Fitness

Aikido is a martial art?

Aikido is a martial art?

Sensei Henry Ellis – 2001

Co-author of Positive Aikido.

PART 1

At first glance the title above, I am sure many of Aikido will be angry, they will think this is yet another attack against the credibility of Aikido by other martial arts.

On this occasion they are totally wrong, I was a student of Aikido since 1957, in those early days I started judo in 1956 at the Kenshiro Abbe School of Budo, I studied Karate with Harada Sensei and Kendo with Sensei Tomio O'Tani, so with my background, I feel I have something to offer to this debate.

First Impressions

The Aikido that I first saw it being demonstrated by Abbe Sensei in 1956 was without no doubt a positive martial art.

I was immediately impressed by its positive techniques and power, and in those days my colleagues martial arts and I have no doubt that we were witnessing a devastating new form of self defense as demonstrated by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.

Abbe Sensei began his martial arts career at the age of five years and became a legend in his lifetime. At eighteen, he was the youngest champion in Judo throughout Japan and also the youngest to the 5th Dan renowned Kodokan. Later he became the oldest champion ever all Japan's judo at the age of thirty-three.

When Abbe Sensei arrived in the United Kingdom in 1955, he was 8th Dan Judo, 6th Dan Karate, 6th Dan Kendo, 6th Dan Kyudo, 6th Dan Aikido,

the question must be asked, would this Budo master have studied Aikido if he did not think it is a martial art?

It is my opinion that Abbe Sensei would not have studied Aikido as it is today.

Please break my finger

As a student Direct Abbe Sensei I asked one day while we were traveling to a seminar

"Sensei, how did you become a student O Sensei and Aikido "?

He smiled as he remembered a moment, then told me the following story:

He said he was a young man at the time and the Judo champion of all Japan and traveling on a crowded train across Japan to yet another Judo competition.

Sitting opposite him in the same car was an old man trying to make conversation with him, Abbe had his eyes closed as he tried to sleep.

The old man said: "I know who you are" Abbe Sensei replied rather modestly, "while the world knows who I am, I am Kenshiro Abbe champion of all Japan "he politely asked the old man who he was," replied the old man

"I am Morihei Ueshiba founder of Aikido "Abbe Sensei nodded politely and suggested that they now try to sleep a little, while the old man Suddenly his hand forward and offered the smallest digit to this powerfully built young man, Abbe was stunned as the old man "

please break my finger "Abbe thought I will break your neck if he does not sleep, he was in the process become irritated by this old man, he immediately grasped the old mans finger in an attempt to silence him, he freely admitted that in his frustration he intended to break the offending digit. To his amazement he was suddenly all slammed on the ground transportation. As he was on the ground unable to move, he knew he had to study with this master. He asked if he could study with him O'Sensei, O'Sensei agreement and Abbe stayed with O'Sensei for ten years.

O-Sensei had spent several years studying various arts Martial, I think the art of Daito-ryu and Ju-jitsu had more influence on the development of Aikido than anything else, he had studied and we know he went to Mongolia to fight and it would be the ideal opportunity to test their skills in many real situations, so that we can have no doubt that this incredible man was a true warrior and modern Samurai.

A knife for my enemy

It is this style at the beginning Aikido of positive Abbe Sensei in the UK in 1955, at the time was also the first Japanese master of Europe, was Tadashi Abe Sensei 6th Dan who was based in France, he was a small man even by Japanese standards, but I think it was the hardest man I ever met.

It was very similar to Kazuo Chiba Sensei who I met in the West End of London last week, when he traveled, he always carried a knife with him, it was not for his own protection but to hand to her shocked opponent, he said: "Please, this is for you."

He said that his opponent with his bare fists was not challenged, but a man with a knife was "very interesting".

I think we can assume that these teachers were so strong and positive, then it must have been the style of Aikido that was taught at the Hombu dojo in Japan, it was Aikido O Sensei as a young man, Aikido taught today is that of O Sensei as an old man, there is no doubt that as people age, they lose the spirit their youth and become more philosophical in their approach to life.

My father, who was once considered the man most difficult in the city later in life found his peace taking his dog for long walks. I think we now have two aikido, traditional aikido which if truly traditional (This word is overused) is the martial side of Aikido, the soft fantasy and dance style of Aikido should simply be classified as "art".

These are real traditional Aikidoists will no offense to this article, but the dancers will probably offended and I care little for their feelings I sincerely believe that this soft Aikido has no more right to call itself a martial art of synchronized swimming aa right to be in the Olympics.

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PART 2

In my previous article I attempted to establish the hard style of Aikido that was first introduced in the West in the years 1950. I would like to emphasize that I do not get satisfaction from publicly criticizing Aikido and I am much less happy when I see Aikido be ridiculous.

To continue on the one hand …..

