NationStates Jolt Archive

Anyone here have any Aikido knowledge? What do you think of it? Like or dislike? Too pasifistic? I am thinking about taking a class. I have alreadywent to watch a class in progress and liked it. I like the aikido philosophy.

Great activity, really cool philosophy and a whole load of tradition. Go for it.

I love the silent breakrolls.

Great activity, really cool philosophy and a whole load of tradition. Go for it.

I love the silent breakrolls.


I think so too! I think I will go for it. I dunno if one of the instructors was pulling my chain or what but he said because of his training he was able to take a downhill spill on mountain bike and barely get a scratch because he automatically rolled easily back up onto his feet. I think it's possible.

I was watching a special about martial arts on TV and they were showing this really fat Aikido master type guy defending himself from someones attack and using the initial energy of the guys attack, grabbed him and spun around and threw him like 20 ft. - NEATO!

Huge fan. If you're trained well enough it's actually very useful. Once I finally got my lust for battle under control, I have used it several times to subdue an attacker without giving the cops any reason to haul me in. If you think just being innocent of any wrong is enough, you're incorrect. Anyway, it always feels better to own someone without hurting them. All of the ego-boost and none of the guilt.

Nothing more fun than making an attacker so mad he can't see straight. Aikido's great for that.

Sometimes you still need KravMaga (and a gun) tho...

Yeah I can see that being a great delight - hehehe

Aikido is great for disarming yoru opponents as well yes?

Tell me of this KravMaga

Yeah I can see that being a great delight - hehehe

Aikido is great for disarming yoru opponents as well yes?

Tell me of this KravMaga

Aikido, Judo, and, well, a LOT of other martial arts are excellent for disarming attackers. The great thing about Aikido is that it teaches you to defend yourself against all attackers included the cruel hand of fate in the shape of a rock in front of the wheel of your bike.

My ex-gf's mom knows aikido and told me of a time on a train in japan how she defended herself against some guy who was trying to steal her purse. She grabbed him and locked him into a position from which he couldnt move and made him apologize. HAH! She said he was totally pwned - yeah she actually said pwned! ok maybe not.

Yeah I can see that being a great delight - hehehe

Aikido is great for disarming yoru opponents as well yes?

Tell me of this KravMaga
KravMaga is the "official" martial art of Israel (http://www.krav-maga.com/). It is not pretty. It is not neat. It is not for "fun". It IS lethal. Its sole puropse is to incapacitate as many attackers as violently and quickly as possible should you not have a gun with which to make them run away..

I do a bit of judo - which was developed from aikido, right?
EDIT: About this KravMaga; since it's from Israel, may I nickname it Jew-Jitsu? :D

I do a bit of judo - which was developed from aikido, right?
No. Ushibi Sensei developed Aikido in the late '40s/'50s.

There are two primary schools of Aikido, that of Ushibi Sensei and that of Sensei Gozo Shidoa.

The Shidoa school may more reasonably be called Akijutsu, where the Ushibi school of SenSen Toitsu Aikido is the more "spiritual" bunch. Last I knew, Tohei Sensei was the Head, but he may have died by now.

I had taken a kajukenbo class (karate, judo, jujitsu, kenpo and chinese boxing) and had fun with it but it's just not my style. From what I know of Aikido, it's goign to suit me just right.

I do a bit of judo - which was developed from aikido, right?
EDIT: About this KravMaga; since it's from Israel, may I nickname it Jew-Jitsu? :D
You.

Die.

Now.

:sniper: :p

-clarification snip-
Ok, thx

KravMaga is the "official" martial art of Israel (http://www.krav-maga.com/). It is not pretty. It is not neat. It is not for "fun". It IS lethal. Its sole puropse is to incapacitate as many attackers as violently and quickly as possible should you not have a gun with which to make them run away..

From what I understand it's similar to Hapkido and the form of hand-to-hand taught in the military. It's much more focused on breaks and smashing faces with boots, etc.

It sorta seems like kajukenbo as well

It's funny because in the Marines they teach to put your heel through someone's face and, suddenly, guy think they're tough. Tell me, how the hell do you use that in a barfight? Answer: you don't. Aikido, however, is very useful if you're good at it and careful. It's a great way to stay of trouble without letting people walk all over you. Before I became skilled enough at it, I sometimes just had to let someone hit me.

get in a lot of fights do ya?

is it true that Aikido teaches you to first try to stop the fight from happening at all?

