I realized years ago that every art is the answer to a question. Does it "work" in a fight is the wrong way to look at it. They all answer a question. I appreciate how you are defining and answering the question for Aikido.
Years ago I watched Aikido videos by Nishio Shoji. I found his approach to Aikido truly innovative. One of the videos he expressed that he was hopeful that the future would bring advancements in Aikido allowing it to grow. I believe you are on the path to the embodiment Nishio's hopes.
I think Ueshiba’s (as well as Kano’s and Funakoshi’s) approach makes hell of a lot of sense. People are stuck up on these ”what works in MMA, what is the most effective fighting style” -questions, but in reality, most people even in MMA/BJJ/Boxing could not do shit against a trained and/or bigger opponent in a ”real” situation. Sadly, it is usually the more weaker and fragile of us, who are forced into ”real” situations - for a female for an example, it’s usually your boyfriend or a husband trying to kill you, and according to statistics, often succeeding in it as well. The level of skill, mental grit and pure aggression you need to get out of that situation is insane. No gym or dojo teaches that, it’s not possible. Majority of people cannot be thought to be fighters, period (let’s be honest, what most people refer to as self-defence is just fighting). However, they like to think that they can fight and are hard and all that, which makes a nice business. But what these japanese gentlemen, especially Ueshiba, did, was quite honest: no you will never be a fighter and realistic tactic for you in any encounter is to de-escalate, evade and escape. If that fails, well, this is how you hit somebody hard with an improvised weapon. And here’s also this nice meditation and other cultural context we give you, while you accept that you can’t fight, pretty nice deal right? Well, sadly Aikido kinda lost itself and many of its practitioners pretty much ruin it. I wish there was more sensei’s looking at it like mr. Hein does.
I am glad to see this. I have sometimes felt that one of the best ways to remember Osensei is not to repeat a certain body of movements, but to look at how he grew his ability to understand his own contexts and move through them. One of my favorite teachers has probably described it as the difference between approaching jazz as a series of solos to memorize, vs approaching jazz as a canvas for expression within some guidelines established by the tune at that moment. Shifting the focus of training in this kind of way can be hard; I'm glad to see you setting out to change up the jazz played to frame your approach.
You put it in such a way that really resonate in my own experience. I have been bullied at school, and always afraid to be hurt. I started Aikido training at the university, always thinking to learn how to defend myself. After a couple of years of training i did left aikido and i still feel afraid to be hurt, i am short 5.2 (163cm) 140kg and 49 years now. I never found that confident that aikido will help against bigger and stronger that me. I wish i can retake your clases here in Katy ,TX. I am new subscriber...!!!
Mr.Hein, I’m very excited to see your approach continue to develop! One of the elements that I think is largely missing in the martial arts, especially when we orient our goal to escaping, is running. I am thinking, like I’m sure many are, about adding this element to my training by including sprints, parkour, football-style evasive moments that running backs and defensive linemen use, and various solutions to being grabbed or tackled while running. Obviously, as we age, running, like all physical aptitudes diminish and also we can’t outrun everyone, just like we can’t out fight everyone. However, I think this would still enhance a person’s survival capabilities and add another dynamic component to our martial arts practice. I would be interested to hear your thoughts on this if you have the time and think it would be fun to respond to. Thanks for all you share!!
In boxing running is pretty much mandatory. Pretty much all boxers worth their gloves run. They do it for different reasons than self-defence, but the results are the same. If you run over 20 km a week few untrained people will match your cardio and I think that’s another black belt right there(if we follow the Gracie’s lightly silly 50 lbs advantage -scheme). You prob have to fight for a bit before you get a change to escape and cardio helps in both of those - might be even more important than strength or technique. Of course boxers only do it because they have to and it is one of the most disciplined sports, and I’m under impression pretty much the whole MA community hates it - can’t blame them, running sucks (even though I have learn to love it) - but I think it should be essential for anybody in fighting/self-defence/MA. There’s other ways to build cardio, but I think the mental effects of running perhaps even more important. In Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai’s, one of the samurai’s was teaching the pesants to defend their village against robbers: ”Nothing forces you to run like a battle. When you attack, you run. When you retreat, you run. When you can’t run anymore, you die”.
