I Proved that Aikido Works in Self-Defense

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  • Опубліковано 3 жов 2024
  • I used Aikido 7 times in self-defense: 6 times in the Ultimate Self-Defense Championship and 1 in a real life self-defense situation. Aikido by many is considered to be the least effective martial art.
    #aikido #usdc #martialarts
    ---
    Welcome to the Martial Arts Journey UA-cam channel!
    My name is Rokas. I'm a Lithuanian guy who trained Aikido for 14 years, 7 of them running a professional Aikido Dojo until eventually I realized that Aikido does not live up to what it promises.
    Lead by this realization I decided to make a daring step to close my Aikido Dojo and move to Portland, Oregon for six months to start training MMA at the famous Straight Blast Gym Headquarters under head coach Matt Thornton.
    After six months intensive training I had my first amateur MMA fight after which I moved back to Lithuania. During all of this time I am documenting my experience through my UA-cam channel called "Martial Arts Journey".
    Now I am slowly setting up plans to continue training MMA under quality guidance and getting ready for my next MMA fight as I further document and share my journey and discoveries.
    ---
    If you want to support my journey, you can make a donation to my PayPal at info@rokasleo.com
    SUBSCRIBE to see when the next videos will come out:
    ► bit.ly/1KPZpv0
    Check the video "Aikido vs MMA" which started this whole Martial Arts Journey:
    ► • Aikido vs MMA - REAL ...
    If you want to support me and this channel on a regular basis check my Patreon page:
    ► / rokasleo

КОМЕНТАРІ • 402

  • @MartialArtsJourney
    @MartialArtsJourney  Рік тому +33

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    Or use code "Rokas" to receive an additional 10% discount for all XMartial products.

    • @davidtice4972
      @davidtice4972 Рік тому +1

      Parts of Aikido can be used along with Judo, Catch Wrestling, Brazilian Jui-Jitsu, Boxing, Muay Thai ect.

    • @ArnasLeo
      @ArnasLeo Рік тому +2

      that's awesome!!!!!!

    • @youareacoward8459
      @youareacoward8459 Рік тому +2

      See, I told you, your Aikdio will start to kick in when YOU can fight.

    • @موسى_7
      @موسى_7 Рік тому

      I think it's because of Ramsey's appearance in the USDC that XMartial, Ramsey's sponsor, decided to contact you. The USDC has been really profitable, not just entertaining and informative.

    • @johannesstephanusroos4969
      @johannesstephanusroos4969 Рік тому

      Rokas, is there a reason you pronounce Sensei like Ssensee? It bothers the heck out of me

  • @davidcrawford8583
    @davidcrawford8583 Рік тому +375

    The UFDC was and is one of the best things I've ever seen on UA-cam. Congratulations Rokas. Stunning content.

    • @MartialArtsJourney
      @MartialArtsJourney  Рік тому +36

      Thanks!! Already working hard on season 2

    • @davidcrawford8583
      @davidcrawford8583 Рік тому +7

      @@MartialArtsJourney Can't wait Rokas!

    • @eliaaam2262
      @eliaaam2262 Рік тому +9

      totally agree , amazing content , looked like a Netflix series

    • @jacobharris954
      @jacobharris954 Рік тому +1

      @@MartialArtsJourney who is next and have you took in criticism from Ramsey drewy ?

    • @JC3H
      @JC3H Рік тому +3

      All the other participants seem to like USDC, but does why Ramsay Dewey think negatively, he even got into a argument with the organisers/referees

  • @joelhenry5489
    @joelhenry5489 Рік тому +182

    That guy throwing the helmet at you was the most pure martial arts thing I have ever seen.

    • @MartialArtsJourney
      @MartialArtsJourney  Рік тому +36

      😂😂 High potential technique

    • @Merrsharr
      @Merrsharr Рік тому +6

      @@MartialArtsJourney Of course , it would have worked better if it had been the pommel of a sword.

    • @annoyed707
      @annoyed707 7 місяців тому

      If only it was a pommel...

  • @connorperrett9559
    @connorperrett9559 Рік тому +409

    This dude went from Aikido teacher to Aikido hater to "Actually Aikido can work if you know what you're doing." True character development.

    • @laroybell3313
      @laroybell3313 Рік тому +31

      Martial Arts.......JOURNEY! That makes sense to me 🤷

    • @moyza_
      @moyza_ Рік тому +21

      Not that big a surprise, aikido was always a nice complementary martial art.

    • @just_j_like_the_letter
      @just_j_like_the_letter Рік тому +10

      Legit, following this channel over the last few years has been like watching a real life anime

    • @Deimophobos
      @Deimophobos Рік тому +11

      like all martial arts, I train wing chun, and I've seen a lot of people say that it's no good, but it's already saved a life once and a robbery in the street where I live, that's what my master says, you need to understand your system, and not use it as a rule but as a tool to use in different situations, if you want to memorize the technique you will die, but if you understand the basis of operation you can succeed.