It's funny because in the Marines they teach to put your heel through someone's face and, suddenly, guy think they're tough. Tell me, how the hell do you use that in a barfight? Answer: you don't. Aikido, however, is very useful if you're good at it and careful. It's a great way to stay of trouble without letting people walk all over you. Before I became skilled enough at it, I sometimes just had to let someone hit me.
I loved Aikido. It helped me get over my bad habit of breaking people when they tried to get physical with me. Nothing better than holding a twerp by the wrist with two fingers while he kneels in pain at your feet.

Favorite line to use during that hold: "Boy, don't you feel stupid!?"

Aikido also has the legal advantage of being almost impossible to use offensively.

get in a lot of fights do ya?

is it true that Aikido teaches you to first try to stop the fight from happening at all?

I think that it depends who's teaching it, but yes, that's the idea. I avoid fights when I can and I've gotten better at it with time. I don't know what it is about me, but people like to pick fights with me. There was a period between when I decided I could no longer strike people and when I was confident enough to stop a punch withOUT injuring my attacker where I had to just get hit sometimes.

As far as preferring to take the hit, it's like this, I haven't hit anyone since I was 19 that didn't go to the hospital. When you're 19, it might just be seen as a barfight and dismissed, but when you're thirty you can't be sending people to the hospital. Plus, who wants to be hurting people all the time.

So, I honestly preach non-violence to anyone who will listen (though if you read a thread not to long ago, I sometimes wish I could just knock someone silly) and in those rare cases where non-violence won't work, find a way to not get hurt (first priority) and a way to not hurt the other person while incapacitating them (second priority).

Should you train Aikido? Yes. Should you train Krav-Maga? Yes. Should you train any other style? Yes.

Train as many styles as you can, as all styles and disciplines have their own strengths and weaknesses. The best fighter is often the most versatile one so don't tie yourself down to one school of thought.

Then again if you're just in it for the exercise and self-defense training is more or less just an after thought just train whatever you enjoy the most and can take the most away from.

get in a lot of fights do ya?
is it true that Aikido teaches you to first try to stop the fight from happening at all?
Occupational hazard. Did security work.

If possible.

I loved Aikido. It helped me get over my bad habit of breaking people when they tried to get physical with me. Nothing better than holding a twerp by the wrist with two fingers while he kneels in pain at your feet.

Favorite line to use during that hold: "Boy, don't you feel stupid!?"

Aikido also has the legal advantage of being almost impossible to use offensively.

My personal favorites - "this isn't exactly how you saw this going in your head, is it?"
- "Don't worry it only hurts until you pass out" back when I was a bit meaner and more prone to choking people out.
- or once when a guy was yelling at me, I asked him to back up because his breath was killing me. He hit me and I knocked him out. I was standing over him, my shirt covered in his blood, as he opened his eyes and I said, "See, now, this all could have been avoided if you practiced good oral hygeine." In my defense I was only 23 and MUCH less pacific.

Are you given methods on what to try to stop a fight before it starts? If so, then what might those be?

TechnocraticCityStates - I took kajukenbo classes and that was supposedly all the strengths of many different styles, but its a bit too aggressive for me. I want to just be good at self defense without having to hurt others.

Are you given methods on what to try to stop a fight before it starts? If so, then what might those be?

TechnocraticCityStates - I took kajukenbo classes and that was supposedly all the strengths of many different styles, but its a bit too aggressive for me. I want to just be good at self defense without having to hurt others.

Well, first, let's just say it's very rare that someone just walks up and hits you (though it's actually happened to me). That said, most of the time, if you're paying attention you can see trouble brewing. If it's someone you're interacting with you can sometimes figure out why it's happening. If it's possible to change their mind about fighting you, do so. But, in truth, the most effective way to avoid a fight is most often to just leave as soon as you suspect one's coming (assuming leaving is a possibility). Most of the trouble I got into involved some combination of my tendency to speak way to loud, my obnoxious friends (former friends actually), alcohol, and my unwillingness to leave when I knew I should.

I find Aikido the most useful of the arts I've trained in. Though it is the one I rank highest in, and hence done the longest. But never the less, I feel it has greatly enhanced my ability to fight, as well as my other martial arts.

I've done Aikido for about 14 years now, and am ranked as a Godan (5th Degree Blackbelt). I'm still technically a "youth" in law terms, so the whole bar fight aspect does not apply to me. But in terms of local, state, national, and world tournaments for other arts I compete in, I feel Aikido as done the most in terms of enhancing them.

It is a great method of self defense as others have stated, and once the whole basic mentality brought about by Master Ushibi is understood a student is quite frankly one of the most lethal yet pacifistic in nature. If you are looking for a great spiritual, mental, and physical art, I sincerely feel you should enter into Aikido.

PM if you have any questions since I do not get on the forums much anymore.