Aikido has been My journey now for 25+ years and I have come to similar standpoint. When someone bigger, stronger and more agressive attacks, how can I still deal with the situation and possible calm it down. I love the art of aikido and I see it as the basics of movement together with balance arts. Good luck to you man. Amazing Chanel. 🌟💚🙏
Love your videos about context in understanding Aikido and self defense. Still, I think Daito ryu and Iwama Aikido are great schools. They change you for the better. Due to Rei, Metsuke, Maai... not just techniques.
What a great message and approach. I would suggest to people who "don't care about Aikido" or any other martial art, if they were seriously about protecting themselves, and if they are capable, one of the 1st things to do is to get physically stronger. Weight training of any sorts. Ramsey Dewey pointed this out. Similar to your size advantage point, having a strength advantage, if if you're a bit smaller can give you a better probability of surviving. I don't know by how much. Most people, including myself, live a sedentary lifestyle. Our group and joint strength are far weaker than decades past. Being stronger against a bigger, weaker person, may help.
New sub here from the UK. I've never studied Aikido, but found your channel through Martials Arts Journey. It's curious because I saw the breakdown of techniques with him, which you (mostly) described as effective, so it seems like there's not really a clear answer as to whether Aikido is or isn't an effective means of self-defense in the broadest sense of the term, but your videos have really intrigued me, and "the way of peace" sounds appealing to me. I can't say for sure that I will, but if I ever do decide to train Aikido, it will be in large part due to your influence. Please keep making informative, thought provoking content.
Hey Christopher, very interesting to see this as I am going through a sinimar journey but from a slightly different perspective. I'm looking at focusing on principles rather than just techniques, with a view of how to teach to non Aikidoka or other martial artists. My focus is also mainly weapons based. Might be interesting to have a chat sometime.
I always say I do “aikido” as generic short-hand. The organization I was trained in called it Aikibudo. My own teacher, though, said he didn’t like using the term aikido, because what we did was not what Aikikai-brand aikido did; so since we were so different it wasn’t accurate. He preferred the simple term “budo”.
Awesome! I personally want to see the core of Aikido applied to modern self defense (guns, knives, unarmed) and condensed into a class you can actually take and walk away from with most of the value I find traditional martial arts including Aikido frustrating in that usually you show up and learn a random technique or concept and after 10 years or whatever maybe you can do the thing I don't wanna study martial arts every day for 10 years, I want to go to a weekend or a week course, or at most lessons over a couple months, and get some sort of self-defense capability. Now if it's fun and interesting maybe I'll keep going but if it's supposed to be about self defense I should be able to learn a fair bit before I actually have to defend myself or what good is it
thanks Chris! I'm using a lot of your explanations in our beginners course and find they really resonate with our new students...and me as well. A system that teaches staying out of a fight and keeping a safe distance is an awesome system. Out of curiosity will this stuff come through your patreon? I'm considering signing up and would love to be a part of your training/teaching
It could probably never happen, but I would like to see you do a collaboration with Ian Abernathy. What is interesting is that even though your two styles are very different, you both are coming to similar conclusions with regard to martial arts being context dependent. Different paths to the same mountain, I guess you could say. Maybe the cultural zeitgeist is ripe for a new paradigm. Kind of like how Alfred Wallace and Charles Darwin came up with evolution by natural selection at the same time.
I might post some videos of the changes soon- it all changed back in December. In the class I'm talking about here, we don't wear uniforms, just workout clothes.
Well mate, I think that in general Aikido is lacking the "beginners" stage program, in the term of something functional in some realistic situation. Trained fighter will always know what to do and how to apply something, but a greenhorn... Well, I seriously doubt it.
![Lp. Последняя Реальность #97 ЧЁРНАЯ МАТЕРИЯ [Анти Скинт] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/k4MjXCzKsYw/mqdefault.jpg)
I realized years ago that every art is the answer to a question. Does it "work" in a fight is the wrong way to look at it. They all answer a question. I appreciate how you are defining and answering the question for Aikido.
I look forward to learning more.
Years ago I watched Aikido videos by Nishio Shoji. I found his approach to Aikido truly innovative. One of the videos he expressed that he was hopeful that the future would bring advancements in Aikido allowing it to grow. I believe you are on the path to the embodiment Nishio's hopes.
