AikiWeb Aikido Forums

Taking yourself to seriously? (Alex Lawrence)

Alex Lawrence — 2009-11-07T16:57:39-07:00

General: Taking yourself to seriously? - 10 Replies

From: Alex Lawrence on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:57:39 -0700

One need not be a serious martial artist if one is a sincere martial artist.

Aikikai Dan Ranks (Robert M Watson Jr)

Robert M Watson Jr — 2009-11-07T16:50:17-07:00

Anonymous: Aikikai Dan Ranks - 16 Replies

From: Robert M Watson Jr on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:50:17 -0700

Greetings Professor, I never said his response was of use, only that he responded. He told me that my teacher's rank is registered at aikikai but mine is not (information that I already knew). After inquiring again about the possibility of having my rank registered at the aikikai, his response was as follows: "It would be better to contact to the Aikikai authorized person or organization in your area." Not very useful at all I'm afraid.

But that is exactly what you need to do. It is exactly the correct answer. Maybe not what you were hoping to hear ... According to the guidelines your instructor and a 2nd dan need to form their own organization or you need to go through an authorized aikikai person/organization. Your grade through 3rd dan can come from your 5th dan instructor but for them to be recognized you (or your instructor) need to go through the above process. It is spelled out pretty clear on the aikikai web site. The only exception is if a shihan goes to bat for you - even better if it is one of the 'super' shihans.

Bokken with longer tsuka? (Drew Gardner)

Drew Gardner — 2009-11-07T16:06:40-07:00

Weapons: Bokken with longer tsuka? - 13 Replies

From: Drew Gardner on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:06:40 -0700

Yes, sounds good. If I've been making do with 10", 11.5 is certainly do-able. Although the only guys I've seen doing 11.5" are Kingfisher....yes? Their large aikiken is apparently 'stout'..anyone tried it? But certainly, all the standard bokken I've seen and tried appear to be around 10".

I find it strange for the average to be 10". I do believe most katana-zuki (a grammar guess) are longer than that. This bokken at bujindesign.com has a 14" tsuka, so I'm certain that company can accommodate you. Even though other companies do make good supplies, Bujin does indeed have the best of the best, as well as often more affordable but high-grade alternatives. http://www.bujindesign.com/training-weapons-bokken-c-32_79/hickory-shindo-yoshin-ryu-bokken-p-91

Starting to burn......out! I hope not (Philip Burgess)

Philip Burgess — 2009-11-07T15:22:02-07:00

Training: Starting to burn......out! I hope not - 2 Replies

From: Philip Burgess on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:22:02 -0700

My experience has been never go to class and train with a head full of troubles. When in practice and your head isn't right, suck the motivation right out of you. Also it isn't as enjoyable as when your troubles are not so heavy. If your in a dojo that is supportive of these things you mentioned, the stuff your going though then it is good to go to class and get that support to stay motivated, and stuff. The other school of thought is to keep going to class, keep training and over-time and it will help you sort it all out. That goes without saying having a supportive dojo. The idea is in time your motivation will come back. Because it is an ebb and flow thingy. I think because Aikido is a long road, motivation is something you might be dealing with though out your Aikido training, it an ever re-occurring hurdle.

Intro (Jun Akiyama)

Jun Akiyama — 2009-11-07T14:45:17-07:00

Introductions: Intro - 2 Replies

From: Jun Akiyama on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:45:17 -0700

Hi Vadim, Welcome to AikiWeb. I appreciate your efforts with the recent donation drive. -- Jun

Introduction (Jun Akiyama)

Jun Akiyama — 2009-11-07T14:43:58-07:00

Introductions: Introduction - 2 Replies

From: Jun Akiyama on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:43:58 -0700

Hi Allan, Welcome to AIkiWeb. -- Jun

Bokken and jo set from Aikiwood (Paul Conway)

Paul Conway — 2009-11-07T12:46:03-07:00

Weapons: Bokken and jo set from Aikiwood - 13 Replies

From: Paul Conway on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:46:03 -0700

I recently stripped my inexpensive jo & bokken, and gave them four or five coats of Devon Wood Oil (mostly boiled linseed & tung oils). Revealed a nice grain and made them far more maneuverable. However, I also found that the jo was rather too slippery, so I gave it a wipe with a damp cloth to bring up the grain a bit. Seemed to work. Amazing what a bit of elbow grease can do for a reasonable bit of wood. I imagine the finishing side is a big part of the cost of hand-made weapons.