I see Jocabia - damn you are a fight magnet

I for one have not been in many at all. Once some guy attacked me in jr high because he was "bagging on me" in front of a huge gathering crowd of people and I got fed up and gave him a line back which made him look so stupid (everyone was pointing at him and laughing) I guess he had to attack me to save face, I suppose. I knew he was going to go at me but I turned my back and walked away. He jumped on my back and everything went blank. I just remember being pulled off of him and he was bleeding and sheilding himself as other students were telling me that a teacher was coming. I don't think I had a bruise from that but he never showed up to that school again.

I see what you mean about knowing when trouble is brewing and what is causing it. I will leave right away if I have to. Ive got no problem with that.

Newtdom , and everyone thanks for the information. :fluffle:

I see Jocabia - damn you are a fight magnet

I for one have not been in many at all. Once some guy attacked me in jr high because he was "bagging on me" in front of a huge gathering crowd of people and I got fed up and gave him a line back which made him look so stupid (everyone was pointing at him and laughing) I guess he had to attack me to save face, I suppose. I knew he was going to go at me but I turned my back and walked away. He jumped on my back and everything went blank. I just remember being pulled off of him and he was bleeding and sheilding himself as other students were telling me that a teacher was coming. I don't think I had a bruise from that but he never showed up to that school again.

I see what you mean about knowing when trouble is brewing and what is causing it. I will leave right away if I have to. Ive got no problem with that.

Newtdom , and everyone thanks for the information. :fluffle:

If your one of those that snaps, I used to be, I highly recommend Aikido. I find people snap from fear and anger, and Aikido helped me control both. But, if you're serious about walking away, you've learned a great wisdom at a young age. Nobody ever got hurt by avoiding a fight. Well, once, I saw this guy say, screw this fight crap, and he tried to run away and stepped in front of a bus. So except for him, no one ever got hurt by avoiding a fight.

Huge fan. If you're trained well enough it's actually very useful. Once I finally got my lust for battle under control, I have used it several times to subdue an attacker without giving the cops any reason to haul me in. If you think just being innocent of any wrong is enough, you're incorrect. Anyway, it always feels better to own someone without hurting them. All of the ego-boost and none of the guilt.
Aikido is fine for defense against an attacker, but to take the offense you would be better off shifting into another discipline such as Jeet Kune Do ( developed by Bruce Lee ), Wing Chun Kung Fu, American Kenpo, or some of the more advanced forms of "street fighting."

lol

that was my only snappage incident

I'd had gangs of people chase me and wail on me (because I was a white minority) before and even that didnt make me snap. It was wierd it didnt hurt at all this one time (I'm a big pussy when it comes to painful things) the Azusa 13 got me (one guy yelled "get the skinhead" and here they all came running - btw I had long hair at the time).

My adrenaline was so high but I didnt want to fight back still. I was down and being kicked in the face and everywhere else and it felt like a buzzing (thats about the best I can explain it) and as soon as they quit I was back on me feet in an instant, much to their surprise and I was yelling "what the fuck was that all about?", but they walked away and one guy was all "fuckign asshole!". lol - wierd thing though I didnt have any cuts or bruises from that either.

Aikido is fine for defense against an attacker, but to take the offense you would be better off shifting into another discipline such as Jeet Kune Do ( developed by Bruce Lee ), Wing Chun Kung Fu, American Kenpo, or some of the more advanced forms of "street fighting."

I'm not an offense or revenge kinda guy. The kajukenbo class I took was too violent for me. I think it's better t neutralize a threat in a non-violent way, no matter what the situation.

Aikido is fine for defense against an attacker, but to take the offense you would be better off shifting into another discipline such as Jeet Kune Do ( developed by Bruce Lee ), Wing Chun Kung Fu, American Kenpo, or some of the more advanced forms of "street fighting."
Actually if you go to a reputable Jeet Kune Do academy you'll learn several different arts, each quite effective in it's own domain. Kali and Silat for weapons and throws, Lee Jun Fan gung fu, Boxing, and possibly some Wing Chun gung fu for striking, and Brazillian Jiu Jitsu and Shootfighting for grappling. JKD comes about when you learn how to flow between them and take what works for you from each art.

Sorry to nitpick, just thought I'd add some detail.

I was fortunate to be able study Aikido briefly in Japan last year at the "Zen Miyagi Remmai" (not Zen as in Zen Buddhist, Zen as in 'all prefecture federation', I think, I'm sure I misunderstood completely when the guy explained to me what it meant and I'm spelling it horribly).

It was a lot of fun and still very focusing. I'm 260 lbs, and I was thrown around quite readily by a 17 year old kid assisting the instructor (the poor kid had to babysit me because his English was best in the class). I once told him I didn't understand what to do with my arms during a certain excercise, he said it didn't really matter. I didn't understand, so he told me to grab his shoulders as hard as I could. He proceeded to throw me without using his arms.