    • @malcolmjelani3588
      @malcolmjelani3588 10 місяців тому +2

      Aikido was never a complete system. Osensei was told this directly by students who traveled and faced wrestlers. I don't think he ever addressed it

  • @camiloiribarren1450
    @camiloiribarren1450 Рік тому +133

    Aikido may be focused on joint locks and seems very unlikely to work in most moments but there are times it can work like a charm. I love that Rokas keeps trying to make his original style work in different situations.
    If Rokas didn’t notice that he used aikido moves, he was in the mindset of Mushin (mind of no mind); aka he was in the zone and acted on instincts

  • @wojciechsawicki4733
    @wojciechsawicki4733 Рік тому +32

    thanks for the caption around 3:25, I really thought this was real footage of you fighting

  • @gengotaku
    @gengotaku Рік тому +38

    It’s priceless to see you admitting aikido works. “Ineffective “ can be said about any martial art depending on what you expect from it. You blocked the knife attack on the self-defense episode even when “ professional “ karate, Bjj and self-defense experts had no chance.

    • @6whatnext
      @6whatnext Рік тому +5

      Yes !
      Nobody else really proved there was an ultimate self defence system, pros and cons to each .

    • @Purwapada
      @Purwapada Рік тому +4

      yes its great

  • @MartialArtsJourney
    @MartialArtsJourney  Рік тому +155

    For the record: when the two guys wanted to fight me, they probably would have kicked my ass, because I was then training only Aikido and without cross training it, I believe Aikido has very little effectiveness in self-defense. "Luckily" I then thought that Aikido works and that gave me enough false confidence you deter them from attacking. Yet as it's clear from the video if you know how to fight and have grappling fundamentals, you can use Aikido principles when attacked.

    • @titaniumteddybear
      @titaniumteddybear Рік тому +14

      I've always wondered whether Aikido could be effective if combined with real sparring. I am overjoyed that someone put their body on the line and proved it to be true. Well done, man.

    • @PHIplaytesting
      @PHIplaytesting Рік тому +18

      It was kind of weird watching this episode of the USDC for the first time and seeing how quickly and easily you were able to take the guys down in a couple of the rounds. After watching this video it makes more sense. These simple principles of redirecting energy really seem to work well against people using this more brutish, "untrained" approach.

    • @aurelianspodarec2629
      @aurelianspodarec2629 Рік тому +7

      Id assume if they were drunk and slow aikido could probably be effective but you know the situation better :D
      I can only imagine a drunken person with slow motion trying to grab you, you can easily do something with that

    • @nunninkav
      @nunninkav Рік тому +4

      Rokas you underestimate your true potential. Seth said you were decievingly strong and tall. You have reach, size and speed. In a real dangerous situation, you would be really dangerous.

    • @aurelianspodarec2629
      @aurelianspodarec2629 Рік тому +2

      @@nunninkav In a real dangerous situation he would be dead, so would you and I and any UFC world champion

  • @daprophet02
    @daprophet02 Рік тому +63

    Before I joined the military, I studied Aikido and Karate. While I learned early on that Aikido does not work in most situations, I learned that the philosophy of Aikido worked most of the time. Much like you did in your real world experience, I would use words to talk my way out of fighting, and ending the conflict without fighting. My Aikido Sensei would always talk about that philosophy all the time and it is still something that I practice to this day... Not that I am in any fights now that I am out of the military.

    • @DK-yz9xk
      @DK-yz9xk Рік тому +2

      LMAO so you were just learning how to negotiate? 😭😭

    • @bloodwynn
      @bloodwynn Рік тому +5

      @@DK-yz9xk Developing certain mindset for life is not negotiating.

    • @DK-yz9xk
      @DK-yz9xk Рік тому +1

      @@bloodwynn bro reread the ops comment, he used his aikido philosophy to talk his way out of fighting….. that’s not a mindset, thats full on negotiation tactics, the mindset you are referring to is just called trying to stay out of trouble.

    • @bloodwynn
      @bloodwynn Рік тому

      @@DK-yz9xk Maybe you're right.

    • @BiancaHuntPiano
      @BiancaHuntPiano Рік тому +1

      Irimi tenkan your way out of things 😉

  • @lucaambrogioni
    @lucaambrogioni Рік тому +44

    Amazing video. I am happy that you are re-appreciating Aikido. There isn't a single geometry, and there shouldn't be a single martial art

    • @maxhensley1685
      @maxhensley1685 Рік тому +3

      The way I think of it, martial arts are less like geometry, which is pure and universal but only indirectly applicable to the real world, and more like logistics. There are general principles of logistics, but Canadian logistics are not the same as Bolivian logistics.

    • @Purwapada
      @Purwapada Рік тому

      nice analogy@@maxhensley1685

  • @celestialode
    @celestialode Рік тому +22

    Hey Rokas I think you should make a video were Aikido practitioners will try taking you down using "their" Aikido technique. There were multiple messages over the year proclaiming that "your" Aikido was the problem so now after years of training other fighting styles it would be great seeing how their style would work out in a real life scenario against some that now has the experience fighting back

  • @ghostdude45
    @ghostdude45 Рік тому +56

    MY BOY USED KENICHI FOOTAGE FOR AN ILLUSTRATION?!?!
    Glad to see you noticing Aikido in your movements. Mainly, glad to see a future where Rokas is accepting of his Aikido roots AND benefitting from it here and there. This is the best timeline. Aside from the timeline where Rokas learned how to Aikido throw people with his mind. That's the timeline where Rokas fought Thanos. He didn't win... But he tried!

