters in fencing. The technique does transfer somehow.
Not sure because everyone is different yet combine akido with Sambo or Sanda as example is good, ,just my opinion because I practice Sambo, Sanda shansou, , your channel , conversation is professional 😎👍
Honestly, I feel like aikido is one of the more effective systems against weapons. I have a black belt in Marine Corps Martial Arts and most of our disarms and restraint techniques are based in Aikido and Jujutsu. For these it is useful, but if it were all I knew I would definitely be in trouble for every other situation.
It's probably more useful, if you have good skills, to stop someone going for a weapon. That's sort of what Daito Ryu was based on. When people say "wrist grabs look silly" you have to understand the context. This could've been a swordsman trying to take out his weapon back in the day, and if you think about how that looks, you would grab their wrist to stop them.
Not only against weapons but mostly with a weapon. Nothing de-escalates and keeps peace better than weapons. And with weapon on defenders hand every attack in aikido syllabus makes sense.
There is no such thing as a martial more effective than another it's like comparing an Apple with a banana 2 different martial arts that are not even and the same Ju Ju Ju 2 and iquito are not even the same they're both martial arts but they're not the same they're not even related 2 different styles a martial art, And by the way there's no such thing as a marsh art better than another more effective than another there's no such thing, It makes a more short better than another is the martial artist if you were actually better than the other martial artist you were sparring or fighting That's what makes you're more effective it's the person who's practices the martial art not the martial art, Comparing 2 different martial arts not even the same.... It's just stupid.
You should check out Tim Cartmell. He started off in kung fu and was a high level practitioner doing leitai matches. But picked up bjj after returning to the US because it meshed so well with his internal martial arts.
in regards to your comment on how peaceful is aikido if you are ramming someone's head on concrete or a wall that is aikijutsu, aikido came afterwards because ueshiba saw how brutal aikijutsu could be im guessing and it's like you could compare aikijutsu as ramming someone's head on the floor and aikido as laying someone's head gently on a pillow and i am sure as a fellow student you have been known that... i imagine it would take far more skill to be gentle with your opponent the thing is aikido needs to be combined with other things such as de-escalation... randori in my eyes is just practicing for worst case scenario of dealing with multiple attackers and my understanding of aikijutsu is its all weapons based and if you lose your weapon you use your hands as if they were the very weapons you had in your hand... aikijutsu does have strikes which are said to soften the opponent up for a throw... ueshibas spirituality heavily influenced aikido and the truth is that he really is O sensei because what this world really needs right now is harmony... his teaching isn't just about dealing with physical confrontation he is O sensei in my eyes based on his spirituality cause if you think about it it really is about being in harmony with other's that's what will lead to peace on this earth... the physical side of aikido is for people who are not in harmony with others... it's to be done in a way to get them back in to harmony... to calm down lol... i am reminded of this story of the buddha... the story of angulimala... the serial killer in the forest... story goes the buddha was walking one day by a village and was about to enter a forest and the villagers told him not to enter because there was a monster in there who killed people... the buddha said he wasn't afraid... the killer was a disciple of a llama who told him to kill 1,000 people and he will become enlightened or something like that, it's been many years since ive read the story so bare with me lol well the killer had 999 fingers collected to present to his teacher to become enlightened and on that day he saw the buddha walking and thought "this is it i will have killed 1,000 people and become enlightened. " he went to strike the buddha down but every time he did the buddha seemed to just be a step ahead and just kept walking, he would keep slashing and the buddha just seemed to always be ahead of him and finally the killer fell to his knees and wept in exhaustion... well, the way i see that story is not that the buddha kept walking and magically couldn't be touched but the buddha was a warrior before he went in search of enlightenment and i like to entertain the thought that he wasn't just walking but evading the killers attacks, like pei mei evaded beatrix from kill bill 2... even looking at pei mei evading beatrix sword strikes even though it's a movie it presents in my eyes the way of the harmonious spirit. there is another legend of ueshiba asked to demonstrate if he could dodge a firing squad and when they fired i think he was able to anticipate when they would shoot and he rolled right behind them. they then brought in their sniper and ueshiba declined supposedly saying " his bullet will find me." alot to ponder lol say you have someone with a spear and you have a sword, the spear man thrusts and you move backwards and the spear doesn't impale you , that is the principle of aiki... if the spearman thrusts and you can't move backwards far enough you deflect the thrust or get out of the line of attack/thrust.... i remember reading somewhere that budo is the art of avoiding the spear...just contemplating these things can be pretty enlightening... but there is no denying that one needs to cultivate themselves physically to pull this stuff off lol you're a black belt in aikido already so im thinking as you journey into these other paths you will come back full circle and have these other paths enhance your aikido... certain aikido techniques might not work in certain scenarios but the principles are definitely effective... again i point to judo. judo alone isn't enough to deal with real world attacks these are all aspects of the whole... native americans never fought without weapons apparently.
There is more gentle than a choke. Making the attacker realise the foolishness of his own attack by not resisting it and not finishing him when he clearly sees that you could many times. At the end the attacker not only stops attacking you but feels a great respect for you as you didnt try to break him physically nor mentally, you didnt try to inflict him ego injury even though he wanted to destroy you. He would instantly turn to your disciple. Thats what aikido mastery tends towards. Doesnt mean it is easily applicable
Opposition, yelding and doing nothing? Correct me if i am wrong, but isn't redirecting a fourth category? Like i can push, back up, give up or redirect the force. Atleast in my minimal boxing, wrestling judo and extensive bjj experience.
Hi Rokas. Greetings from a Brazilian fan. I would be interesting if you could make a video talking and training with Yoshihito Shibata, a Japanese Aikido teacher living in the US. I think he can bring interesting points about the biomechanics of Aikdio.
Hi Rokas, i love your approach of martial art. At the same time you like to discuss with professionals of all styles. You put Coralie Camilli on your miniature, she is an aïkido, mma martial artist and philosophy doctor who wrote "the art of fighting". You could try to interview her and also you could ask her international level fighter boyfriend what he thinks about aïkido... ;-)
Have you ever looked into Goju Karate? It has a lot of the principles your talking about here. It is all about the interplay of hard/soft power. It is focused mostly on stand up striking and grappling. I have studied various martial arts but my favorite is Goju Karate because of the balance of the physical and philosophy.
I have a question for those who have trained both Aikido and sport tested forms of grappling. It seems to me that once an Aikido hold is applied it definitely works, so would you say the difficulty is in how Aikido proposes to obtain the hold, or is it something else?
The context for this 'aikido problem' on this channel comes from Roka's journey as shown in his early videos. Particularly his initial attempt to apply his aikido vs a trained mma practitioner in live sparring. Check out that video from 2 or so years back to understand why the 'jury' on so-called 'aikido' (as taught in Europe today) has been out. Since then he's been looking for answers in different places to get help in making many of his techniques work.
I would say that that's about it. You can get moves like Kote Gaeshi in many ways, but the Aikido way is way too low percentage/unrealistic. This applies to the other Aikido moves as well, they DO work, but people try to perform then in the way that the katas show, which will probably not work.