Over there (I dunno about elsewhere) they mix it with basic weapons kata, it my class it was jo (short staff) and bokken (stiff wooden sword thingy, distinct from the shinai used in Kendo). I lost 40 lbs in 6 months in Japan, partially from the excercise. Picking my fat butt off the tatami 70 times a night was great.

I'm not an offense or revenge kinda guy. The kajukenbo class I took was too violent for me. I think it's better t neutralize a threat in a non-violent way, no matter what the situation.
Usually, you would be correct, but when defending another person it's often necessary to take the offense.

Actually if you go to a reputable Jeet Kune Do academy you'll learn several different arts, each quite effective in it's own domain. Kali and Silat for weapons and throws, Lee Jun Fan gung fu, Boxing, and possibly some Wing Chun gung fu for striking, and Brazillian Jiu Jitsu and Shootfighting for grappling. JKD comes about when you learn how to flow between them and take what works for you from each art.

Sorry to nitpick, just thought I'd add some detail.
Yes, yes, yes. I know. You need to remember that I learned all I know about martial arts in the military, so most of my training only began with self-defense sufficient to gain advantage to take the offense. About the only time you restrict yourself to non-lethal means is during a "snatch operation."

Usually, you would be correct, but when defending another person it's often necessary to take the offense.

Now, now; that's just poor strategy ;). Akido concentrates on refocusing the opponents energy against themself, or neutralizing it by shifting it away from its target.

It wouldn't be very hard to find a way to redirect force that someone was using against another person. Just a matter of tactically positioning yourself, manipulation of the attacker, and determining distance between yourself, your attacker, and your charge.

Akido is only limited by the tactical imagination of its user. The principles of creating imbalance and redirecting force can be used on standing targets or moving targets. The art does typically FOCUS on redirecting force that was meant for you, but just reapply those principles outside of yourself.

About the only time you restrict yourself to non-lethal means is during a "snatch operation."

kinky! and I should hope you would refrain during such an "operation"

Anyone here have any Aikido knowledge? What do you think of it? Like or dislike? Too pasifistic? I am thinking about taking a class. I have alreadywent to watch a class in progress and liked it. I like the aikido philosophy.
Just go and take a lesson. If you lke it continue with it. If not. Then not.

Anyone here have any Aikido knowledge? What do you think of it? Like or dislike? Too pasifistic? I am thinking about taking a class. I have alreadywent to watch a class in progress and liked it. I like the aikido philosophy.
Woah, so many people here know about Aikido? That's pretty cool. I've done a little, but not much - I covered basic rondori, rolls, how to drop a charging opponent, how to break free when your hands are held behind your back, and basic jo staff/bokku usage. Fun stuff, though we barely touched on the philosohpy, beyond that Aikido is "The way of love", and that you should avoid harming the opponent at any cost save your own or someone being defended.

In the context of defensive martial arts Aikido can be summed up in one sentence.

No other style has as much potential to so thoroughly enrage your opponent while rendering him so utterly impotent. :p

kinky! and I should hope you would refrain during such an "operation"
Ha ha. Right church, wrong pew! :D

Now, now; that's just poor strategy ;). Akido concentrates on refocusing the opponents energy against themself, or neutralizing it by shifting it away from its target.

It wouldn't be very hard to find a way to redirect force that someone was using against another person. Just a matter of tactically positioning yourself, manipulation of the attacker, and determining distance between yourself, your attacker, and your charge.

Akido is only limited by the tactical imagination of its user. The principles of creating imbalance and redirecting force can be used on standing targets or moving targets. The art does typically FOCUS on redirecting force that was meant for you, but just reapply those principles outside of yourself.
Nahh. I just love the sound of braking bones in the morning! :D

Akido is a great form, from someone who's been on the receieving end :)

I study Tang Soo Do, a Korean form, and Ju-Jitsu/Judo, and the class has a couple of Akido black belts in it, amongst other forms. So we really get an ecclectic mix, from crazy eastern forms to good ol' boxing and bar fighting. I will be going for my Black Belt this June.

"I think it's better t neutralize a threat in a non-violent way, no matter what the situation."

Exactly man, I couldn't have said it better my self ^_^
I plan to start studying Akido and Brazilian Ju-Jitsu in the near future.