  • @dennisarrindell
    @dennisarrindell Рік тому +28

    Awesome video! Please note: I've once seen a guy suckerpunch someone in a streetfight after offering a handshake to his opponent to 'end the fight". Instead he used the handshake to hold the guy in place and punched him in the face really hard. It cut his lip open. Lessons learned: be wary of accepting handshakes in a self defense situation. Maybe just keep distance and do a 'namaste/namaskar" or other 'greeting' sign from a safe distance (without touch and without losing sight of your opponent). If they insist on coming close for a handshake anyways they might be setting up an attack. Something to think about.

    • @orlandomarchena4885
      @orlandomarchena4885 Рік тому +4

      I wish that I could multi-like your observations about shaking hands. Oh wait, how about this: 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

    • @perrosaurio725
      @perrosaurio725 Рік тому +3

      Honestly you are right, I did not think about this with the story. But I wont be coming closer to anyone who wants to harm me, even if they "change their minds", its better to be safe than sorry in this scenario.

    • @chrislaw4702
      @chrislaw4702 7 місяців тому

      exellent!!!!

  • @sirrobin5242
    @sirrobin5242 Рік тому +25

    I've been following your journey for about a year now, and you have greatly inspired me on my journey as well! The USDC is one of the greatest things ive seen on youtube to date! Cannot wait for season 2! Much Love and respect from Australia, Rokas!

  • @aa11ct9
    @aa11ct9 Рік тому +12

    Amazing. I'm not a martial artist but I was just reading a bio on Ueshiba and your journey makes perfect sense with that. Aikido as a more philosophical art FOR WARRIORS. I think even Seagal said that one should learn Aikido only after having trained in various other arts. The icing of the cake and not the cake itself

    • @duran3d
      @duran3d Рік тому +2

      That actually makes lots of sense.

    • @Getnodrama
      @Getnodrama 9 місяців тому +1

      Aikido will make you a better overall internally balanced human being.
      And through its physical aspect, done with the correct mindset. It is much more than just gymnastics

  • @shumookerjee293
    @shumookerjee293 Рік тому +12

    The principles and core concepts of Aikido are absolutely valid. But as you've said numerous times, without pressure testing those will only take you so far. You had the muscle memory of the moves, but also the combat experience to leverage them in a real fight. Well done, sir! Now...when does Season 2 of UFDC start?!?! 😁

  • @ollie-f7y
    @ollie-f7y Рік тому +18

    The best Aikido and martial arts Channel

  • @Wander-asia-vlogs
    @Wander-asia-vlogs Рік тому +3

    Win a fight without fighting. Thank you Rokas for that great story. You give me some hope that people are peaceful

  • @M_K-Bomb
    @M_K-Bomb Рік тому +10

    1:10 It was good to see this mentioned as Jerry from 'Fight Commentary Breakdown' said this was very Aikido like. And, I will admit it did seem like it was instinctual Aikido action used. It's pretty impressive how it really came back to him so instincual. I've heard that about martial arts training.

  • @davidecappelli9961
    @davidecappelli9961 Рік тому +12

    As far as I know, Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, was very impressed by Aikido and tried to bring it into Judo. Yoseikan Budo, for example, has something of this combination and appears to work very well.

  • @spitzfire1107
    @spitzfire1107 Рік тому +7

    I think most of the Aikido techniques are designed for natural reaction.
    One time my Dad told me that he neutralize an attacker carrying a butcher knife. When I asked him to show the technique I was surprised that it was an Ikkyo Pin the first technique of Aikido. What surprises me more is that my Dad wasn't even trained in Aikido. But he said when that moment happened his body just react that way.

    • @kasuraga
      @kasuraga 6 місяців тому +1

      I agree. It works best when you can instantly react to an attacker and catch them off guard, rather than thinking about how you'll take them down. You train till your reflexes react to where an attack is, rather than processing the attack as it happens.

  • @joope125
    @joope125 Рік тому +2

    3:20 thank you for the clarification. I wouldn't have been able to tell without that footnote

    • @MartialArtsJourney
      @MartialArtsJourney  Рік тому

      I didn't want to give the wrong impression that it was me and to take false credit

  • @BarmyDeer
    @BarmyDeer Рік тому +3

    You did indeed! Brilliant job! 🥋

  • @nickgeffen8316
    @nickgeffen8316 Рік тому +3

    You continue to inspire, Rokas. And these rash guards are the best I’ve ever seen.

  • @robinharwood5044
    @robinharwood5044 Рік тому +2

    I’m glad you told us that was not actual footage of the incident.

  • @23Revan84
    @23Revan84 Рік тому +2

    Bro I love your content, just an amazing journey your having.

  • @BMO_Creative
    @BMO_Creative Рік тому +3

    Cool Video Rokas! Yeah man! Aikido helped you again! You've become a VERY capable fighter!

  • @manjitheerratic5127
    @manjitheerratic5127 Рік тому +2

    The wonderful thing of the day is that after you have been training in so many styles in martial art. You don't discard Aikido completely out of your arsenal as I predicted a couple years ago. I do believe that Aikido and Tai Chi aren't completely non-sense martial art. This video, other related videos and your journey enforce my belief in the very purpose which let me started martial art. Thank you !!!