It's complicated. You can't muscle Aikido techniques. You pretty much have to move with your opponent to set most of these up Short answer is if you can stay *ahead of* your opponent, you can probably efficiently apply Aikido techniques. Otherwise, almost not at all, or when applied, even the Aikido wrist locks feel more like Jujutsu techniques than how they are taught in Aikido For me the training in Aikido and BJJ in large part is how to stay ahead of my opponent and not lose that in the process of applying techniques
Aikido doesn't have really pressure test (that was maybe Rokas biggest problem... He didn't have any real experience of fighting, now things could be different and I would like to see that also). To get techniques work you have often to repel opponents grab (there is still koshinage that can made, pretty much in the same way as in BJJ, I personally think they are the same throws). Ofcourse there is possible to get even nikyo work straight from the shoulder grab, but I don't remember if it was really allowed to do in BJJ since it include turning the wrist also). In MMA probably the best option is to punch first or block opponents jab/punch to get space and element of a surprise and do for example straight iriminage (can be also applied as a heymaker punch). One thing is certain you really can apply those moves in fight, but they will look a lot uglier (remember: practice is not performance).
Ju is about having an answer and creating dilemmas (pull when they push, push when they pull, etc) Honestly it's the more practical and realistic goal for almost anyone. But, Aiki is basically a different concept altogether, and the kind of thing even professional fighters wouldn't have the patience to try to master. It's dominating psychologically, to the extent that you can nearly choose what your attacker will do (but they believe they are choosing). Unlike Ju which a person can begin to apply fairly early on, the latter is a lifelong practice nobody is likely to master
If you want to see practical Aiki as a concept in action, look to internet trolls trying to bait people into arguments They aren't necessarily super good at it, but they're baiting people deliberately on emotional issues (make them angry, predict their response) and that's honestly a very similar concept, if not the same
Aikido was meant for Advanced Jujutsu practitioners. Their philosophy would require someone to have advance level Jujutsu reflexes. The creator did come up with Aikido when he was years of a master jujutsu practitioner. To really redirect energy you would need 10 years of experience after you get your Black belt( the old school way)
I could listen to Eli Knight talk about martial arts forever. He has clearly spent a lot of time doing some serious critical thinking.
The feeling is mutual, homie. ❤️
Tai Chi has nothing to do with Aikido.
Chinese art doesn't come close to AIKI.
People don't know anything and talk about what they don't know, that's what's ridiculous about modern internet times.
@@alexandrealves2877 only someone who hasn’t trained in both would say these arts have nothing to do with one another. There are several commonalities, and those are what I was comparing.
Its refreshing to listen to people who have an educated opinion.
@@alexandrealves2877 why are you talking?
Stop.
I really appreciate the conversation and had a great time. Thanks so much again, Rokas!
Speaking of absorbing an opponents energy, I can remember when I started out in BJJ. Like many white belts, I was aggressive as a means of compensating for lack of technique. At that time, many of the other students (white and color belts) would easily defeat me, but I could feel them meeting my aggression with resistance. They could shut down what I was doing, but I could tell they had to work for it. There was one blue belt (who I believe became Purple soon after) that I absolutely loved rolling with, because he didn't exist. What I mean is, no matter how aggressive I became, I could not feel any resistance from the guy. If I grabbed, he wasn't there. If I pushed, he wasn't there. If I pulled, he wasn't there. Then, all of a sudden, he would be locking out my arm, or choking me. It was like rolling with a ball of dust that had nothing but finishing moves. I felt completely helpless against that guy, but at the same time, I loved feeling that way, because I understood, this was the power of Jiu Jitsu. I have rolled with a lot of people and I don't know that I've ever met another practitioner like him. I wish I knew what he was doing now. Abu Bakr from Ann Arbor, if you are out there . . . I'm talking about you.
That emptiness, so practical and poetic at the same time. 🙌🏻
Idk dude, sounds pretty gay to me
Lol jk I wish you well in your MMA journey! Good sparring partners like that are hard to find!
I remember a quote from Wally Jay: "If I can touch you, I have you."
@@theoldleafybeard And very hard to achieve, in Aikido and the mind.
Ann Arbor Michigan? Where do you train
There are some basic principles of Aikido that I've used in security. The techniques are significantly more effective against highly motivated and untrained people, whom you have a professional obligation not to harm, than they do against trained martial artists in a sparring setting who retract their punches and have a strong sense of balance.
@Jeremiah "The Abbott" Harrington I help as an assistant instructor teaching Use of Force to Security and Law Enforcement, and I wish we had more officers with training like you. One of the number one reasons the gun comes out is because officers get stressed, tired, and don't have the training to handle the situations they find themselves in. It's a shame that they don't get better training, and that more time isn't spent increasing competency in high stress situations and physical confrontations. I'm sure the diversity of training experiences helped you to keep your composure, which is perhaps more important than any fighting skill.
@@nathanbateman4255 , I would think the number one reason the “gun come out” is because the LE Officer wants to go home to his family! The dregs of society don’t value life, and there are more and more dregs being created daily! Much easier to learn a gun than a martial art.
@@brianhartman3186 this is not the case, though it may be used as a justification. In high stress situations people frequently make bad choices, and higher levels of training and better hiring standards are the only hedge against those mistakes.
Ok, challenge is on. Let's fight
If an operator is tired and stressed they perhaps should not be on rota that day. A skilled operator will be able to assess and put himself in position without the aggressor realising it until its too late to do real damage. The use of weapons cannot be relied upon in every scenario and an operator should be skilled in as many ways as possible. A tool box if you will.
Aikido is not about catching a hand. It is about moving with the opponent. A hand slides in the direction of an opponent's hand and if you don't grab it, you do a next appropriate technique. The problem is that in most schools they do not teach what to do if you missed. They do not teach how to flow with an opponent from move to move. But there are a few styles where they do: Shodokan, Yoseikan and its offshoot Aikibudo in France and a few more.
Most people don't have to fight other people physically on a regular basis.
Aikido's principles work for a wider range of situations, as well as being fun and flowing and linking energies, softening the ego and being more relaxed. And there are a range of "hard" and "soft" styles.
The principles of aikido also link well with Buddhism and Taoism, with tai chi and qigong (and bagua with which there are some more visible similarities).
The more I train in other systems, the more I appreciate what Aikido is trying to do. When I did BJJ, I was very surprised by how often Aikido concepts would pop into my head while rolling. My understanding and perception of those concepts would grow, the holes would slowly fill and I would have a better and more complete view. The two systems complement each other really well. I'm doing boxing now, and just recently we were drilling a parry that was so Aikido-like that they were surprised that I picked it up so quickly. I never lost my respect for Aikido, it actually grew, but it definitely does feel like it would take an other-wordly level of timing and reflexes to pull off techinques as taught consistently.
Same way I feel about Wing chun but I am doing
Balintanwak kali for weapon skills
Boxing for striking skills
BJJ for grappling skills.
All to enhance my wing chun skills
Yeah but that's the problem. These things pop into your mind only because you're trained in another martial art. They pop into your mind while you're sparring, which you don't do in Aikido.
Aikido was made by a guy who was probably good at martial arts, but the system he made doesn't teach others that level of skill. That's why a trained person who already gets it can see the principles in Aikido. That's also why a person with no other training is useless in a fight.
If Ueshiba directed a movie, the director's cut would be just the last five minutes. The payoff only exists for people who saw the theatrical cut and already know the character arcs and plot events. Anyone who just sees the director's cut won't understand who the characters are or why they should care about the resolution of the plot.
@@TheMisterGuy That's true, Aikido concepts are too complicated and the training methodology doesn't do anything to help you see the practically to any of it. Aikido is useless for the layman, but I think Osensei understood that, probably why he never accepted green newbies off the street, only black belts. Most of his students were black belt judoka who trained under Kano. I know of one dojo in Europe that only teaches Aikido after you train in grappling and striking first.