Hard training

Training and exercises in the early days were very hard and physical, with karate style kicking and punching a very integral part of our warm, followed by 200 press ups on the backs of wrists, fingers pointing inside and outside, very often, so you were raised position Abbe Sensei instruct another student sit on the back, as we were the only group of five Dan grades in the United Kingdom and all in the same dojo then this was the formation in all Aikido dojos in the UK and we are now the only organization in Aikido is to make these press ups.

Purists say "these senior press are bad for you "what they mean is they can not do them, it's all part of the weakening of Aikido traditional.

Choreography

Aikido are often accused of practicing "choreography Aikido" and to be honest, I must admit that these claims are very often justified, with Uke (attacker) preparing to break down long before he makes his attack, and most of them attack off balance, so do the many techniques possible with the minimum of effort and of course this makes Tori (defender) look "fantastic".

What is really sad is that these people believe it is good Aikido.

Kenshiro Abbe Sensei would always tell us that "two" students training at the same time, it is Uke who is learning and improving his techniques attack and

Opponent Tori is also learning and improving his defensive techniques, while we were training with Abbe Sensei if Uke's foot or heel came out of the carpet as he attacked Abbe Sensei give the offending leg a good hit with a shinai (Bamboo sword) he would then say: "My English is very bad but my shinai speaks fluently! ".

If Uke attacks on the scale then it Clearly, the technique must be good and Tori strong throw, and the Abbe Sensei said so many times "two students are training."

Mark Eastman a strong young Dan grade with me went to a seminar recently where there was a 6th Dan. The 6th Dan refused to use as Uke stating "I do not you use that you do not harmonize with me", it was not awkward or difficult to attack on the scale.

Training diluted

Today, these traditional exercises and training methods have changed to a mere warm-up routine with jumping up and down there and a lot of deep spiritual discussion.

Hard exercise is now regarded as aggressive and not in harmony with the true spirit of aikido.

Abbe Sensei said that hard training developed mind, he also mentioned during Ki the first few days as he demonstrated the power of his technique, when asked to explain the meaning of Ki, he said not to worry Ki it would be a part of our training and development.

He then said: "Only when you reach first Dan will you be able to understand the true concept of Ki as a further extension of your Aikido. "

I still believe that line of thought, and instructors in our dojo very rarely speak of Ki although it is taught as an integral and important part of our training and study.

Ki Aikido

Although Ki is generally recognized as the spirit and breathing during the application of the technique, every teacher and every student has a very wide and varied and sometimes bizarre interpretation of the meaning of this word overused.

The main problems arise and are created by teachers themselves, who often mislead their students to the extent that they almost believe that Ki is a form of magic. What follows is a perfect example Aikido magazines from a very important section letters.

Title: The Spirit of protection

I am a carpenter and 2nd kyu in Aikido. I worked in a large house being new repair work, I finished my work and was heading down a long staircase when I noticed the owners two year old son was heading towards the stairs even from the opposite direction.

As he neared the top of the stairs he looked at me and not where he went. I was too far away to catch it, so I turned to him (irimi) and stuck my arm straight up to him, my "Ki" went through the little boys face and the back of his head, he fell backwards and began to cry.

Her mother heard crying and went up the stairs when I told him what had happened, she thanked me,

I said, 'Do me not thank Thank Aikido.

That poor child may now be as disturbed as the writer.

Ryu Harry Potter

There are many such examples which I will wrong in future articles, this is the kind of absurdity that puts in doubt the credibility Aikidos I fully aware that every martial art has its own version of "Harry Potter" in their ranks, I do not understand is that there are many of Aikido in them than any other martial arts combined.

The reason I am so critical and noisy on Aikido is that every day I see these people watering down this great martial art that I spent most of my life studying, teaching and promoting for the last 46 years. I am often asked "Sensei, who do you think is the best and worst martial art".

I'm still the same answer "All martial arts are good, if there is a problem with a martial art, then it may be that people who represent that particular art who misrepresent their art

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PART 3

The Converted

In parts one and two articles I have covered the introduction of Aikido to the West, and the impact on other martial arts, Aikido progressed and developed in the UK by visiting existing dojos of all the various martial arts and offering to demonstrate and teach for free in hopes of starting a small class in the more receptive dojos, as one can imagine this was not an easy task because often our efforts are not an open invitation to most dojos.

In the end the positive style of Aikido early won through, and it is a very important point to make in early development of Western Aikido was that most new students of Aikido were from other martial arts. I do not think we could have converted other Martial Arts to Aikido had it not been as strong and effective.

Bad breath!

I talked to many changes in Aikido over the past 46 years of its history to training and choreography and Ki Aikido and many Harry Potters of the Aikido world, as a direct result of these articles, I was contacted by a student Aikido in the UK to tell me she had now stopped training in Aikido because her teacher said it was now to teach students "to breathe through their toes."