My only real experience in a fight was late at night down in DC, my and a couple of friends were on the way home from a show, and we got jumped on the way to the metro by a group of skinheads. This dude grabed me from behind, and I instinctivly judo-flipped his ass and grapped him in an arm-lock. I was ganna just hold him there, but my friends were getting wailed on, so I broke his arm to incapacotate him and jumped in to help my friends. In the end, we ran away and they didn't fallow us, but I feel bad about having broke the guy's arm, especially since I'm a Christain and the Bible says to turn the other cheek. But letting my self and my friends get victimized wouldn't really have set well with me, either.

Just and example of when the situation forces you to make decisions outside your philosophy/what you'd prefer to do.

But yea you should definatly go for the akido, and like someone else said, other forms as well, if you have the time and intrest.

No. Ushibi Sensei developed Aikido in the late '40s/'50s.

There are two primary schools of Aikido, that of Ushibi Sensei and that of Sensei Gozo Shidoa.

The Shidoa school may more reasonably be called Akijutsu, where the Ushibi school of SenSen Toitsu Aikido is the more "spiritual" bunch. Last I knew, Tohei Sensei was the Head, but he may have died by now.

Pablo highly recommends aikido... but unfortunately syniks is aiming a little low... there are unfortunately dozens of schools of aikido and if you don't get the right one for you... you won't like it...

Aikikai... the Officially sanctioned style but within Aikikai there are a bunch of variations including Takemusu (or Iwama Ryu) the style I do... of course we think it is the only true style...
Yoshinkan (which is Gozo Shidoa's style)
Yoseikan Mostly found in france
Shin-shin Toitsu Aikido Very focussed on Ki (too soft for my liking)
Tomiki - The founder said No Competition Tomiki thought that must mean have competitions ;) they have katas and solo practice also
Ki Society they had a big fight with headquarters and agreed not to use the work Aikidio
Kokikai which is an off-shoot of a split from Ki Society...

And a truck load of others I don't know much about
as you can see the Aikido world is as divided as everything else that is started by a great visionary and carried on by his ... disciples...

Pablo highly recommends aikido... but unfortunately syniks is aiming a little low... there are unfortunately dozens of schools of aikido and if you don't get the right one for you... you won't like it...

Aikikai... the Officially sanctioned style but within Aikikai there are a bunch of variations including Takemusu (or Iwama Ryu) the style I do... of course we think it is the only true style...
Yoshinkan (which is Gozo Shidoa's style)
Yoseikan Mostly found in france
Shin-shin Toitsu Aikido Very focussed on Ki (too soft for my liking)
Tomiki - The founder said No Competition Tomiki thought that must mean have competitions ;) they have katas and solo practice also
Ki Society they had a big fight with headquarters and agreed not to use the work Aikidio
Kokikai which is an off-shoot of a split from Ki Society...

And a truck load of others I don't know much about
as you can see the Aikido world is as divided as everything else that is started by a great visionary and carried on by his ... disciples...
:rolleyes: I was simplifying for the newbie... sort of like saying "There are three principle schools of Christianity - Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant"...

My ex-gf's mom knows aikido and told me of a time on a train in japan how she defended herself against some guy who was trying to steal her purse. She grabbed him and locked him into a position from which he couldnt move and made him apologize. HAH! She said he was totally pwned - yeah she actually said pwned! ok maybe not.


Ask me to tell the German Aikido-ka and Chikan story soon. (off to bed now, so don't have time to type it up.)

Ask me to tell the German Aikido-ka and Chikan story soon. (off to bed now, so don't have time to type it up.)

Pleast tell the German Aikido-ka and Chikan story soon. :fluffle:

everybody else - please tell me of your martial arts fights - especialloy aikido stuff

Pleast tell the German Aikido-ka and Chikan story soon. :fluffle:
everybody else - please tell me of your martial arts fights - especialloy aikido stuff
Never had any fights using Aikido. That's the point. Somebody else TRIED to fight me, but I wouldn't let him. I moved out of the way and gently helped him into a steel support column.

Dude, if i knew aikedo i would kick everyones ass who ever dissed me.

Dude, if i knew aikedo i would kick everyones ass who ever dissed me.


lol - do you know what aikido is about?

Syniks - well that was a fight in my eyes tho...

tell me stories of potential fights that you ended then

Pleast tell the German Aikido-ka and Chikan story soon. :fluffle:

everybody else - please tell me of your martial arts fights - especialloy aikido stuff

I'll actually give you one story that taught me to get away instead of just not get hurt.

I was living near the University of Illinios (Big Ten Football team important to the story). I was out with a friend of mine and enjoying a band. I ran into a girl I knew and once I picked her up of the floor (don't worry, you'll get that joke later), we went out on the floor and danced. Innocent dancing, honestly (she was engaged to the guitar player).