  • @pst5345
    @pst5345 Рік тому +4

    I am so excited to see how Jesse Encamp will do...

  • @charlescollier7217
    @charlescollier7217 Рік тому +2

    Excellent stuff, Rokas. The fundamental principles and movements of Aikido are sound. The training methods that are common to much of the Aikido world work against that, unfortunately. Now that you're training in more legitmate ways, the real possibilities and strengths of Aikido are emerging.

  • @titaniumteddybear
    @titaniumteddybear Рік тому +7

    The mechanics of the human body don't change. And the laws of physics don't change. So all grappling techniques are fundamentally the same. And I would pay good money to go through that self-defence challenge. It looks amazing.

  • @karimgregni9803
    @karimgregni9803 Рік тому +15

    Even if Aikido doesn't works, you are making it work! I see a lot of perseverance and commitment there! 💪👍

  • @eastafrika728
    @eastafrika728 Рік тому +15

    Rokas, you may end up modifying Aikido or returning it to it's Aikijujitsu and Jujitsu roots. I personally did use Aikido in a street situation, it involved a triangle choke and my opponent passed out and started convulsing, we had to revive him. From my experience, if you apply jujitsu or Aikido realistically and with respect to how people really scuffle with you personally, you develop your own curriculum and mastery.

  • @anblueboot5364
    @anblueboot5364 5 місяців тому

    Watching this reminds me of so many fond memories of my Aikido Dojo, my Sensei was always super honest and fair about his perspective of aikido saying: If you wanna be able to beat someone up, you better go and train somewhere else, you will not learn to be able to defend yourself.
    But that was never the reason I fell in love with it, I fell in love with it because of the movement and flow + calmness it brought into my life. And if I‘m honest there are other things in Aikido that will save ones life 2000% more times than a practical martial art will do. Which is, drum rolls, rolling and falling.
    I have never seen a martial being so complete and complex when it comes to rolling and falling from any position at any moment from any height. To me it is the single most complete system when it comes to how will I contact the ground without dieing.
    And ever since I started skate boarding or other dayly hick up, knowing how to fall and roll have saved me more from injury than knowing how to fight will ever do. To say it in the words of Thors, I have no enemy, in my soon to be 30 years of living there wasn‘t even a single time where knowing how to fight would have saved me.

  • @kamekonoha
    @kamekonoha Рік тому +1

    This man is an inspiration

  • @FreakyTeeth
    @FreakyTeeth 3 місяці тому +1

    Bravo to you. I learnt a long time ago, its the practitioner more so than the art.

  • @HahnJames
    @HahnJames Рік тому +1

    This is one of the best channels on UA-cam all around! I love your analytical style.
    I used Judo in a real self-defense situation once. A guy sucker punched me in the face, once. He was going to try it again but he didn't get the chance. I tell my students that their brains are their most powerful weapons in any given situation.

  • @KaleCulain
    @KaleCulain Рік тому +1

    I love how the usdc proved that while some styles maybe less effective they do have their practical applications

  • @cesarag0723
    @cesarag0723 Рік тому +2

    Full circle. Well done! I hope you keep cross training. You’ll continue to be a better martial art for it, and your aikido will get better too. They work together and have strengths in areas the other art doesn’t. 👏

  • @andrewm4911
    @andrewm4911 Рік тому +1

    Love your videos and the honesty, openness and sense of exploration, testing and learning.
    When people say “least or most effective” martial art, there is something missing- least or most effective for what. Sure, if you’re only looking at what you can use in a formal fighting ring (MMA or whatever) then I’d guess you’d want a range of techniques to use. But most people who do martial arts aren’t doing because they are in regular MMA competitions.
    I haven’t had to use “fighting” techniques against someone since I was a teenager. However, I have had to de-escalate situations and intervened once to take a spare away from someone who was attaching someone else. The mindset that I learned in aikido (and which can be learned in other “arts” such as zhan zhuang) was invaluable as I didn’t immediately escalate into uncontrolled aggression.
    The increase in awareness that I got through aikido also helped me avoid situations that were potentially risky.
    If I ended up being attacked by someone with a knife I’d like to think I’d do what was most sensible for the situation but I have no idea.
    What I do know is that in numerous occasions the ability to connect, blend, redirect and defuse that I learned through aikido has been invaluable. A “conflict” typically starts before any physical contact and the principles I’ve learned through aikido have been useable for verbal “conflict” as well as in other settings.
    Having said that I didn’t take up aikido in order to beat up other people or as a means of self defence. I took it up to improve my ability in other activities, to have fun, to get fit. It’s also been very effective for mediation, mindfulness and cultivation.

  • @PaulMichaelMiranda
    @PaulMichaelMiranda 10 місяців тому

    This is amazing that you have applied aikido skill and it's technical physics shifting gravity and shattering it with striking.

  • @yorks_atheist3069
    @yorks_atheist3069 Рік тому +2

    Im currently studying Aikido coming from a karate background and keep finding new meaning to k
    Karate kata from Aikido so its no surprise it goes both ways

  • @Fred-px5xu
    @Fred-px5xu Рік тому +1

    Rokas stay awesomely good my lad!