@@tonyrodney9610 I was never able to verify whether or not Ueshiba taught beginners. But even if we agree that teaching someone who doesn't already know a martial art is incorrect Aikido, that doesn't solve the problem. Aikido still doesn't really work, because it doesn't teach you how to get from a neutral or starting position to the point where you can execute your awesome move. You have to BYO on that one, and that's the main thing you need in a martial art. It's not about the technique itself, it's mostly about positioning so you can do the technique.
Same thing with the "oh, that's so clever" moments. They only happen for people who already know the principles and the applications from elsewhere, and then they see Aikido showing those same principles. Great, but Aikido didn't teach the principle, it just reflected what the student already knew. The fact that people without good external training, even with tons of Aikido (like Rokas) lose hard when pressure tested by almost any other martial art says a lot.
"I know of one dojo in Europe that only teaches Aikido after you train in grappling and striking first."
I don't know the place you're talking about, but I know martial arts places do that to mystify whatever they're teaching. Usually it's swords, because those are already pretty cool and esoteric weapons. For example, a karate school might only let you learn the katana system they teach after X degree black belt, and then keep it all intramural, probably with no sword sparring and maybe even no cutting. A fencing school that produces competitive sword-fighting athletes will not make you learn boxing or wrestling first, and you'll do drills but also spend a ton of time sparring.
Basic drills
Rokas,
I’ve followed your journey for a long time now, and love to see the progress you’ve made in your training. Your videos are inspiring, and the humble approach to learning you’ve taken is refreshing.
I’ve been in various martial arts for 40 years, and here is what I think most people miss regarding Aikido.
Aikido was always a spiritual and philosophical approach to a martial art, & not a fighting method.
It is a ritualized, artistic expression of simulated armed and unarmed combat that incorporates the five spirits of Budo-
Shoshin, Zanshin, Mushin, Fudoshin, and Senshin.
The blending dance of Uke and Tori are a physical manifestation of the flow state that can be understood as moving or “living” zen. Both Uke and Tori’s roles are an integral part of the process, and reflect the concept of Yin & Yang in a tangible, physical way. This is purposely hard to put into actual words, and, at its core, isn’t about a struggle at all.
The real goal here is the state of mind that it intends to produce when approached in this ritualistic way. This state of mind is one of peace, harmony, & flow that represents an evolved state of consciousness beyond the barbarism of crude combat that has been, and still is a part of the human condition.
Morihei Ueshiba was a mystic who I believe understood the violent roots of Bushido very well. He also understood that he lived in a time of great change, where the old ways and mindsets had to evolve or perish.
He was sharp enough for his time to realize that the warrior spirit and teachings still had much to offer the world, but could be transmuted into a physical practice that was congruent with the physicality of Budo, but inseparable from the intellectual and philosophical tenets of Asian spirituality that he believed contributed to significant personal growth.
The real question, then, is this practice valuable today when viewed through this lens?
I believe that it depends on the individual and his or her long term intentions with training.
But, under the right circumstances, the answer is a resounding yes- and that it doesn’t contradict the practice of a more direct method such as BJJ, Boxing, Wrestling, Muay Thai, etc.
In fact, I’d say that it would enhance those practices significantly by adding the more metaphysical lessons that Aikido has to offer.
All of this being said, MANY of today’s Aikido practitioners don’t get this. Many are delusional thinkers that have been trained by other delusional thinkers who have never understood the roots of their art, nor the need to pressure test things that they believe will serve them in a real, violent clash with a determined attacker.
I realize this has been a long reply, and I hope it maybe adds a little perspective to your journey from the observations of a fellow martial artist.
🙏🙏
Best regards from New Orleans, USA.
This comment should be required reading.
@@nathanbateman4255 thank you for reading
Even Takeda said that only 1% of jujutsu black belts were capable of grasping Aiki. Aiki is the highest level of jujutsu - or even of martial arts - expression, just like Mr. Knight was saying in the video.
Great vision of Aikido
@@Getnodrama Thanks! I’ve often wondered why this isn’t more apparent. I feel Aikido is generally judged from the wrong viewpoint, and often by Aikido practitioners themselves. I think it would be much more popular if people had the correct expectations-
Eli knight is my former (and still as I believe, current) instructor, I loved training with him and he is a great teacher.
I really appreciate it so much. Thanks. Hope you’re doing good!
@@KnightJiuJitsu I have been way better, but I'm hoping to make changes in my life that will allow me to come back soon
One of your last videos, you left open speculation on why Kano Jigoro, the founder of Judo, was so impressed by Aikido as "the true Judo". From what I can observe as an outsider, I think it's because Aikido further distills the principles of efficient use of energy (one of Kano's central principles for Judo), by using pain compliance to supplement the throwing. It's why Sensei Lenny Sly always said that "if it hurts, it works": because I suspect that Aikido was always originally meant to use the induced pain from small joint manipulation, in order to further minimize the force you have to use to get someone down.
Will this always be practically doable? Probably not. The direct use of strength and positioning for grabbing and leverage in Judo throwing is still, for example, going to be more commonly doable. But Aikido's use of minimized flowing movement while supplemented with pain compliance, is certainly still biomechanically and psychologically sound. It tells us a lot about how the human body and mind works, which can always find itself implicitly manifest in how we deal with fights.
Basically Aikido is Judo done by an inhumanly matrix-level fast “””human”””
Basically Aikido is a a more humane version of Daito Ryu Aiki Jitsu as taught by Sokaku Takada.
@@trobson9952 Correct. That is the history of Aikido. Descends" from Aiki-jitsu. And a lot of it doesn't feel too humane, LOL. And it's not about speed., It's about blending and flowing.
@@filippobertone4255 Dude too much TV. 😆
I call Aikido "Long Range Judo"
As a fellow Aikido Black Belt, I am also training in BJJ, Kickbxing, Filipino Kali and JKD. I see the links and gaps from one to the other. I also, see the trends where techniques from one are the big new thing in the other art. I haven't personally met Professor Knight, but I like what he has to say and hope to meet him soon and maybe even get to train with him.
As a former Aikido practioner, my opinion is it's moves and concepts have it's proper place (as with all martial arts). Admittedly learning how to fall has by far been the most useful in average life and even saved my ass twice!
its*
I'm so happy you're covering Aikido in this way. This is how i've used it.
I’m actually happy there’s a place in Aikido, how the locks can be applied properly, while applying the original katas/techniques and keeping the tradition. It’s good to see this
In truth Eli is saying something that applies to ALL martial arts at a high level. All paths no matter how different eventually lead to the same destination.
I've practiced taekwondo, 2x styles of kung fu, muay Thai and judo. Now at the age of 40 I've started learning aikido partly out of curiosity and partly out of a love of Budo Japanese martial culture. Aikido (compared to Judo and other martial arts) is - infinitely more subtle, footwork, balance, posture is far more important. Footwork is very very similiar to wing chun interestingly. It's far more cognisant of anatomical structure of the human body. I believe it's more focused on "balance" even than judo, also hand positioning is far more important than in judo. I think aikido is kind of a far more efficient and refined version of Judo, but it comes at the cost of requiring significantly more precision and training. The benefit is if you can make it work, you don't need any strength in your techniques. I also think aikido is more effective the more aggressive the attacker is. There are better offensive martial arts. I'm finding it's actually quite a close range art, like judo and Wing chun. Wing chun pairs with it better than any striking art by far, which isn't surprising because it also isn't a strength dominant stiking art.