A young gentleman (a senior linebacker for U of I, no names) decided he was going to protect this girl's honor (or so I found out later) so he starts dancing next to me and running into me. Though I was in great shape back then, this kid outweighed me by at least seventy pounds and I wanted none of it and moved to another part of the floor. Again, he comes over and starts running into me. After the third time, I turned to him and asked what his problem was.

He swung at me with his right hand. I caught his hand and pushed it down towards the underside of his forearm and twisted the thumb downward at the same time. This has the effect of pulling his arm straight and forcing him to try and follow his arm around. I stuck my foot out and caught his legs. For the record, you can drive him around with just the arm, but it's more likely you'll hurt him. He went down like a ton a bricks and I continued twisting his arm behind his back and pressed him into the floor. "You'd probably prefer to attack someone that isn't going to hurt you," I said. Admittedly, I was amused at this point and happy with myself for not hurting him.

Someone grabs me and, in my estimation, is breaking it up so I let them. They are holding me with arms pulled back in a chicken wing. If you recognize the term, you realize it doesn't make me defenseless but it has the effect of making me look non-agressive. So again, I let them. After about thirty seconds the football player stands up with no one attempting to restrain him. I start looking around I realize that people are egging him on and that the guy who has me chicken-winged is intending to expose me to another punch. The football player swings. I duck and twist, pushing the guy holding me into the punch. He goes down and, now, finally someone grabs the football player. I get pulled to the side by the manager of the bar who I happen to know. Eventually, the guy who was holding me makes his way over to the bar and asks for some ice and he's pissed. He's the soundman for the band.

He wants me to pay for the headphones or he's calling the police. The manager says no police. I want the police too. Manager says no police. He gives us each a beer, offers to pay for the headphones which the soundman will no agree to. Blah, blah, blah. At the end of the night it's still not settled and the band comes off stage. One of the band members threatens me "if you don't pay for those headphones, we'll be waiting for you outside" I start threatening him back and the bartender has had enough. He wants me to leave.

He starts pushing me outside and I tell my friend that I'm just going to stay in the hotel (attached to the bar). That way it's over with and I can just go home in the morning. The bartender loses it and tells me he's not going to let that happen. He tries to lock my wrist by I wriggle out of it and we start going back in forth as he keeps trying to get a hold of me, but I'm drunk and screw up one time and he catches my arms and throws me backwards and I hit my head on the wall. He then runs up and grabs me by the throat and I grab his arm and use him as a crutch to stand back up and then force him to release me. (I'm being less specific here, because I was drunk and don't remember it as well). The manager pushes us both out into the hallway between the hotel and the bar and tries to hold the bartender back. I'm put my hands on my knees and notice everything is changing color (concussion). I look up and I see a guy running at me that I don't recognize anymore. So I punched him. Fortunately for me and for him, I mostly missed. I grazed his jaw and knocked him out. I went to jail and he went to the hospital.

awesome story Jocabia thanks!

awesome story Jocabia thanks!

Notice the point - I could have avoided the whole thing if I would have just left when the guy started shit with me. I had fun that night, but not enough to make the night in jail or the subsequent crap worth it.

point taken jocabia - although you were merely asking what the guys problem was, I probably would do the same even after having heard this story.

Pleast tell the German Aikido-ka and Chikan story soon. :fluffle:

everybody else - please tell me of your martial arts fights - especialloy aikido stuff

Language note: Chikan (http://www.japanvisitor.com/jc/sex/glossary.html#chikan) are perverts who take advantage of crowded trains to molest/grope women.

Once upon a time I knew this big German guy (BGG) who was here in Osaka studying and teaching Aikido. He was quite proficient in several other arts, as well. He was married to a very nice Japanese lady (NJL).

One evening, on a crowded Osaka train during rush hour, a nasty ole' Chikan*(NOC) decided that NJL's booty was nice and touchable. She informed BGG, who, in very polite but fluent Japanese, told NOC to stop.

NOC stopped, but the temptation was too much. BGG once again, but less politely told NOC to stop, or there would be unpleasant consequences.

Then NOC decided to put his hand up NJL's skirt. (>.<)

BGG grabbed NOC by his lapels, and headbutted him. He then reached into NOC suit jacket, removed his wallet, took out the cash and stuffed it in the suit pocket, and tossed the wallet (with ID, train pass, etc.) in it out a conveniently open window. At this point the train was approaching a station. BGG gave NOC a quick drubbing, and tossed him out the door and on to the train platform, hopefully with lesson learned.

Aikidoka 1, Chikan 0

One more Aikido story:

The Hippy Gaijin Aikidoka and the Aggressive Taxi Driver:

One day my friend the Hippy Gaijin Aikidoka (HGA) was walking down a back street in Osaka. Back streets in Japan tend to be rather narrow. A taxi approached HGA from behind, and almost hit him. As the taxi passed, HGA slapped the side of the vehicle. The aggressive taxi driver (ATD) stopped, stuck his head out and yelled at HGA, then carried on.