  • @robinator503
    @robinator503 10 місяців тому

    Man. You are progressing well. Very cool to see

  • @martialgeeks
    @martialgeeks Рік тому +2

    What a journey

  • @riazzaman20
    @riazzaman20 Рік тому +2

    Excellent video, I think the way you applied aikido in these situations very effective and no doubt you were able to do this due to the skills you have built throughout your martial arts journey. Also, how you dealt with the real life application is exactly the outcome a real martial artist would hope you achieve.
    Congratulations

  • @luizndo
    @luizndo Рік тому +1

    Amasing video. Good eye to see the Aikido technique been applied and how that did helps you.

  • @gengotaku
    @gengotaku 9 місяців тому

    I´m glad to see you're seeing the good of aikido instead of comparing it to other martial arts, which also have their flaws and won´t apply to ALL situations. I took my black belt in aikido from aikikai and started learning Tomiki aikido. This might come in handy together with my judo , in which I also got the black belt recently.

  • @piwright42
    @piwright42 Рік тому

    Very nice, the last story is the best story. Throughly enjoyed this.

  • @aetius2277
    @aetius2277 Рік тому +3

    That is awesome. You are unknowingly becoming a true Master of aikido.
    Mastering the techniques, well enough, to administer them against, several world class athletes.
    Through experience, you have learned to adapt the techniques. It is awesome to watch your journey..
    It is very unfortunate that every time someone who has practical experience figures out ways to implement the aikido techniques the real aikidokas come out of the woodwork and label what they are doing not real aikido.
    I guess if it’s not beautiful and flowey it doesn’t qualify
    Lol
    Great job much respect for you

  • @danielxtma
    @danielxtma Рік тому +3

    Kenichi, my favourite anime of all time.

  • @gabebain6375
    @gabebain6375 Рік тому +1

    Great realizations.
    ;)

  • @ozramblue117
    @ozramblue117 Рік тому

    Amazing having watched your progress since that very first vid where you tried your aikido vs an mma guy and got wrecked. Makes perfect sense how some of that is now coming full circle and after so much training against actually resisting opponents you’ve found you didn’t simply waste your efforts.

  • @intricate9666
    @intricate9666 Рік тому

    Amazing video Rokas

  • @Markus-_-
    @Markus-_- Рік тому +1

    "Greatest goal of Aikido is to win a fight without fighting."
    I agree 100%
    like what's in the lyrics of the song:
    kaleidoscope world by francis magalona
    "You can't talk peace and have a gun"

  • @mariustresorus942
    @mariustresorus942 Рік тому +1

    Excellent, I knew that will happen, Aïkido can't be just crap. I say that but I'm coming from Judo / Hung Gar Kung Fu / Muay Thaï. Really happy for you. I think you're going to be the guy who will make aïkido working for street fights cause no matter what, street fights happen for oneself or to defend another person, that's all.

  • @marcosyy87
    @marcosyy87 Рік тому

    Haha I loved the Kenishi demonstration! Awesome video

  • @mieralunarlunishion
    @mieralunarlunishion Рік тому +3

    I once used a tenkan to 'score' a point in a kendo competition. A way bigger dude charged me while I was already close to the line. Instinctually, I just thought: 'nope' and let his energy pass, crossing the line. :)

  • @keithlightminder3005
    @keithlightminder3005 3 місяці тому

    I love the big smile Rokas learned from aikido

  • @alexandresinger6892
    @alexandresinger6892 Рік тому

    This is an excellent video, it reveals the power of a martial art in real life situation, and the most useful weapon ever you can use which is DOUBT. This single sentence : "Are your sure you want to fight ?" Is a life saver in many situations. These can be physical or mental, harassment, bullying, etc... When someone is doing something wrong or bad, don't just blame or defend, but interrogate on the purpose, the meaning, the stakes, the risks, the issue, etc. This is self-defense most effective move. Question. It can go further than de-escalation, disarm. Deserves a video on its own.

  • @RedFoxGrappler
    @RedFoxGrappler Рік тому +3

    Shoutout to that clip of Master Akisame Koetsuji lmao

  • @youngjunkim834
    @youngjunkim834 Рік тому +4

    aikido is okay. Cool video

    • @MartialArtsJourney
      @MartialArtsJourney  Рік тому +3

      It's not as bad if you cross train. Without cross training it's quite flawed in my opinion

    • @ironjavs1182
      @ironjavs1182 Рік тому

      I also agree that in most cases without any experience of sparring/fighting against resisting aikido wouldn't be so effective, but if you do have that kind of experience you can apply aikido effectively. And the same applies to all martial arts!

  • @Herowebcomics
    @Herowebcomics Рік тому

    Sweet!
    You found ways to make Aikido useful!
    That is awesome!

  • @pofmartialarts
    @pofmartialarts Рік тому +12

    So what basically happened during your journey, is that you started with aikido and movement skills, but no understanding of combat, and you have learned, and made a transition into a person who understands it. yes you have learned additional skills, since fighting is always more than one set of skills.
    combat is not about the style, it is about principles and sate of mind. your aikido was never the problem, but the lack of fighting understanding, that is common in many traditional martial arts (I come from Chinese martial arts, lot of combat misunderstanding there).