Nice
You have a misunderstanding on mushrooms it's not the marsh art it's more effective there is no such thing as a martial art more effective it's all about the martial artist can the martial artist make the martial effective, So there's no Marshall art more useful than another there's no such thing. Only a marsh artist that isn't any good would think that there's a Martial art more effective than another, There is no such thing as another more effective because all different they're not the same it's comparing Apple with a banana , They're both fruits but completely different martial arts are both are both martial arts but completely different, You literally cannot compare a martial art with another martial art they're completely different not the same style fighting not the same country that they come from. But they're both a style of fighting so to compare and say a Marshall is better than another that's not true it's only the marsh artist makes Is the marsh art effective or infective.
Agree with what you said a lot
Lots of traditional martial arts place a huge emphasis on energy. Tai Chi teaches you about rooting, relaxation, understanding of your own limb position (proprioception), energy and etc.
That is true about Taiji but honestly would not say Aikido is an internal art.
Doing something in a relaxed way is not the same as internal.
Eli Knight is great. I liked him very much when I met him.
As a Tai Chi practitioner, I tell people it makes a great polish for other arts .
few month ago about 5 guys attack me on the street. They started pushing me and punching. All what I was doing was blocking, moving forward and avoid punch as I could. I was not agrresive, no punch or graps or levers even when was oportunity for it. When they noticed that I do not want fight they just went. And I'm quite sure if I was aggresiv and start against them, propably they would beat me more becasue they looking for fight. I was trainig Akido for 8 years, BJJ 0,5 year, Krav Maga for 1 year, and now Karate for 3 year. And for sure only blocks, moves and dexterity which I was lernead on Aikido and KravMaga propably saved my life. Punching and be agressive agains many oponents on the street never work, becuase they always could grab knife and kill you when realized that you want also hurt them.
Nice video as someone who practised aikido for many years I agree with a lot here. When people talk about aikido not working I've always said the science works, the theory is sound but it's so technical and has to be so precise that it works but it rarely works. As someone who comes from a tomiki background where we do compete against a resisting opponent I can testify how hard it is to pull off and that's against somone sticking to a competition rule set. Most the time we don't get the technique it becomes like a game of the chess and eventually somthing happens and you get a throw. A lot of the time guys are also cheating themselves and muscling it too so even when we do get a throw its not always strictly pure aikido. But as Rokos says theoretically if you were able to catch that punch at that right time etc it will work and it does work because we get it to work in competition.
Now when people talk about putting it up against a skilled mma fighter any aikidoka that claims it would stand up is either delusional or lying and I say this as somone with many years of aikido under me. You would have to be so good and so perfect it's just not going to be happen in reality even if you put the best I've ever trained with in there. The science is good enough to win but there is nobody who could pull it off in real time. Because when we find it that hard to pull off in an aikido competition rule set where you don't have to worry about getting kicked or punched etc. Then you have no chance in that environment. We have to remember the aikidoka of old were highly skilled in other arts before ueshiba would even train them.
To compare it to mma is pointless it will loose mma has more weapons. Aikidoka are working on a certain skill set. Of course the person with more weapons will win. Having also studied Japanese sword work, escrima and Western fencing I'd say well how long do you think your ufc fighter will last against those? If we were putting an mma fighter against an akidoka I'd be far more interested in seeing how well the mma fighter lasts under a tomiki aikido competition rule set. Both armed with just the basic 17 randori no kata. I'd like to see how it pans out. I already know the akidoka will loose in the mma environment, the mms fighter has twice as many weapons.
Aikido has its place. Its a beautiful art and not everyone does things because they want to be a fighter and that's fine. That's why you still have people practicing sword arts that they are never going to use in a real fight.
If you want to learn to fight don't do aikido. There is room for both and both should be respected and we should always keep an open mind and have fun with it.
Excellent comment. I agree!
Nothing made me fall in love with aikido more than practicing mma.
I had been trying not to use aikido BECAUSE I didn't feel that it would work well in the situation.
Training partner throws a superman punch and out of sheer instinct I had thrown him gedanate.
I went back to aikido to develop my aikido in that area and more "self defence" application.
What move and/ or principle do you use?
@@jacobharris954
Aikido itself is pure principles.
So kuzushi and atemi and irimi and ma-ai are probably the most important principles, but you don't really use principles, they're just inherent in the way that you approach techniques.
If you mean my favourite techniques, I'm rather short so gedanate is a go to for me, mai-otoshi and sumi-otoshi also.
But the whole point is that you don't pick techniques, the opponent's movement and position informs which technique you will end up attempting.
In Aikido you never go for a technique, you use what is most suitable at the time.
So I'd never think "I'm going for sumi-otoshi" and try to get them into position for it. Instead, we end up in whatever position, and if they move into a position in which sumiotoshi feels right, I take it.
Love your videos. And your phrase “owning your journey” is so true.
I took up aikido over 25 years because I wanted an activity to help improve balance, coordination and health in other activities including kayaking, dance, squash,swimming...
I found out more about aikido and I was drawn to it’s principles, the “listening” and connection, flow and the sheer fun and atmosphere of the aikido class. Learning to fall, to stumble etc was useful on numerous occasions.
I only had to disarm someone once (someone attacking someone else with a spade, and the other person would have had his head smashed in)- the bokken practice was handy for that I’m sure and I loved aikido sword work- the flow, feeling the weight change and extension through various movements.
Later, I took up tai chi and qigong and loved those too for the meditative, awareness and energy aspects. I was very, very surprised at how much “zhan zhuang” (standing form) improved my aikido.
At my bjj gym we call it the funnel. You have your own personal A game and you funnel your opponent into it. The wider your funnel is, the more effective your bjj is
Coach Ramsey Dewey has a story about a quick fight against a real practitioner of Taijiquan. He was submitted quickly by this old man who was clearly a talented fighter. How long had the old man been trainin? (I forgot his name) He said 80 years, basically all his life. Taijiquan literally means "supreme ultimate fist". My understanding is that Taijiquan is meant to be a capstone to all other training. On top of your Muay Thai, BJJ, Sanda, Sambo, and what have you, Taijiquan acts as a pinnacle on top of which to advance your training.
Taijiquan does have legitimacy. And there are still people out there who preserve effective Chinese martial arts. The problem is that a lot of the schools and teachings were lost during the Cultural De-evolution under Mao, creating contemporary wushu, which is cool and all, but a shell of what it used to be. This was not just a tragedy for Chinese martial arts, but martial arts as a whole imo.
I can't speak for Aikido though. I'm less well versed in that history.
Back when I did Aikido I was also doing Tai Chi (Yang Pan Hou form), and I would say that the techniques mostly go together quite well.
Eli 'Fantastical' Knight
The man with the many hairdos.
He's my favorite BJJ guy to learn from. Great video!
I see aikido as the Latin language of the Martial Arts World. Nobody speaks Latin (anymore), but you have a solid foundation in learning other (especially european) languages.
Aikido will give you a very solid understanding in Martial arts, which will make it easier to learn other fighting styles.
Comentário perfeito!
That final bit about uke having the hardest job is true, but it also made me realize something. In 3 years of Aikido practie I learned mucho more valuable things from the uke side than the nage side of it. Because the techniques one learns, aside from basic principles like moving your center of mass and a few locks, aren't useful in a practical situation as they are taught. But as uke you have to learn how to fall right and get un quickly again in a very harmnious way, and also how to react to an opponent in ways that aren't intuitive for an untrained person. You also gain some resistance to pain from the locks and learn where your limits are. The main thing is falling though, because several times in life you will fall to the ground, wether it's during a fight or just cause you sliped on some ice, and knowing hoy to fall correctly might actually save your life. The same can be said about judo and I don't know how much of this is trained in BJJ, but I would expect they train this too.