A few moments later, HGA turned the corner, and there at the stop light was ATD. ATD saw HGA, and decided to get out and yell at him some more, and starts approaching in an aggressive manner. HGA, feeling threatened, adopted a loose fighting stance. ATD, seeing this, does the same.

Meanwhile, HGA is trying to apologise and explain. But ATD take a swing. HGA continues backing away, and makes a feint kick to hopefully make ATD keep his distance. ATD deecides he can kick as well. HGA grabed his kick and twisted, knocking ATD on his butt. Unfortunately, ATD banged his head on the ground.

The police came, HGA was questioned and released. ATD spent the night in the hospital.


My Aussie friend, the former Muy Thai champ, also had some fun adventures, but I'll save those for another day.

One more Aikido story:

... Muy Thai champ, also had some fun adventures, but I'll save those for another day.

Er..ok. As a fellow martial artist, I would like to say that these stories are totally promoting the wrong use of strength. i mean, martial arts were invented for selfdefence right? Main principle of martial arts isn't kicking ass, so...

ちなみに僕も大阪人です。日本語かけますか？

Geshpenst']Er..ok. As a fellow martial artist, I would like to say that these stories are totally promoting the wrong use of strength. i mean, martial arts were invented for selfdefence right? Main principle of martial arts isn't kicking ass, so...

ちなみに僕も大阪人です。日本語かけますか？

Uhmm... both stories were either self defence or defence of the otherwise undefended.... (as were all the Muy Thai champ's adventures.)

Nihongo mo naniwa kotoba wa bochi bochi. ;)

Funny really I have tried several style (karate, ju-jitsu and kick boxing) but the most usefuly for self defence I have found is Ti Chi. Not initialy it took probably six or seven years before I understood it to a level were it was useful in those kinds of situations. But once you have it it becomes easy to apply, no thought simply action. I have heard good things about Akido some people have said it is the ultimate defensive art, not done it myself but then again there are many of the arts that i have not tried.

everybody else - please tell me of your martial arts fights - especialloy aikido stuff

I WRITE some good fight scenes in my stories, I've been studying how to write a fight scene for almost a year now. However, most of my successful fight stories are non-fights. Since that's the heart and soul of any martial art (to not HAVE to level someone) I guess I'll mention a story.

I was working security for my University some years back. Much of my duties included driving around campus looking for people in trouble with a flashlight as my weapon. "Halt, or I shall illuminate you!" was my battle cry, but in 6 months of working as security gaurd, the dull thwump of Justice was never heard. I never once had to raise my flashlight in anger.

That's not to say I wasn't attacked though, I was fortunate to only be attacked by drunks. Who, as people have noted repeatedly, are easily confused. One such attack follows...

One day I was called to investigate a couple of rowdy drunks on campus at around midnight. One of them was VERY drunk, the other was mostly drunk; both were swaggering about looking for tail to grab. It seems they mostly were just being loud and dangerous to themselves, so I started talking to them to figure out where they lived so I could shuttle them home.

Somewhere in this mini-interrogation I started talking to the less-drunk one in hopes of finding out which dorm he lived in. My attention was less on the other man, who seemed to take exception to my uniform (I looked a bit like a cop), and got a little irritable early on. I had just gotten the info out of him when I noticed the mood of the irritable one had soured dramatically; my adreniline spiked.

Suddenly the irritable one reared back and took a swing at me, interuppting my conversation with a loud roar of drunken fury. I quickly ducked inside his punch, placing hand around his body against his back and the other lightly against his chest. I lifted him with my legs slightly to uproot him, and picked him up an inch or so off the ground. My mind worked feverishly to figure out how to get out of fighting two people at once, I figured quickly that they might be prone to trickery.

Feigning great concern for my attacker, I put him back down on his feet and held him at arms length, telling him that he fell over just now and asking him if he was all right. Anger melted into confusion, and his friend didn't seem to understand what had just happened either.

Confusion eventually turned into a drunken acceptance of my version of events. He had forgotten his reason for attacking me, and now thought I was quite the nice guy for helping him out. I escorted him and his now very friendly buddy back to their dorm room for some drinks, which then I bailed out on (I was on duty!) with an excuse of having another call.

The martial arts aspect came into focus only after the fact, my body had reacted to get inside my attacker's punch to where I was stronger without me considering it. As my upper body is quite powerful, I could effectively manage his attacks if I was closer to him, using his afflicted center of gravity to manipulate his movements.