    • @pensandoenvozalta8415
      @pensandoenvozalta8415 Рік тому +3

      Maybe aikido WAS part of the problem, since the practice, in the terms he learned it from does not encourage exploring other forms of martial arts with "other philosophies" about combat. Its not the same if you teach a set of techniques as being complementary to other techniques that if you teach something as if it really works by itself for self defense. Maybe there are a few things in which people teach traditional martial arts that is simply wrong.

    • @pofmartialarts
      @pofmartialarts Рік тому

      @@pensandoenvozalta8415
      i dont blame the stylr, but the people. but hr shook ut off and went learning more stuff, and gained more skills and perspective of combat.
      he just didnt have a good teacher in terms of "not aikido"

    • @pensandoenvozalta8415
      @pensandoenvozalta8415 Рік тому +2

      @@pofmartialarts I understand what you're saying, but that's exactly the problem: resisting to detect the problem with traditional martial arts. Blaming the practitioner by sistemically denying something *could* or in fact *is* wrong with the discipline itself is problematic. It happens with a lot a martial traditions: people tend to question the individual practitioners instead of thinking about the martial system
      Problem is, with that mindset, you'll never be able to detect any flaw on the system (because of assuming, a priori, that the problem is always the practitioner and never the system). That mindset gets in the way of critical thinking.
      And that's other problem with traditional martial arts: critical thinking (questioning what the teacher says for example) is not allowed. And maybe that's the reason why its SO difficult for people to question their martial arts knowledge. They are trained not to.

    • @pofmartialarts
      @pofmartialarts Рік тому +1

      @@pensandoenvozalta8415
      i agree that in systems where critical thinking is forbiden, it is an inherant systematic flaw.
      however, it is still people. and some one who lacks critical thinking will probbly wont be any more than mediocure no matter what the system is.
      this is why traditional martial arts, are tarditional - they do not require original thinking.
      the original people break the pattern and become rogue "traditional" (as my self).
      so that is why i dont speak of systems, but of people.
      tah said, aikido as a system wasnt ment to be martial, but spiritual decipline.
      and mayb the question is what makes system a system... in my pov, combat is not about a system but about principles of war, of movement, of power producing and of psichology.

    • @pensandoenvozalta8415
      @pensandoenvozalta8415 Рік тому +1

      @@pofmartialarts I agree. The whole "system" idea maybe is flawed, at least in terms of, for example, self defense knowledge. There can be no "complete system" that integrates all the necessary wknowledge to learn to defend yourself properly, perphaps it requires a certain level of integration of different types of knowledge (grappling, striking, use of weapons, deescalation, self control, surrounding awareness, etc).

  • @DragonDreamVNY
    @DragonDreamVNY Рік тому +3

    Finger lock - I wonder would that have been good from a disadvantaged position like that.
    Hard to do under pressure without hurting Jeff though
    I'm loving the coverage and cross pollination from my fav UA-camrs martial artists.
    I'll be getting your T-shirt framed soon from the self defense championships ❤

  • @rolandgdean
    @rolandgdean Рік тому

    I'm SO glad to see you discovering the value in what you invested so much of your life into. I trained more of a "jitsu" version of the art from a sensei who trained in Japan and used it many times in security work successfully. We were always encouraged to pressure test our techniques after becoming familiar with them. I'm glad to see some of the self doubt you had going away because as Mr. Miyagi said, "No such thing as bad student...only bad teacher." That's where I feel you were let down...I feel like Jesse ALSO knew the value of what you'd learned and I believe that's why he has encouraged you as much as he has. Your art, like you said, is actually training how best NOT TO FIGHT and its techniques are proven and time tested.

  • @lunathemie465
    @lunathemie465 Рік тому +1

    I LOVE YOU ROKAS

  • @MarkoObradovich
    @MarkoObradovich Рік тому +2

    Cool shirts bro 👊
    I really like them 💪

  • @billywashere6965
    @billywashere6965 Рік тому

    Awesome video and glad to see it being used effective in semi-realistic scenarios! Hopefully this moves toward removing the stigma surrounding Aikido that it was "ineffective".

  • @mikeindiacharliehotelalpha2373

    Out of all the moves to avoid a fight with an Aikido-ka that guy chose a handshake, lmao. Ol' Shioda would have snapped his elbow clean in half.

  • @dust_to_dust
    @dust_to_dust Рік тому

    Nice, man. That was all great.

  • @1833-j4g
    @1833-j4g 9 місяців тому

    Aikido is such a beautiful and graceful martial art

  • @jasongresci4520
    @jasongresci4520 Рік тому +1

    Wow. This is so interesting. I would love to write you. Absolutely wild !

  • @raydrexler5868
    @raydrexler5868 Рік тому

    It bears repeating that all martial arts have roots in actual combat and therefore the basics can be applied in a real fight. This is the journey.

  • @markmitchell8374
    @markmitchell8374 8 місяців тому

    good description of aikido techniques in fighting. love it. Also your last street fight was aikido in the shin shin tradition with Tohei.leading their mind and confusing them with "are you sure you want to fight./" Followign the flow is true aikido.:)

  • @itistoday
    @itistoday Рік тому +3

    Hey Rokas, have you considered opening an Aikido Dojo again? I would love to attend it if you ever do. All of this self-discovery and learning on your part could lead to a new school of Aikido, a revival if you will. Would be so cool to see you do that.