The uke also has to be able to sense the smallest error in nage's technique and instantly counter.
Great, thoughtful video. It can be helpful to think of martial art systems in terms of 'tiers' - some are high level but essentially useless without combat experience or black belts in pressure-tested systems underneath them. Aikido, Taji and perhaps some other estoric systems (keep in mind, many are total BS) are a kind of 'finishing school' art that you place on top of the other hardcore systems. It is easy to understand Aikido in this light, particularly when you consider when it was created and where in his lifetime the founder happened to be.
From what I read a while back most Japanese martial artists who did Aikido had already trained in Judo and Karate prior to training Aikido and they have a good base then with which to make Aikido work.
I didn't know that they also knew Karate but yes, i have heard that most of them were Judo blackbelts
@@jestfullgremblim8002 From what I read Aikido was the hardest to master effectively so the other two arts helped with that.
Not sure how true that is, sounds logical though.
My old college tutor was taught by a guy who was a good evel Judo guy before he did Aikido.
@@grayalun yeah, i wouldn't say that Aikido is harder to master, but rather harder to start applying it.
Mastering a martial art is a whole 'nother history haha
@@jestfullgremblim8002 I'd argue that they are one and the same, I would at least deem mastery as the ability to use it in a practical way.
Calling it "hard to apply" isn't a good thing. What you're saying is it doesn't work well. It's hard to use a musket, compared to a modern military weapon. Because the musket is worse. If the martial art requires more of you - more training time, more strength, more speed, more anything - to get the same or worse result than another martial art, then it is worse than that other art.
I was hoping to see a video elaborating on this topic. Very interesting indeed
I love how you bring new light to Aikido might be more relevant in military than ever. Most discard it as outdated just for samurais fighting in armour when lost their weapons. But maybe relevant than ever again as modern infantry again wear quite heavy body armour. I’d love to see you test how well Aikido would work dressed in full modern military body armour. Thanks for sharing your journey.
Aikido really shines on that situation, with heavy gear you can't jump around. And most the attacks we learn to handle in aikido is based on attacker trying to get hold of a weapon on your hand. For example some techniques can be done when some is holding your assault rifle too. But almost all with smaller object like knife.
Could say that all the techniques in aikido can be done with knife or baton and they all feel more natural than on empty hand.
Nah, it's useless.
"I love how you bring new light to Aikido might be more relevant in military than ever. Most discard it as outdated just for samurais fighting in armour when lost their weapons."
Well that's silly, since no samurai ever used Aikido and it was never practiced with armor. Because the samurai were gone for decades before Aikido was founded.
@@TheMisterGuy Aikido is based on Japanese jiujutsu and all the foot work and all the weapon work (disarms, hand grabs) are still there. Military still has to train close combat and wear armor.
I see Aikido more as a way of self defense and, like other self defense methods, it works pretty good when the attacker is not expecting any kind of attack and is caught by surprise.
My favorite begginers trap is the double hook. I really like when a big guy who dosen't know the position just rush to smash me with full momentum, just to get rolled over and to be mounted.
this is a super cerebral analysis of fighting 'harmony' and really amazing. love hearing stuff like this
Rokas, maybe you can try to get in touch with a guy named Roy Dean? He's a BJJ and Aikido black belt and teaches some aikido principles and moves for BJJ, for example wrist locks
I have a few videos with Roy Dean already. You can look them up by searching "Martial Arts Journey Roy Dean"
Ask and you shall have already received months ago.
@@MartialArtsJourney boom 💥, Rokas with the most humble yet gangster reply 😎😀
Really enjoyed this, Eli is one of the most intelligent person you have interviewed and your topic was spot on as it's a subject he had something important and insightful to say on.
I'm pretty critical of youtube grappling teachers, but Eli has one of, if not the best BJJ info on youtube. Explains very well stuff that works. HUGE knowledge base.
You can fall in to someone's rhythm very easily in the dojo. You can even be hypnotized by their skills. High level BJJ doesn't translate to the streets or Self Defense just the basics.
Right! I have respect for what BJJ brings to the table. My only critique is how applicable is it in a street defense scenario where u fall down on concrete? Does ur attacker have buddies nearby? These r legit risks. No martial art is perfect. Use common sense 1st then martial ability as a last resort.
@@cj4life390 most people never take their system to the next Level. I did Tae Kwon Do and earned my black Belt then I went to other schools to see it didn't translate. Then I fixed some stuff. I can now use it vs Muay Thai, BJJ or MMA and The streets (if it's only hands).The learning curve was extremely ruff. Same can be done with BJJ however I've been at this 20+ years most people quit after three months.
I like this video. In my humble opinion any martial art practiced with dilligence becomes a viable form of self defence, including Aikido. In my journey with Aikido I met so many Akidoka that were also trained or training in multiple arts. In fact they came from other arts to Aikido simply for the fact that it can compliment and enhance a martial artists repetoir. I have found that it is a situational martial art. A particular opening will present it's self and having trained enough my muscle memory takes over and the Aikido technique simply flows out of me. So many arts have useful and amazing techniques that are wonderful to have in your back pocket if needed. But there are several Martial Arts that truly bring to light the spiritual and inner strength that a long time practitioner eventually seeks and I believe Aikido is one of them. It almost seems like a graduate school for a martial artist. As others have stated it brings a whole new level of understanding but I don't think it is meant to stand on it's own.
Eli's a legend!
I really enjoyed this video! Its always good to look at Aikido from a different angle, from a more realistic pov - I'm sure you know what I mean. The love is still there! What I just realized is that the stupid ppl are still there also...
With that said, I would like to hear more from Elly aout this, though...
As always, ty Rokas! Great stuff!
Thanks Wagner! I'll publish a longer talk with Eli next week :)
Thank you for sharing your martial journey ^^🙏.
at the highest levels of Judo, where the Judoka understands movement and balance so well, it resembles Aikido
Eli Knight talks beautiful about martial arts and i can listen to him for hours. 🥋🙏⛩️☯️
Another guy worth talking to is Paul Cale black belt in 3 styles of Aikido and professor at machado Sydney Australia, he also holds black belts in Judo and Kudo, he is a Australian commando(famous for storming a enemy stronghold in Afghan and choking out a taliban leader) and the CQC instructor for the Australian defence force, why do I mention him because Paul has stated that Aikido gave him the tools/principles to learn combat.
if i remember correctly, Aikido, Judo and JuJitsu are all subsets of aikijujitsu. Each just focusing on a different area. its interesting to see its adaptation from armed warfare to unarmed individual competition or how culture modified them.( brazillian jujitsu on the beach and wrestling and boxing in the parking lots.) With modern MMA its combing the areas again more. As society continues to devolve we will soon go full circle and see martial arts in its purest and most effective form again.
AikiJujutsu is separate from Jujitsu. Every samurai clan had their own Jujitsu, AikiJujutsu was the Jujitsu used by the Takeda clan. Jigoro Kano himself studied 2 different forms of Jujitsu before making judo.
Great conversation. Thank you
Wow! I added another gem to my collection. Thank you!
As said in multiple of my earlier comments of this channel I never understood why you broke so hard with aikido. I always thought that it is a very good martial arts for recreational use when you cut all the esoteric stuff some places have.
