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[B]General: Diffusing a fight?[/B] - 13 Replies
From: stuartjvnorton on 5. Jan 2005, 12:53am
Just some observations:
As 1 half of the impending fight:
"Sorry mate. My fault." (tenkan) goes a long way to avoid a lot of fights, as does "Having a good night?" (irimi) or "Let's get a drink. My shout."
Or a combination.
Distraction, get them chatting about positive things.
Usually people are decent & you might have caught them at the wrong time.
As the thrid party:
Similar rules to above.
Apologise for your friend being a bit of a dropkick, ask him how his night's going, comment on how many hot girls are around. Distract him, give reasons to do something other than get in a fight with your mate.
Shout him a drink. People who are drunk usually like another drink. Make sure he comes with you though, away from your mate.
[B]Feedback: New Feature: AikiQuiz![/B] - 11 Replies
From: senseimike on 5. Jan 2005, 02:06am
I like this idea.... but having no experience with either style represented I can't even answer the first question in either. Would love to see a quiz based in basic Aikikai style.... and I'll try to compile some questions for a quiz of my own..... no idea how to to that, but it might take some time for me to get the questions together...... help would be appreciated. Great new feature though.....
[B]General: Dojo Floor[/B] - 26 Replies
From: eyrie on 5. Jan 2005, 01:53am
Does anyone (in Australia) know where I can source suitable training mats - preferably Queensland?
Thanks.
[B]General: Aikido Frauds[/B] - 214 Replies
From: Qatana on 5. Jan 2005, 03:43am
Thanks, Riggs Sensei!
I think it would be extremely helpful if this statement was given its own web url, so that we can post it around other to groups and lists where people are always asking how to find a good dojo. It helps to let them know what to avoid and I think you've stated it well.
[B]Open Discussions: Kenbudo vs. Kali vs. European edged arts[/B] - 46 Replies
From: oudbruin on 5. Jan 2005, 03:58am
Kali vs Nihonto vs Euro live weaps-
Well- if it was mushashi vs cyrano and both had drawn i suspect the euro expert using a rapier would eventualy win out over the heaver, and somewhat slower katana-
Now lets suppost we had gustave and mushashi facing off and gustave has a flambarge (a 5 foot weap used to take out horses)- the edge would go to the faster drawn katana.
as for our filipino friend with his short sticks-I suspect he could wail away on cyrano's lighter weapon, however a heavy weapon like a claidghmhor or flambarge-no contest, the heaver weapon woud win.
In a situation where both the euro and the nihonto both have to be drawn- the katana would win hands down-no question simply because the weapon as it's drawn is in offensive mode- wheras the european weap has to be drawn out, and than readied to strike- 3 motions vs one slash.
The guy with the sticks-whould have an edge out of the box, simply because he has nothing to draw out.
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of more interest would be who is the better archer a 14th century english longbowman or a japanese kuyodo bowman of the 17th century? both had longbows with heavy draw weight (i understand in excess of 100 lbs), and both had somewhat equivalent projectiles and rate of fire and accuracy..
Comments? Anyone??
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Best
[B]Open Discussions: Pressure points techniques[/B] - 2 Replies
From: David Yap on 5. Jan 2005, 04:26am
Thanks, Chuck, for pointing out the archives to me. Gone through them but don't think the topic was beaten to death as you put it.
Thanks for the advice. I did a 4 years study of PPKO with one of Dillman's pioneer students. I was hoping to get an insight of Oyata's soft touch from aikido. It is quite expensive to get Rick Clark or Willy Lim to conduct such seminars in my country; then again, if they do come this way, people may not be interested. I have discussed pressure points with some taichi teachers who are also acupuncturists and Chinese medical practitioners. In their opinion, such PP techniques should least be taught to the public as they do more harm than good. Besides knowing the damaging points, the executioner of these techniques must know the healing points to restore/normalise the flow of "ki" or "chi" in the victim's body.
David Y
[B]General: AAA, Andrew Sato Sensei[/B] - 11 Replies
From: Magma on 5. Jan 2005, 04:27am
It was inevitable, I suppose... that the ugliest members of the community would crawl out to hit someone when he was down. And all behind the shield of a new (fake?) moniker. How wonderfully? courageous of you.
Welcome to the boards, Mike. Or welcome back, as the case may be.
No worries, though. Through all that self-congratulatory, spirited narrative, I detected and recognized a particular brand of ego and personality. Of course, I could be wrong - one need only look to my signature to see the truth of that acknowledged in every post - but in this case I think that I can discern your true identity.
Your blindingly narcissistic assertion that "this much is fact" appeals to an authority you do not have - neither on these boards nor as some sort of real-life arbiter of truth. For instance, it appears to be you who is insecure with the capitalization of Sato Sensei's Rokudan rank. What deeper issues lie there? Further, your constant divisions into "us" and "them" camps magnify this topic of authority, speaking volumes as to your possible agenda. You wrote of the time after Toyoda Sensei died:
"Good opportunity for someone with ambitions to jump in."