    • @MartialArtsJourney
      @MartialArtsJourney  Рік тому +4

      Opening an Aikido Dojo is not really on my list of things to do yet, but I'm slowly starting to teach what I learned about functional Aikido here and there.

  • @intricate9666
    @intricate9666 Рік тому

    great video with a great lesson at the end

  • @IsaacLausell
    @IsaacLausell Рік тому +1

    Awesome video and great examples! From what I have read and experienced Aikido training is not meant to teach you how to fight but how to recognize these principles in everything that you do. It is philosophy but intertwined and expressed through physics.
    I think since you transitioned into training to become a fighter your Aikido shows in that as well as it show in the work of dancer, musician or athlete that trains it.
    I know this might read kind of “hippieish” but like Bruce Lee said like water it takes the shape of the vessel that contains it. I see Aikido in a single or double leg take down, it is basically an Irimi Nage, just expressed differently. When Lyoto Machida launches a Mae Geri (front kick) as a faint and to drag him closer and generate forward momentum to land an Oi tsuki (lunge punch) that is also Aiki, in essence Atemi waza unbalancing the opponent before a technique.

  • @Samurai161177
    @Samurai161177 Рік тому +1

    I like this Channel. I am a fan of it. Martial Arts is a Longlife Study. But at the end is the spirituality of budo is the most important think to learn.

  • @gregbalberan3369
    @gregbalberan3369 Рік тому

    So you indeed absorbed what's useful. Cool!

  • @tomshepherd4901
    @tomshepherd4901 Рік тому

    In your street self-defense situation, you handled it brilliantly. The best fight is the fight avoided. I once demonstrated some of the principles of Aikido to a friend who was a brown belt in Okinawan Karate. The next day, he excitedly told me how he had out sparred the blackbelts in his class by redirecting their attacks past him and counter attacking from the side or rear. So, the principles underlying all martial arts transend the arts themselves. If it works, make it work for you, whatever your style...

  • @themartialdao
    @themartialdao Рік тому

    I'm glad to see you regaining some level of confidence in your Aikido. I was subscribed to you years ago, but when you started claiming Aikido to be useless, I unsubscribed. Just to be clear, I'm not an Aikido practicioner, but I do have some experience in martial arts. Nonetheless, from what I've seen at least, a martial art is very rarely truly "bad"; it's the martial artist or teaching methods that are the problem. "There are no bad martial arts, only bad martial artists", so-to-speak.
    With Aikido's case, it was not trained with real fights in mind, and did not include the pressure testing or conditioning required to make it work in those cases, and thus failed you. That said, you've made up for those shortcomings by doing sparring, pressuretesting yourself, and working on your conditioning through other mediums. Now that you have those pieces, I believe you are starting to see that the years you spent working on Aikido were not a waste afterall.
    Anyway, the recent videos and changes have convinced me to resubscribe. Stick with it, and I hope to see you continue your martial journey much further.

  • @noescapefromreality1749
    @noescapefromreality1749 Рік тому

    Have nothing but my respect for this. While it is not my place or area to judge, it feels like real character development seeing you appreciate part of Aikido. There is something to be learned from everything, both good and bad. If you were interested on an Aiki pracitioner that cross trains and uses Aiki in an effective way for sure take a look at Paul Cale, guy is a legend.

  • @BadaBarreto
    @BadaBarreto Рік тому +1

    Nice
    Founding the real aikido.
    Not only the dojo ballet.

  • @rezlogan4787
    @rezlogan4787 Рік тому

    I train in a hard style school with lots of striking, clinching, and weapons techniques, but we also train a lot of aikido principles: redirect instead of resist, use the opponent’s force against them, use avoidance, escape, or diplomacy prior to fighting. It really gives the best of both worlds. I can survive a bad scrap, but I can also defuse and avoid needing to. We also live by the philosophy that a bigger, badder weapon at distance is a NECESSARY part of good martial practice. I am trained to use and carry a knife, stick, or gun anywhere I go, since these are proven to make the fight easier and safer for me to win.

  • @goreobsessed2308
    @goreobsessed2308 Рік тому +1

    My dad taught me an arm grab push on their elbow. Ive won 3 fights with that one move.

  • @matthewmoore8861
    @matthewmoore8861 Рік тому

    Good stuff! I understand this is a simulation, but if you’ve ever been hit by a bare knuckle, it really changes a lot of this demonstration!

  • @Purwapada
    @Purwapada Рік тому

    wow I havent watched your channel in a long time and wasn't so keen on many of your very harsh takes on styles like aikido etc.
    But, I've been binge watching many of your videos today and my respect for you has increased infinitely with your recent views on the practice of these controversial and unconventional systems

  • @sukiyaLocal
    @sukiyaLocal 2 місяці тому

    I was a hater. Your journey is an inspiration.

  • @basilistsakalos9643
    @basilistsakalos9643 Рік тому +2

    Aikido are not the joint locks only. These are named gyaku waza and are part of the original Jujutsu/Taijutsu curriculum. Aiki is the principle of meeting and blending with an incoming force, irrelevant of its form, in such a way that is is neutralised. Aikido is the path of this principle. It is a skill based on this principle, as well as a tactic and a strategy. Any mma fighter who learnes this principle of blending with incoming force would develop very advanced skill.