Personally I did judo as a kid and young adult (not competitive) and when I startet with some Aikdio I really understood many Judo techniques better. I learned using more round movments and working more with "the natural flow of movment".
In German there was the phrase "Siegen durch nachgeben" = Winning by giving in.
I think this mentality works best in stand up grapeling. Also you shouldn't forget where many of these thenics orginiated from. What can you do on the battlefield, with armor when you lost your sword or are in such close distance where you can't swing your weapon any more...
(doesn't matter if asian or western cultures, same problem same principles)
I think part of my "hard breakup" was because I was so invested into it and I was also promised by my instructor many things of what aikido was supposed to be. It wasn't a breakup just with the martial art but also with a person who was influential and later I came to a conclusion, was toxic. I also came to a conclusion that the way aikido is structured to a degree breeds these toxic people. Throw all of that into a pot (and even more) and you can maybe better understand why I was so frustrated :)
I think it depends on your motivations, if you only want recreationalism.. and you want a specific sort, then maybe it’s more cut for you, it’s like the difference between a Kendoka and Judoka.. even tho some concepts could be considered interchangeable there is a pretty core difference
@@MartialArtsJourney I follow "your journey" for some time now and I find ut fascinating how you reflect on all those different aspects.
Since you are probably still one of the most known Aikido influencers, do you think there is a culture shift happening? or could happen?
I remember back when I was preparing for my sandan examination in Aikido, my instructor said that I was now in charge of my own training. In that context he was referring to Aikido concepts for the exam. However- I had quite earlier been doing that already in a martial arts sense. I had come in to Aikido training after doing 10 years of full contract kickboxing.
As I continued in my Aikido training I began to recognize the gaps, holes and false assumptions that the art (like all arts and systems have…..even MMA/BJJ have). So I have been incorporating aspects of Kali, BJJ, small circle Jujitsu and judo Into my aikido to address them. I focus on the aspects that fit best with my aikido and address the holes. I like the challenge and it keeps it interesting!
I think of it as Aikido being the hub and the other aspects of the complimentary arts as spokes. When you acknowledge your art has holes you address them because there is no perfect art or system. That doesn’t negate the metaphorical applications that aikido has to offer in a non martial context IMO. 😎
So, the end product of a "Functional Aikido" would probably look something like a hybrid of Tomiki Aikido and a specialist in this Flowing Style/Approach to Jiu Jitsu. Yes, Tomiki Aikido is able to do what they do because of the ruleset they use. But it's still Aikido moves performed with resistance, therefore the set ups for them might be different in a real fight or in MMA but it should still be possible to do them. Also, as Joe Rogan says sometimes the best way to train techniques is by doing them under a ruleset that isolates them.
There are many Judo moves that seem like they are impossible to perform in a resisting opponent, and yet one can see them being done here and there.
Is because different moves work against different reactions, and some of these reactions only happen when you do an specific thing. So yeah, you gotta set up these techniques or they will not work. If you want to have them mover forward, push them. If you want them to move backwards, you may pull them. Now then, this obviously doesn't apply to everyone, people do react different to the sane situation, that was just the regular reaction.
Pretty much, yes.
The great think about Tomiki aikido is the foundation of it.
The randori and hitetakkgaeko elements mean that it is easier to develop aikido for use in combat sports or self defence if those ate the paths you wish to take.
People overlook the striking elements in aikido far too easily.
I know Dan grades who have no idea about the striking side of aikido.
it's a real shame.
While I was standing beside my motorcycle with my helmet held by the strap on my dominant right hand, a hobo grabbed my left wrist with hobo number 2 standing behind him wanting money. Turning my wrist palm up and pushing into him, I leveraged his wrist and unbalanced him, throwing him back into his buddy. I was ready to follow up by swinging the helmet but didn't have to as the white belt Aikido move worked perfectly. They slithered away and stopped bothering me. Also, as a doctor I might have to control a psychotic patient without punching him in the face, a situation where Aikido can be very helpful. In medical school an athletic football player type medical student classmate was cornered by a psychotic patient and he punched the patient in the face, resulting in a major reprimand.
Yes aikido is about controlling the other person. It’s used by bouncers and corrections officers. Staying away from hobos and psychotic patients also helps.
You may not be able to grasp a fist but it would be easy to touch a elbow. If you can touch above the elbow, a puncher can not retract his elbow.
Many people talk about Aikido of Aikikai but Yohshinkan Aikido is used for actual Police techniques where is no harmony.
Aikikai isn't always all flowers and singing folks songs either, but definitely Yoshinkan has... shall we say 'vigorous' rep for sure!
But people like to mock kotegaeshi as a technique by saying their jab's too quick to be be 'caught', or that if they stand in perfect posture -- or even, bracing themselves in the opposite direction, to be really silly! -- and challenging people to 'force' the wristlock against their 'full resistance'. Totally missing the point. Don't try and do the technique that's not been left available, do the one that has been.
One of the best things of aikido is how fall with minimal damage many underestimate how damaging falling can be
Another very good video, thank you very much 🙏 I agree on the whole topic💪🙏🥋
Aikido , I used aikido in a street fight when attack by 2 people . And did good . The technic I got was from a book . I did punishing to one the other I used aikido .
Great video, Eli is very knowledgeable I see. I will say aikido and tai chi are very different from my experiences. Chen tai chi in particular is very focused on good body structure, yielding, off balancing and neutralizing incoming force. A lot of what I’ve seen from aikido is very compliant partners allowing someone to throw them without much effort being given to the throw. Tai chi is very explosive as well with great shoulder strikes and great power from being very well rooted and using whole body power. One part moves all parts move. That’s the beauty of Chen tai chi.
Sounds the same to me
Sincere aikido partners never 'allow' someone to throw them! The only time that is understandable is when someone is first introduced to a technique in order to learn what to do.
A good uke will keep control of themselves in order to counter or escape on their own terms.
Thank you Mr. Knight!
Great discussion of the topic and theory.
I’ve been practicing different MA and now I’m in Tai Chi Chuan. I like comments about usage of TCC: using opponents energy, if someone is committed it is easy to manipulate, weak v.s. strong, yielding etc. It is hard to tell that TCC is very useful due to (mostly) bad teachers and masters that are “selling” TCC for health and never been fighting. So they erased most topics and issues from TCC. What I learned in last few years is eye opening about TCC. I have to say that TCC is mostly structure, proper alignment of a whole body and relaxing (not collapsing). Then it comes yielding, following, issuing etc. represented by punches, kicks and other "tools". Which are just the outcome of previous issues. We do practice them (also with MMA gloves) in sparing, so that one can properly understand what TCC teach and has. However, it is a hard and long way to understand it. In addition, on top of all unfortunately, most of the time people (instructors) are not teaching those basics.
Rokas so, a video with someone (that really knows TCC) would be gr8!
We’re all just looking to have fun. Aikido is fun and you can practice it into your 80’s. That’s reason enough for me to continue practicing it. It is a martial art.
Jujitsu (foundation) >>> BJJ & Aikido. this martial art have same similar basic only different on application and method. the higher level they will back to the basic. the similarity taichi and aikido are they use aiki. different from aikido that practice more simple and focus on ki, taichi use many form of practice and some times hard to do in application until you really understand it. in my experience taichi really can help in healing. when i got broken bone in my shoulder (my nage make mistake doing technic so when i do uke i got injure) it recover my hand so now i can move it normal again. although after injury i can't practice aikido in normal way to avoid my old injure got injure again, i still practice the basic to make my reflect and ki training not dull. i see you learn many thing with other practitioner and teacher. that's very great it can help open your mind and sharp your aikido. i do the same when still training Aikido i have friend from taekwondo (we share same building for practice) we exchange knowledge which at that time i still not train with my sensei yet.