Very nice of you to say- I hope not to disappoint!
I think Ueshiba’s (as well as Kano’s and Funakoshi’s) approach makes hell of a lot of sense. People are stuck up on these ”what works in MMA, what is the most effective fighting style” -questions, but in reality, most people even in MMA/BJJ/Boxing could not do shit against a trained and/or bigger opponent in a ”real” situation. Sadly, it is usually the more weaker and fragile of us, who are forced into ”real” situations - for a female for an example, it’s usually your boyfriend or a husband trying to kill you, and according to statistics, often succeeding in it as well. The level of skill, mental grit and pure aggression you need to get out of that situation is insane. No gym or dojo teaches that, it’s not possible.
Majority of people cannot be thought to be fighters, period (let’s be honest, what most people refer to as self-defence is just fighting). However, they like to think that they can fight and are hard and all that, which makes a nice business. But what these japanese gentlemen, especially Ueshiba, did, was quite honest: no you will never be a fighter and realistic tactic for you in any encounter is to de-escalate, evade and escape. If that fails, well, this is how you hit somebody hard with an improvised weapon. And here’s also this nice meditation and other cultural context we give you, while you accept that you can’t fight, pretty nice deal right?
Well, sadly Aikido kinda lost itself and many of its practitioners pretty much ruin it. I wish there was more sensei’s looking at it like mr. Hein does.
I am glad to see this. I have sometimes felt that one of the best ways to remember Osensei is not to repeat a certain body of movements, but to look at how he grew his ability to understand his own contexts and move through them. One of my favorite teachers has probably described it as the difference between approaching jazz as a series of solos to memorize, vs approaching jazz as a canvas for expression within some guidelines established by the tune at that moment.
Shifting the focus of training in this kind of way can be hard; I'm glad to see you setting out to change up the jazz played to frame your approach.
I do like the older music though 'Faust'?
Shu ha ri the stages of mastery. Teachers just teach what they were taught, masters go beyond.
Very excited for this upcoming!
You put it in such a way that really resonate in my own experience. I have been bullied at school, and always afraid to be hurt. I started Aikido training at the university, always thinking to learn how to defend myself. After a couple of years of training i did left aikido and i still feel afraid to be hurt, i am short 5.2 (163cm) 140kg and 49 years now.
I never found that confident that aikido will help against bigger and stronger that me.
I wish i can retake your clases here in Katy ,TX.
I am new subscriber...!!!
Mr.Hein, I’m very excited to see your approach continue to develop!
One of the elements that I think is largely missing in the martial arts, especially when we orient our goal to escaping, is running. I am thinking, like I’m sure many are, about adding this element to my training by including sprints, parkour, football-style evasive moments that running backs and defensive linemen use, and various solutions to being grabbed or tackled while running. Obviously, as we age, running, like all physical aptitudes diminish and also we can’t outrun everyone, just like we can’t out fight everyone. However, I think this would still enhance a person’s survival capabilities and add another dynamic component to our martial arts practice. I would be interested to hear your thoughts on this if you have the time and think it would be fun to respond to. Thanks for all you share!!
In boxing running is pretty much mandatory. Pretty much all boxers worth their gloves run. They do it for different reasons than self-defence, but the results are the same. If you run over 20 km a week few untrained people will match your cardio and I think that’s another black belt right there(if we follow the Gracie’s lightly silly 50 lbs advantage -scheme). You prob have to fight for a bit before you get a change to escape and cardio helps in both of those - might be even more important than strength or technique.
Of course boxers only do it because they have to and it is one of the most disciplined sports, and I’m under impression pretty much the whole MA community hates it - can’t blame them, running sucks (even though I have learn to love it) - but I think it should be essential for anybody in fighting/self-defence/MA. There’s other ways to build cardio, but I think the mental effects of running perhaps even more important.
In Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai’s, one of the samurai’s was teaching the pesants to defend their village against robbers: ”Nothing forces you to run like a battle. When you attack, you run. When you retreat, you run. When you can’t run anymore, you die”.
Aikido has been My journey now for 25+ years and I have come to similar standpoint. When someone bigger, stronger and more agressive attacks, how can I still deal with the situation and possible calm it down. I love the art of aikido and I see it as the basics of movement together with balance arts. Good luck to you man. Amazing Chanel. 🌟💚🙏
Can't agree more! even boxing training is designed around a clear context: "win a boxing match", and it's the best answer to that context.