If he had not fallen for the ruse, I would have quickly placed myself behind him, to put both my potential opponents in one direction. As they were drunks they would probably have increased resistance to physical pain, so I would end up conentrating my blows against joints or the stomach-area, hoping to weaken their attack or force them to retch.

That's my idea of a succesful martial arts story. Using your knowledge about the martial to effectively place yourself in command of a threatening situation. By dictating or reacting to events as they transpire and adapting yourself to them.

:rolleyes: I was simplifying for the newbie... sort of like saying "There are three principle schools of Christianity - Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant"...

You included Eastern Orthodox! I think I love you! ^_^

I am Greek Orthodox, and must constantly be correcting people and teachers when they talk about the "two branches of Christianity" or that "before the Proastant Reformation, the Catholic Church was the only Christain Church in Europe."

I was just exited that someone else out there knows about us :)

Isn't Aikido a game with wood sticks you throw on a table, and you have to remove them all without touching the others?

I explain very well, eh? It's because my English is sooo good...

Aikido is a martial arts form. You are thinking of Pick-Up-Sticks, I believe ^_~

Uhmm... both stories were either self defence or defence of the otherwise undefended.... (as were all the Muy Thai champ's adventures.)

Nihongo mo naniwa kotoba wa bochi bochi. ;)

And both stories were unnecessarily agressive. Proper use should be to be adequately agressive and nothing more.

It is not self-defense to kick someone's ass when you can just as adequately defend yourself (or others) without hurting anybody. Your friends had single attackers who, by the way you tell the story, were far less prepared to defend themselves than the hero in the story.

I WRITE some good fight scenes in my stories, I've been studying how to write a fight scene for almost a year now. However, most of my successful fight stories are non-fights. Since that's the heart and soul of any martial art (to not HAVE to level someone) I guess I'll mention a story.

I was working security for my University some years back. Much of my duties included driving around campus looking for people in trouble with a flashlight as my weapon. "Halt, or I shall illuminate you!" was my battle cry, but in 6 months of working as security gaurd, the dull thwump of Justice was never heard. I never once had to raise my flashlight in anger.

That's not to say I wasn't attacked though, I was fortunate to only be attacked by drunks. Who, as people have noted repeatedly, are easily confused. One such attack follows...

One day I was called to investigate a couple of rowdy drunks on campus at around midnight. One of them was VERY drunk, the other was mostly drunk; both were swaggering about looking for tail to grab. It seems they mostly were just being loud and dangerous to themselves, so I started talking to them to figure out where they lived so I could shuttle them home.

Somewhere in this mini-interrogation I started talking to the less-drunk one in hopes of finding out which dorm he lived in. My attention was less on the other man, who seemed to take exception to my uniform (I looked a bit like a cop), and got a little irritable early on. I had just gotten the info out of him when I noticed the mood of the irritable one had soured dramatically; my adreniline spiked.

Suddenly the irritable one reared back and took a swing at me, interuppting my conversation with a loud roar of drunken fury. I quickly ducked inside his punch, placing hand around his body against his back and the other lightly against his chest. I lifted him with my legs slightly to uproot him, and picked him up an inch or so off the ground. My mind worked feverishly to figure out how to get out of fighting two people at once, I figured quickly that they might be prone to trickery.

Feigning great concern for my attacker, I put him back down on his feet and held him at arms length, telling him that he fell over just now and asking him if he was all right. Anger melted into confusion, and his friend didn't seem to understand what had just happened either.

Confusion eventually turned into a drunken acceptance of my version of events. He had forgotten his reason for attacking me, and now thought I was quite the nice guy for helping him out. I escorted him and his now very friendly buddy back to their dorm room for some drinks, which then I bailed out on (I was on duty!) with an excuse of having another call.

The martial arts aspect came into focus only after the fact, my body had reacted to get inside my attacker's punch to where I was stronger without me considering it. As my upper body is quite powerful, I could effectively manage his attacks if I was closer to him, using his afflicted center of gravity to manipulate his movements.

If he had not fallen for the ruse, I would have quickly placed myself behind him, to put both my potential opponents in one direction. As they were drunks they would probably have increased resistance to physical pain, so I would end up conentrating my blows against joints or the stomach-area, hoping to weaken their attack or force them to retch.

That's my idea of a succesful martial arts story. Using your knowledge about the martial to effectively place yourself in command of a threatening situation. By dictating or reacting to events as they transpire and adapting yourself to them.

Impressive. I completely agree with what you said. While it wasn't my initial reason for learning it, martial arts gives me the ability to not hurt people and keeps from reacting out of anger or fear. I think it's excellent to you used martial arts to protect your attackers as much as yourself in that story.