    • @gdikari
      @gdikari Рік тому +3

      Actually, if you watch carefully greatest fighters in MMA and boxing, you will notice a lot of "blending". Of course it will not look pretty and "flowerly" as in Aikido demos, but the underlining principle will be the same.

    • @basilistsakalos9643
      @basilistsakalos9643 Рік тому

      @@gdikari indeed, I agree. The only difference is that Aiki principle comes from the use of cold weapons and in my opinion is quite refined.

  • @TheUnclefester13
    @TheUnclefester13 Рік тому

    I’ve never trained aikido, but I’ve always believed in its philosophy. I studied shito ryu karate, and Wally J small circle jui jitsu. Small circle in my limited observation was much like aikido in its vein of bend, don’t break philosophy. I hate Brazilian juijitsu, I trained in it for a month, and out of a school of thirty students only found one of the upper pupils that didn’t come off as an arrogant prick. That included the sensi as well. One of the worst of the bunch was always on me because of my karate background. He got started with me after class and I ended up in an arm bar in the parking lot. I pulled a box cutter out, and pressed it against his Achilles’ tendon without opening the blade. Told him broken elbow to a cut tendon his choice. I quit the class after that. Aikido gave me the mantra do no more harm than necessary. I enjoy your content sir.

  • @aj5332
    @aj5332 9 місяців тому

    Last part of it is a beautiful anecdote after all ❤😂

  • @chinochana
    @chinochana Рік тому +2

    "Are you sure you want to fight?" sounds me more like Clint Eastwood's "Go ahead, make my day" more than Master Ueshiba's teachings 😂

  • @nerdSupreme14
    @nerdSupreme14 Рік тому

    The Kenichi footage was cool, great anime

  • @Matt-pr6nl
    @Matt-pr6nl Рік тому +1

    Nicely done, the most effective martial art is the one you don't have to use.

  • @TimRHillard
    @TimRHillard 10 місяців тому

    Hey brother, I have been watching you and your journey for a few years now. In my humble opinion... Its not the change in your martial arts style, its the change in you👍👍. Just look at your body then and now. You were a skinny, malnourished, over flexible young man. Now, you're a badass. Its true. Could you be the same person now if you'd just stayed with Aikido, but upped your physical and emotional game? Only you know that. I do see your journey (which is a perfect name for your channel) did change you.

  • @faydoza
    @faydoza Рік тому +4

    Let's see more kumite videos!

  • @Dave-lx3vt
    @Dave-lx3vt Рік тому +4

    "Not real footage of the event" 😂😂😂

  • @phreed2
    @phreed2 4 місяці тому

    Aikidoka here.
    I'm glad that Rokas went back to appreciating aikido, a beautiful martial art! I'm quite a beginner but have been practicing pretty hard so far. I used to do bjj before aikido and switched to the latter because I found it more interesting!
    I want to address the "it's uncomplete" argument: maybe judo and karate are complete? Maybe bjj is? Maybe wrestling?
    The answer to all those questions is a firm NO. Karate does not prepare you to fight a grappler, as well as judo gives you no striking skills. I think anyone has their own style, be it mixed or be it bound to a single art, that's ok but going around talking about the "completeness" of other martial arts is not useful imo.
    P.s. I am not shitting on judo and karate, that I deeply respect, I was just showing how the same logic can be applied to each martial art.

  • @chadlpnemt
    @chadlpnemt Рік тому +6

    Something I noticed over the years watching your channel trying to make Aikido work is that you are typically the aggressor. To me, if I were using Aikido (as you learned it) it would be strictly defensive in nature. Attacker grabs for YOU while you are neutral or trying to create distance, not you chasing them around trying to get a wrist lock or something else. That you've just started to make it work for you as the aggressor by training in other styles is good. I think your most effective use is someone is attacking you and you are giving space and when they grab you, do your Aikido. That is something you really haven't tried as far as I can tell. You might see if you can set up a video with a guy who doesn't know you or your background and see if it's something you can show. I'd be interested to see if my theory is correct. And by the way, with everything going on near your country, I hope for your safety and nothing escalates into your country.

    • @monkeyboy275bobo8
      @monkeyboy275bobo8 Рік тому

      Thats actually a very good comment.

    • @jonathanharoun5247
      @jonathanharoun5247 Рік тому

      Aikido is a much more psychological art than people realize. If your intent is to win, then Aikido doesn't just not work, but it doesn't exist to begin with. In Karate Kid 2, Mr. Miyagi refused to fight Sato not merely because of his philosophy of only using Karate for self-defense, but because he literally did not know how to use Karate for anything other than self-dense, since the very intent of using it only for such means was an integral part of his training. It was heavily implied that if Miyagi had fought Sato, that he would have just stood there and let Sato beat him to death. As Miyagi said, "win or lose, the result is the same".

    • @chadlpnemt
      @chadlpnemt Рік тому

      @jonathanharoun5247 probably true but think about the element of surprise. You're walking home and some dude tries to grab you and maybe you act like you're nit wanting a struggle and you simply do the move when he thinks you're not going to fight. But forcing it during a fight will he harder to do.