Love your videos about context in understanding Aikido and self defense. Still, I think Daito ryu and Iwama Aikido are great schools. They change you for the better. Due to Rei, Metsuke, Maai... not just techniques.
What a great message and approach. I would suggest to people who "don't care about Aikido" or any other martial art, if they were seriously about protecting themselves, and if they are capable, one of the 1st things to do is to get physically stronger. Weight training of any sorts. Ramsey Dewey pointed this out. Similar to your size advantage point, having a strength advantage, if if you're a bit smaller can give you a better probability of surviving. I don't know by how much. Most people, including myself, live a sedentary lifestyle. Our group and joint strength are far weaker than decades past. Being stronger against a bigger, weaker person, may help.
As an aikidoka i want to say thanks to this chanel. You can explain the aikido a little bit to the root.
Thanks, very interesting!!
My pleasure! Thank you for your continued support!
Great Video! Felt like we kinda watched this shift in your approach in your videos. Definitely has brought in new people like myself.
New sub here from the UK. I've never studied Aikido, but found your channel through Martials Arts Journey. It's curious because I saw the breakdown of techniques with him, which you (mostly) described as effective, so it seems like there's not really a clear answer as to whether Aikido is or isn't an effective means of self-defense in the broadest sense of the term, but your videos have really intrigued me, and "the way of peace" sounds appealing to me. I can't say for sure that I will, but if I ever do decide to train Aikido, it will be in large part due to your influence. Please keep making informative, thought provoking content.
Welcome aboard! Glad you're enjoying my work!
@@ChuShinTani Thank you thank you, my good man.
Hey Christopher, very interesting to see this as I am going through a sinimar journey but from a slightly different perspective. I'm looking at focusing on principles rather than just techniques, with a view of how to teach to non Aikidoka or other martial artists. My focus is also mainly weapons based. Might be interesting to have a chat sometime.
Super excited to hear more about your approach!
A very wise decision. Great video.
I always say I do “aikido” as generic short-hand. The organization I was trained in called it Aikibudo. My own teacher, though, said he didn’t like using the term aikido, because what we did was not what Aikikai-brand aikido did; so since we were so different it wasn’t accurate. He preferred the simple term “budo”.
Awesome! I personally want to see the core of Aikido applied to modern self defense (guns, knives, unarmed) and condensed into a class you can actually take and walk away from with most of the value
I find traditional martial arts including Aikido frustrating in that usually you show up and learn a random technique or concept and after 10 years or whatever maybe you can do the thing
I don't wanna study martial arts every day for 10 years, I want to go to a weekend or a week course, or at most lessons over a couple months, and get some sort of self-defense capability. Now if it's fun and interesting maybe I'll keep going but if it's supposed to be about self defense I should be able to learn a fair bit before I actually have to defend myself or what good is it
thanks Chris! I'm using a lot of your explanations in our beginners course and find they really resonate with our new students...and me as well. A system that teaches staying out of a fight and keeping a safe distance is an awesome system. Out of curiosity will this stuff come through your patreon? I'm considering signing up and would love to be a part of your training/teaching
Glad some of my work is helping you! Yes, some of this already available on Patreon, more will be coming out shortly. Thank you for your comments!
Also looking forward to this!
It could probably never happen, but I would like to see you do a collaboration with Ian Abernathy. What is interesting is that even though your two styles are very different, you both are coming to similar conclusions with regard to martial arts being context dependent. Different paths to the same mountain, I guess you could say. Maybe the cultural zeitgeist is ripe for a new paradigm. Kind of like how Alfred Wallace and Charles Darwin came up with evolution by natural selection at the same time.
I want to see updates. And is there uniform change
I might post some videos of the changes soon- it all changed back in December. In the class I'm talking about here, we don't wear uniforms, just workout clothes.
@@ChuShinTani that was my thoughts exactly
Hi hope you are well?
How is it all going with these new changes?
Well mate, I think that in general Aikido is lacking the "beginners" stage program, in the term of something functional in some realistic situation.
Trained fighter will always know what to do and how to apply something, but a greenhorn... Well, I seriously doubt it.