I ask you then to consider: how, exactly, is *this* moment different for an ambitious lad such as yourself? On that subject, I will only say that apparently no one need point out to you that the kanji characters for "crisis" and "opportunity" are one in the same.
I have no wish to speak ill of either side of this dispute (that is, neither Sato Sensei nor the Toyoda family). Just because I find the tenor and anonymity of ?Mike?s? post distasteful, my point in this post is most definitely not to disparage the Toyoda name, legacy, nor family. I tested with Stephen Toyoda less than a year ago - when he was up for his shodan and I for my nidan - and have nothing but the greatest respect for him. No, my point in this post is only to call out "Mike's" post as the worst sort of piling on I have recently seen. It does not seem that his post was a true effort at setting the record straight so much as it was a self-serving effort to bash Sato Sensei, as neatly expressed in this statement:
" So...nice things everyone is saying about Mr. Sato. Here's the truth..."
I'm not saying that people won't have different views of the situation, but what sort of arrogance, ego, and need for revenge does require to vent all sorts of ire to a third party forum such as this after the fact? It is much the same as ending a romantic relationship, claiming that the other person means nothing to you now, and then going around telling tales on that person to ruin their reputation. Again, this speaks more to a personal insecurity on your part than to anything else.
So, sorry for jumping on you, "Mike," but reacting to this sort of egoism and superiority complex is a button that I am still working on removing from myself. I will continue to work on my character, you continue to work on yours. Perhaps one day we can both simply acknowledge without attachment the sadness of these circumstances and then move on to stand in a different "river" of a new moment and new circumstances. I completely agree with Greg when he says:
"The reasons for what have happen rest with Sato sensei and Toyoda family. Let it rest with that."
In the present difficulties, I am finding new wisdom in the quote (source unknown):
"In your training, seek not to follow in the footsteps of the Master; rather, seek what it is he sought."
[B]Feedback: AikiChat[/B] - 1 Replies
From: MaylandL on 5. Jan 2005, 04:38am
Hello Jun
Great idea, I'm in. I would suggest that it would be a good idea if the chat is moderated so we don't get off topic. Maybe Jun, you should be the moderator. :)
I am always interested in martial art since my childhood; watching kungfu movies to Steven Seagal's movie. I didn't have a chance to practice martial art at that time because I thought martial art was tough, painful to practice and violent. And I thought there was no need to practice because I could sufficiently protect myself without martial art.
Once upon a time, my college friend invited me to see Aikido demonstration at a local shopping mall. I was curious and went to see what Aikido was like. That demonstration changed my whole perspective about martial art especially Aikido. In the beginning of the demonstration, they bowed to their master giving respect and bowed to each other. They demonstrated various techniques in pairs. Their movements were so smooth and graceful. Various attacks were handled efficiently and effectively. Only a little effort was needed to bring down and to subdue the attacker. I perceived non violent way when they handled the attacker. Before that time, I thought that the best way to deal with an attacker was to punch or to kick strongly. I was also interested in their manners and their gentleness toward each other. I became interested in Aikido and decided to practice Aikido.
Not long after I watched the demonstration, I made up my mind to practice Aikido. I rushed to sport store and bought my gi. I learned to tie the belt before I went to the dojo that my college friend had practiced at. I asked the sensei's permission and started joining the training. First, we had warm up. I managed to follow the basics body stretching but I failed to perform the basic tenkan movement correctly several times. It seemed easy but it was confusing at first. I could not perform the ukemi. My sensei told me to sit and watched my senpai performing ukemi. After warming up, my sensei told me to follow the practice by doing the basic techniques demonstrated as well as I could. The technique that I found it difficult to perform was Katatedori Shihonage. My senpai patiently told me how to perform it and how to fall correctly. At that time, I realized how weak I was; I could be thrown so easily! From that time, I was motivated and I am determined that one day I would be able to perform techniques like my sensei did.
That was the beginning of my Aikido training. After four years training: twice a week, two hours each session from 7 to 9 PM; I gained my first degree black belt. The journey to gain the black belt was not so smooth. I experienced difficulties and set backs but I managed to overcome that with patience and self motivation. Reading Aikido books on its principles and philosophies also helped me in the process. I became a black belt holder from a clumsy white belt holder. I also realized that being a shodan only means that I only mastered the basics. There are still a lot of things to learn about techniques, mental and spiritual in Aikido.
I learned four things from my experience. First, the manners in training are important. I was interested in Aikido partly because of this matter. Always keep a conducive situation when training. Second, appreciate the white belt or gohai. I believe it takes some determination to step into the dojo for the first time because I experienced it too. By giving proper guidance patiently, the white belt will become a black belt some day. Third, with perseverance and patience, I could achieve my goal of becoming a black belt. Self motivation is important. I often motivate myself when I face difficulties in training by promising not to give up until I get the black belt. And the last thing, trying something new gives me the opportunity to develop myself. With open-mindedness I tried Aikido and it turns out that I gain benefits from learning Aikido.
This is my personal website about Aikido and its philosophy.
The link can be found in 'External Links' section at the right side of this page.
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