Let's Dance

The most important of all changes took place in the last 46 years should be the evolution of technology and its application, the style of early Aikido was very Compact and powerful. Since the day of its introduction in the United Kingdom, has always been taught Aikido as a Martial Art with Tori circular motion at the center of movement.

As Uke (the attacker) made his attack, Tori turn toward the inside of his own circle to complete the technical in a very small area may be four feet square. Today, aikido need a fantasy football field.

I Having so-called "masters" twirling Uke around on the end of one finger and pirouetting several times before being thrown on entire length of the carpet.

Harmonize

Kenshiro Abbe Sensei always taught that Uke does not "go" if the technique was effective. I I have often heard and seen some of these people who say they can throw an opponent without touching them, sometimes by breathing and projecting their "Ki". I also had the misfortune to see very high levels with several "* * attackers" breakfalling to attack them, fun? not really because most of them really believe that the projectile uki is a serious attack.

You can not do that if someone is attacked on the scale, I've never seen anyone do that to one of my students. Of course, if you do attack on balance you will then be charged with "Failure harmonization. "

Aikido for real

I read different accounts of the first Americans to practice Aikido in the early 60s. There were Americans practicing Aikido in the UK in 1950 and "The Hut" The Abbe School Budo.

The Americans were members of the U.S. Air Force stationed in the United Kingdom. they were always in question "How does it work Street? "And we often end up in the parking lot of the hut after class and engage in a real Aikido.

Then everyone would be in the right mood and drinking a few beers.

Sunday mornings were always the best practice sessions with the dojo doors being locked all but Dan grades. It was then that Dan ranks to fight each other for real. This was the only way to truly evaluate your technique.

At On one occasion, I was fighting with Sensei Ken Williams (The British National Coach) he hit me hard and I went down clutching my chest and moaning loudly in agony.

They knew I was not going down and I never made a fuss, so now everyone was concerned for me and Sensei Williams leaned over me asking "Harry, are you OK" I lashed with my fist to the head, just looking to make contact, he then stepped back and kicked me in the head to put an end to my cunning.

The smallest of all grades was Eric Dollimore Dan, it was only about 5 feet 6 inches tall, and around 130 pounds.

I always thought that Eric avoiding me these sessions on Sunday morning while preparing to leave the mat I said to him "Eric, would you like to try against me", he turned and said simply: "Sorry Harry, I must be at my girlfriends home for lunch. " As he left the mat I smiled to myself and thought "This is I expected "adequacy did not last long as I heard a voice behind me say

"OK then Harry, can be done quickly because I'm out. "

It was Eric, for a moment I was surprised, then I said if you want it fast I welcome you.

I moved to take it with a punch and the next thing I knew I had gone through the dojo office partition and I was still lying stunned the office floor when I heard Eric's voice call

"See you Monday Harry, gotta go."

It was a very important lesson for me, I never underestimate anyone since the little guy taught me a lesson.

Lottery classification

If in the 1950s and 60s you've seen a 5th or 6th Dan you would be in awe of him. I now see so many qualities and to be honest, they would not be graded first Dan in the old days. They make these claims knowing that if they are never questioned and prove their evidence they know they can claim that it is against the principles of Aikido.

Another favorite of these people is to juggle their qualities and to find multiple matching degrees, for an excellent example of this abuse check out the article in the British Aikido-controversial.

Mitsusuke Harada Sensei "5th dan"

Harada Sensei was my karate teacher in the 1960s, it has been and is still a 5th Dan in Shotokan dojo in Tokyo. had been classified by the founder of modern karate Gichin Funakoshi Sensei days.

He taught karate the USAF Dojo Kodokan after the Second World War. It was ranked 5th Dan by Funakoshi Sensei in 1957 and is still 5th Dan after 45 years, indicating that "any category above 5th Dan is totally unnecessary."

This is exactly the feeling of Sensei Derek Eastman and myself, even if we are two of only four of the original group left of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei group of the 1950s, we agreed that there were too many "Harry Potter "grades around, we decided that we would like Harada Sensei 5th Dan highest level in our organization.

Studies serious

I'll take a break now that these items are complete and do some serious "Toe breath."

This will be my last article for CyberKwoon for a while, I want to thank Master Fabien Sena for allowing me to air my views on a subject most would try to avoid.

I do not know in what direction will the martial arts when all the "old" have disappeared.

As one of the comments (on the website forum Cyberkwoon) said: "We can still make a difference."

For those who asked my father, he was not a martial artist, just a hard man who began working at age 13, two miles underground in coal mines in South Yorkshire.

Sensei Henry Ellis. 5th dan in Aikido.

http://www.EllisAikido.org

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http://aikidoellisvideo.magnify.net

About the Author

Henry Ellis co-author of Positive Aikido.

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