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Subject: Aiki Video/Book Reviews Author: Corey Minatani, WRCMA Central WA Reg Director [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 11:01:50 10/08/02 Tue Hey Everyone: Just picked up a new video and book from Aikido Journal. The video is of Seigo Okamoto from the Roppokai Aiki-ju-jutsu system who does upper level aiki, called aiki no jutsu. In aiki-ju-jutsu, there are 3 levels of techniques: Jujutsu is the base level of techniques, aiki-ju-jutsu the next level utilizing aiki timing with the techniques, and aiki no jutsu, the highest, using mainly timing to throw the opponents. In anycase, Okomoto Sensei is great and the minimal motion aiki he does is second to none. The book is called Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu by Katsuyuki Kondo who is a Menkyo Kaiden of the system. This is the highest rank one can achieve in this art. His book goes over Ikkajo techniques and is very detailed and good as well. I highly recommend it. Okomoto Sensei has a book out too, its on backorder for me and will be here shortly I hope!! [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

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[> Subject: Re: Aiki Video/Book Reviews Author: Corey Minatani [Edit] Date Posted: 01:29:14 10/10/02 Thu Hey: I'm not really talking to myself, people read this stuff, really. Anyway, we have 2 more articles at the site, and Sifu Ken might send me some notes from Water and Steel 2002 on Professor Triggs form Lameco Eskrima. For those who don't know what aiki is, I will try to talk a little bit more about it in another thread on this forum. I can't say it fits all situations all the time, but my having a hard style karate background and stick fighting background with some grappling skills, I think it complements very well. I know my TKD instructor Jack Gibson was hitting some Tai Chi material since he is late in years, so the older you get, one might turn to soft styles instead of hard just due to the endurance thing. So what's my excuse since I'm only 30? Good question. I study it because its harder than hell to master! I've heard similar things of tai chi or baqua. Interestingly enough, I remember Jack saying he started off in Baqua as his first martial art! Full circle I guess. On a more serious note, just after talking with my student, Cale, I've taken less injury after studying Aiki than when I was training karate. The daily ukemi (falling practice) and joint manipulations have kept me in good shape, unfortunatly it doesn't do anything for abs! So one still has to keep up their cardio workout! In any case, let me hear your thoughts.

[> Subject: Re: Aiki Video/Book Reviews Author: Pappy Geo Hoover [Edit] Date Posted: 08:51:39 10/12/02 Sat Corey, In reference to: "The daily ukemi (falling practice)" I really enjoy the AIKI techniques you have been sharing with me, but there is problem with a person my age and body shape in hitting the mat. That would tear me up and my subconscious mentality refuses to allow that to happen at almost any other costs. I found other ways to combat being thrown by folding and closing upon the first sensitivity of a lock. It doesn't mean that it can't happen, it just that instinctively my reactions generally enable me to offset the technique thanks to NSI training. Does this make sense? And Corey, as an instructor in AIKI, what are your thoughts on defensive tactics to the locks and throws other than going with it?

[> [> Subject: Re: Aiki Video/Book Reviews Author: Corey Minatani [Edit] Date Posted: 09:24:39 10/12/02 Sat Hi Geo: Glad you could it the forum! Well the idea of going with some of the locks, that require throws is a necessity but there are others, like you, relax at the first sign, ideally, one would not get that in a SD situation, a good response would be to learn many of the locks and throws themselves then you could unconsciously counter them because you know them already even in a SD situation. Another that I'm thinking of is blade deployment. One could shrink down like you are trying to sit on your ankles, you don't have to get that far, but the motion has to be there to lower gravity, then deploy the clip it from hip or calf holster. In this case as well, you'd have to "see it coming" via learning the moves like judoka do. That's why you don't see many real fantastic throws unless the thrower is just a badass. So learning an aiki curriculum is the easist and safest way around this problem. Hopefully this answers your question, but if not, maybe I can egg Shihan Annesi to come on and answer ?

[> Subject: Re: Aiki Video/Book Reviews Author: George Hoover- WRCMA Western Region Co-Director [Edit] Date Posted: 14:16:52 10/12/02 Sat That has been my thoughts to learn AIKI, as you suggested, from the top position to recognize when the locks and throws are coming and to become sensitive to the feel, enabling an effective defensive counter and/or counterattack rather than hitting the deck. Does that make sense?

[> Subject: Re: Aiki Video/Book Reviews Author: Corey Minatani [Edit] Date Posted: 01:04:08 10/13/02 Sun George: you're right, my only problem has been with offbalancing, changing levels and dropping to the deck increases and creates lag time for you to deploy your weapon. The other scenario, just deploying it before any offbalancing is taking place, I feel is nonexistent, because he's letting you do it. The bad guys do not cooperate, and as soon as they see you twitch towards that knife your dead meat, no one would think twice about dropping to the deck (creating an aire of advantage or ego for the bad guy, thinking he's got you there sniveling and crying) then when he's not thinking, bam!

[> [> Subject: Re: Aiki Video/Book Reviews Author: Corey Minatani [Edit] Date Posted: 10:34:54 10/16/02 Wed Hi George: Just another little thought here, if we are to take American Kenpo Karate, they utilize a theory that to truly immobilize or neutralize an attacker, they must check or monitor his height, width, and depth. Aiki does this by off-balancing, evading, and circular motions rather than through linear direct opposition. In either case, it keeps the opponent from being able to mount a sufficient counter to our technique and keeps the guy in place as we do our relative thing, ie lock or damage. I remember Ken Smith talking about this kinda thing concerning his Numerada drill with the knife, not only checking x and y (height and width) but also depth. I think Ken felt this was a relatively important factor that should be addressed more. I do not know if he has made further research into this or not. But the connections are there. In any case, Ken's drill was effective, and at that date, he could find no one, when it hit the fan, to detract his Numerada drill from actually working. In his experiements, it was highly valid. His concern I think, was that it was too often assumed that one should venture into the depth range, and too often we just assumed that depth and kept plugging at our drills, never being able to take it to the next step.