Carnegie Mellon aikido schedule? (Jeremy Morrison)

Jeremy Morrison — 2009-11-07T11:48:13-07:00

General: Carnegie Mellon aikido schedule? - 6 Replies

From: Jeremy Morrison on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:48:13 -0700

Thank you!

Toyoda Center Accepting Uchideshi Applications in MI (Michael Hackett)

Michael Hackett — 2009-11-07T09:53:24-07:00

AikiWeb System: Toyoda Center Accepting Uchideshi Applications in MI - 5 Replies

From: Michael Hackett on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:53:24 -0700

Thanks, Alvin. This was the article that I recall best (but not well enough obviously). I've seen others as well. I appreciate your quick research - now I have some Saturday time free.

Please, advise on a dojo in Sapporo (Vadim Volkov)

Vadim Volkov — 2009-11-07T03:53:21-07:00

General: Please, advise on a dojo in Sapporo - 0 Replies

From: Vadim Volkov on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:53:21 -0700

I am going to Sapporo for 4 months from 1 December. Please, help find a Yoshinkan dojo or closest style. Dojo finder does not yeild anything. What's the Aikido scene in Sapporo in general? Thanks.

Advice on Aikido and a school/dojo. Help please (Mark Gunther)

Mark Gunther — 2009-11-06T22:01:38-07:00

General: Advice on Aikido and a school/dojo. Help please - 13 Replies

From: Mark Gunther on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:01:38 -0700

In Taekwondo you will start sparring in a month or two. You test your skills against a live opponent who is also out to tag you. He kicks, punches, side steps, closes the gap, throws a fake, constantly moving, everything fluid. You are not confined to waiting for an attack before moving into action, but have the option to initiate your own attack. Outside the dojang, you can spar against other strikers from different arts: boxing, karate, muay thai, etc. TKD provides a good cardio workout. Aikido works for real. But i think the years spent sparring helped give me a sense of distance and timing, in order to execute the aikido technique against a live opponent in the street.

I can't seem to keep my clothes on! (Ashley Carter)

Ashley Carter — 2009-11-06T21:03:03-07:00

General: I can't seem to keep my clothes on! - 50 Replies

From: Ashley Carter on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:03:03 -0700

Glad you find all of us entertaining. :)

Noble Silence (Dean Suter)

Dean Suter — 2009-11-06T19:10:01-07:00

Spiritual: Noble Silence - 1 Replies

From: Dean Suter on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:10:01 -0700

I enjoyed reading your post. As for talking during training... I thought my club did not talk THAT much but one night I went along to watch rather than train due to injury. It was an eye-opener! There was a lot of talking and like you I have since limited how much I talk with my partner's on the mat. Just train. It is amazing how much energy goes into training when you are not stopping to talk :) My fitness increased ;)

Would You Train Under A "No Rank" Sensei? (Dean Suter)

Dean Suter — 2009-11-06T18:34:13-07:00

General: Would You Train Under A "No Rank" Sensei? - 51 Replies

From: Dean Suter on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:34:13 -0700

There's a difference between No Rank and Independent. I have no problem with Independent. But there are a lot pf folks out there who claim rank that is bogus... wouldn't train with them, for a variety of reasons.

I agree. I have been trained and ranked by a man who is independent. He holds a rank which may or may not be recognised by large aikido organisations. Yet I still train with him. Why? He has personal integrity, is sincere and I can leave, when I want, if I choose. Money is not a big driver for this guy either. Those characterisitics tell me a lot more about this person than his belt colour. I do know the lineage of this club and I agree with those that say aikido traditions do hold some importance. I have also trained at other clubs that are affilitated with other groups. This is important for a bigger view of things. It's a tough one. As others have said, in a martial art that does not include competition, assessing quality of an instructor is tricky. Be cautious newbies.:D

Picture of Robert Koga Teaching "Aikido" to LAPD Officers in 1966 (Jun Akiyama)

Jun Akiyama — 2009-11-06T17:21:24-07:00

General: Picture of Robert Koga Teaching "Aikido" to LAPD Officers in 1966 - 0 Replies

From: Jun Akiyama on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:21:24 -0700

Published caption: "Officer Bob Koga shows other policemen at a special school how to use aikido to remove a seated demonstrator without injuring him. Koga applies pressure behind "demonstrator's" ears, above, then quickly grabs arm and twists wrist below. At right is Officer Bernard Finks, head of Civil Disturbance-Riots Control school. In role of sit-ins, from left, are policemen Ron Meade, Robert Calentino and Gary Garrison." http://unitproj.library.ucla.edu/dlib/lat/display.cfm?ms=uclalat_1429_b575_232849&searchType=subject&subjectID=219156 -- Jun