To be honest, I think that aikido is good, but what it used to be is difficult to find and learn and many end up not learning what the initial creator made it as.
It may be good to explore Daito Ryu Aki Jitsu, as well as Aikido.
Great Video!
Every -jutsu (like BJJ) are practiced to defeat opponents. Every -do (Kendo, Judo, Aikido) was established to master specific skills.
Aikido has NEVER FAILED ME. In the army combative tournament in many many fights. Even some in bjj classes. I just got sick of bjj people having such a negative view until they couldn't sink much on me. I'm old now. Torn muscles etc. Aikido keeps me moving. Keeps my jab sharp without having to pound a bag and cause more damage. Ukemi is not dancing for someone. Anyway people should take it for what it is. A brilliant blend of yoga, dance, swords, humility and a dash of what some would call karate. I never tell anyone to expect the technique we practice to look like it in altercation . It just a language for communication of opening and balance breaking that won't destroy your body
. Have a great day!😊
This is by far the best realization about aikido yet. Im not really an aikidoka but i see it all the time in other arts and when i do its amazing! And feels amazing to find.
I love Eli, I've pondered similar things Ive been training bjj and judo for over 10 years, and would love to also train aikido if given the chance. You can extract good principles of footwork and leverage from it.
I'll start taichi chuan.
I'm already I striker, and more I realized about myself more I can see how to use the wrestling of taichi. I was never an agressivo fighter until last year, when I realized the place I have more fear in a fight is where I can get flow state, the infighting zone, the ground where it begins to come a wrestle but still can be a striking zone, now I use my elbows and knees much more effectively.
And in that middle ground if you understand the wrestling behind taichi you can be a beast. Like the wind, flow gently yet can bring down mountains
I’m soooo glad you came back to aikido amigo! I was disappointed years ago when you made that detour, but now happy you went through it. Hard won!
Rokas, you should look into a seminar called hard ready. It's in October. Eli will be there, icy Mike will be there as well some other great instructors. Some of the best training I've had. The guy who runs it is named Ryan Hoover
My experience with aikido is that it works in many situations, but you can't force aikido techniques on someone. You really must use what is coming in your direction, otherwise it won't work. The "blending with your opponent" is crucial. You also should use some atemi when you can, in order to shock your opponent and put them off balance.
I have a very smart young girl in my aikido class who is a bit childish but in a good way. Her behavior has often proved to me that some techniques don't work when the attacker switches to a defender. When I try to grab her hand or arm she often does the opposite and instead of attacking, she tries to push me back or escape the grip by running away and turning my aikido locks and holds into those of an attacker. When someone resits it's hard to do the typical Aikdio moves, but when the person is just attacking, it works for me. My teacher said if she refuses let her go, don't use a technique when the attacker dosen't want to attack you. We want to push something away when it seems to be dangerous or comes with force, but that dosen't work in every situation you want it to work, cause your opponent is not static.
It took me 3 years of Aikido practicing to start, just start, understanding how can be actually applied in real life. But I could have not used it in real life. At 5 years of practicing, I could see how to use it. And of course, just then you understand that you don’t expect to execute the technique as per sensei’s execution. My sensei always said that, at least the Iwama Ryu Style, encouraged the provocation of the opponent so this latter would create “space” to apply the technique. And that would rarely end up looking like what we do in the dojo, at least in terms of “catching the fist” kinda thing.
It is quite interesting to appreciate certain trending animosity towards Aikido, specially from jiu jitsu. The kind of mockery that indicates rather fear over true, sound-based criticism.
I did aikido for a few years in japan. In japan, it is considered "away of life" or more like a religion, and we sat and read the aikido Bible then meditated as much as the dancing.
Aikido is perfect. The perfect way to get your arse handed to you in a real fight.
@@joereidy5732 fr people should just dump it completely. There is nothing useful in it other than learning how to fall correctly, which you learn in three other martial arts as well.
@@dermikadomampfer3198 he was being sarcastic
@@joereidy5732 aikido guy with a knife wins in a real fight
@@psuedomonas1 haha good one
@Martial Arts Journey My friend once told me the main problem of Aikido in now days are they teach you how to defense yourself with no harm to opponent and all tourntament rules, but in past you'v got moves that could be dangerous for enemy life and that's the point. Aikido in time started to be more and more polite if you could restore old school Aikido from how it was at the beggining that could be deadly martial art. He told me previoulsly previously Aikido meant to be way to disarm and defeat armed enemy with Katata etc....
Eli has some of the best hair in BJJ. Also he's kind of good at it.
My Sifu called it "leaving the door open" when we leave opening for the opponent to take. Many advanced Chinese Arts use the idea of limiting the choices of the opponent and practicing ways of changing shape/structure to reduce their movement "impose your structure upon the enemy".
whoa , that problem and dilemma thing.. it works on so many levels even outside of martial arts
The story he refers to @ 3.35 is what happened to me, pretty much verbatim. I never knew that you could drown on dry land, without any water in sight, until that day.
8:12 i really hope no one takes this literally. choking someone out is extremely dangerous and you can not reliable tell if somebody has passed out. brain damage is a huge risk.
What do you mean you can’t tell if someone is passed out?
My dad taught me to push hands from Taichi. I now use it to bind a person's blade and hit them with close quarters in fencing. The technique does transfer somehow.
Not sure because everyone is different yet combine akido with Sambo or Sanda as example is good, ,just my opinion because I practice Sambo, Sanda shansou, , your channel , conversation is professional 😎👍
Honestly, I feel like aikido is one of the more effective systems against weapons. I have a black belt in Marine Corps Martial Arts and most of our disarms and restraint techniques are based in Aikido and Jujutsu. For these it is useful, but if it were all I knew I would definitely be in trouble for every other situation.
It's probably more useful, if you have good skills, to stop someone going for a weapon. That's sort of what Daito Ryu was based on.
When people say "wrist grabs look silly" you have to understand the context. This could've been a swordsman trying to take out his weapon back in the day, and if you think about how that looks, you would grab their wrist to stop them.
Not only against weapons but mostly with a weapon. Nothing de-escalates and keeps peace better than weapons. And with weapon on defenders hand every attack in aikido syllabus makes sense.
There is no such thing as a martial more effective than another it's like comparing an Apple with a banana 2 different martial arts that are not even and the same Ju Ju Ju 2 and iquito are not even the same they're both martial arts but they're not the same they're not even related 2 different styles a martial art, And by the way there's no such thing as a marsh art better than another more effective than another there's no such thing, It makes a more short better than another is the martial artist if you were actually better than the other martial artist you were sparring or fighting That's what makes you're more effective it's the person who's practices the martial art not the martial art, Comparing 2 different martial arts not even the same.... It's just stupid.
You should check out Tim Cartmell. He started off in kung fu and was a high level practitioner doing leitai matches. But picked up bjj after returning to the US because it meshed so well with his internal martial arts.
Great video!!!
in regards to your comment on how peaceful is aikido if you are ramming someone's head on concrete or a wall that is aikijutsu, aikido came afterwards because ueshiba saw how brutal aikijutsu could be im guessing and it's like you could compare aikijutsu as ramming someone's head on the floor and aikido as laying someone's head gently on a pillow and i am sure as a fellow student you have been known that... i imagine it would take far more skill to be gentle with your opponent the thing is aikido needs to be combined with other things such as de-escalation... randori in my eyes is just practicing for worst case scenario of dealing with multiple attackers and my understanding of aikijutsu is its all weapons based and if you lose your weapon you use your hands as if they were the very weapons you had in your hand... aikijutsu does have strikes which are said to soften the opponent up for a throw... ueshibas spirituality heavily influenced aikido and the truth is that he really is O sensei because what this world really needs right now is harmony... his teaching isn't just about dealing with physical confrontation he is O sensei in my eyes based on his spirituality cause if you think about it it really is about being in harmony with other's that's what will lead to peace on this earth... the physical side of aikido is for people who are not in harmony with others... it's to be done in a way to get them back in to harmony... to calm down lol... i am reminded of this story of the buddha... the story of angulimala... the serial killer in the forest... story goes the buddha was walking one day by a village and was about to enter a forest and the villagers told
him not to enter because there was a monster in there who killed people... the buddha said he wasn't afraid... the killer was a disciple of a llama who told him to kill 1,000 people and he will become enlightened or something like that, it's been many years since ive read the story so bare with me lol well the killer had 999 fingers collected to present to his teacher to become enlightened and on that day he saw the buddha walking and thought "this is it i will have killed 1,000 people and become enlightened. " he went to strike the buddha down but every time he did the buddha seemed to just be a step ahead and just kept walking, he would keep slashing and the buddha just seemed to always be ahead of him and finally the killer fell to his knees and wept in exhaustion... well, the way i see that story is not that the buddha kept walking and magically couldn't be touched but the buddha was a warrior before he went in search of enlightenment and i like to entertain the thought that he wasn't just walking but evading the killers attacks, like pei mei evaded beatrix from kill bill 2... even looking at pei mei evading beatrix sword strikes even though it's a movie it presents in my eyes the way of the harmonious spirit. there is another legend of ueshiba asked to demonstrate if he could dodge a firing squad and when they fired i think he was able to anticipate when they would shoot and he rolled right behind them. they then brought in their sniper and ueshiba declined supposedly saying " his bullet will find me." alot to ponder lol say you have someone with a spear and you have a sword, the spear man thrusts and you move backwards and the spear doesn't impale you , that is the principle of aiki... if the spearman thrusts and you can't move backwards far enough you deflect the thrust or get out of the line of attack/thrust.... i remember reading somewhere that budo is the art of avoiding the spear...just contemplating these things can be pretty enlightening... but there is no denying that one needs to cultivate themselves physically to pull this stuff off lol you're a black belt in aikido already so im thinking as you journey into these other paths you will come back full circle and have these other paths enhance your aikido... certain aikido techniques might not work in certain scenarios but the principles are definitely effective... again i point to judo. judo alone isn't enough to deal with real world attacks these are all aspects of the whole... native americans never fought without weapons apparently.
Lowering your hands or sword to encourage a strike upward is called drawing and it taught in Boxing and Fencing.
There is more gentle than a choke.
Making the attacker realise the foolishness of his own attack by not resisting it and not finishing him when he clearly sees that you could many times.
At the end the attacker not only stops attacking you but feels a great respect for you as you didnt try to break him physically nor mentally, you didnt try to inflict him ego injury even though he wanted to destroy you. He would instantly turn to your disciple. Thats what aikido mastery tends towards. Doesnt mean it is easily applicable
Opposition, yelding and doing nothing?
Correct me if i am wrong, but isn't redirecting a fourth category?
Like i can push, back up, give up or redirect the force. Atleast in my minimal boxing, wrestling judo and extensive bjj experience.
Hi Rokas. Greetings from a Brazilian fan. I would be interesting if you could make a video talking and training with Yoshihito Shibata, a Japanese Aikido teacher living in the US. I think he can bring interesting points about the biomechanics of Aikdio.
Hi Rokas, i love your approach of martial art. At the same time you like to discuss with professionals of all styles. You put Coralie Camilli on your miniature, she is an aïkido, mma martial artist and philosophy doctor who wrote "the art of fighting". You could try to interview her and also you could ask her international level fighter boyfriend what he thinks about aïkido... ;-)
thank you for this video
I had a friend who recently passed away who was very good in muay thai. But he always insisted that he's good because of his 25 years of tai chi.
Have you ever looked into Goju Karate? It has a lot of the principles your talking about here. It is all about the interplay of hard/soft power. It is focused mostly on stand up striking and grappling. I have studied various martial arts but my favorite is Goju Karate because of the balance of the physical and philosophy.
I have a question for those who have trained both Aikido and sport tested forms of grappling. It seems to me that once an Aikido hold is applied it definitely works, so would you say the difficulty is in how Aikido proposes to obtain the hold, or is it something else?
The context for this 'aikido problem' on this channel comes from Roka's journey as shown in his early videos. Particularly his initial attempt to apply his aikido vs a trained mma practitioner in live sparring. Check out that video from 2 or so years back to understand why the 'jury' on so-called 'aikido' (as taught in Europe today) has been out. Since then he's been looking for answers in different places to get help in making many of his techniques work.
I would say that that's about it. You can get moves like Kote Gaeshi in many ways, but the Aikido way is way too low percentage/unrealistic. This applies to the other Aikido moves as well, they DO work, but people try to perform then in the way that the katas show, which will probably not work.
It's complicated. You can't muscle Aikido techniques. You pretty much have to move with your opponent to set most of these up
Short answer is if you can stay *ahead of* your opponent, you can probably efficiently apply Aikido techniques. Otherwise, almost not at all, or when applied, even the Aikido wrist locks feel more like Jujutsu techniques than how they are taught in Aikido
For me the training in Aikido and BJJ in large part is how to stay ahead of my opponent and not lose that in the process of applying techniques
Aikido doesn't have really pressure test (that was maybe Rokas biggest problem... He didn't have any real experience of fighting, now things could be different and I would like to see that also). To get techniques work you have often to repel opponents grab (there is still koshinage that can made, pretty much in the same way as in BJJ, I personally think they are the same throws). Ofcourse there is possible to get even nikyo work straight from the shoulder grab, but I don't remember if it was really allowed to do in BJJ since it include turning the wrist also). In MMA probably the best option is to punch first or block opponents jab/punch to get space and element of a surprise and do for example straight iriminage (can be also applied as a heymaker punch). One thing is certain you really can apply those moves in fight, but they will look a lot uglier (remember: practice is not performance).
Eli is a very intelectual man, and knows his stuff
Respect!!
Ju is about having an answer and creating dilemmas (pull when they push, push when they pull, etc) Honestly it's the more practical and realistic goal for almost anyone. But, Aiki is basically a different concept altogether, and the kind of thing even professional fighters wouldn't have the patience to try to master. It's dominating psychologically, to the extent that you can nearly choose what your attacker will do (but they believe they are choosing). Unlike Ju which a person can begin to apply fairly early on, the latter is a lifelong practice nobody is likely to master
If you want to see practical Aiki as a concept in action, look to internet trolls trying to bait people into arguments
They aren't necessarily super good at it, but they're baiting people deliberately on emotional issues (make them angry, predict their response) and that's honestly a very similar concept, if not the same
Aikido was meant for Advanced Jujutsu practitioners. Their philosophy would require someone to have advance level Jujutsu reflexes. The creator did come up with Aikido when he was years of a master jujutsu practitioner. To really redirect energy you would need 10 years of experience after you get your Black belt( the old school way)