Martial Arts

[Aota]

That's kendo gear, right?

Oh, samurai gear is much much much more complicated than kendo gear... o.o

[Ryuk999]

kinda random but does anyone do shotokan karate??

[Tenchu]

Originally Posted by JapanMan2

Ahh, your talking about Bushido. What do you know about Bushido? it is pretty cool. We read a story that dealed with Bushido, it was about the 47 seven ronin. would you guys like to hear about it

No. No one wants to hear.

I know a bit about Bushido. But most of it is honestly coourpted. The main problems is fuedal Japan had a class structure, where the higher class didn't have to show respect to the lower class. So the idea of being respectful and honorable still meant you were allowed to spit on peasants and rape their daughters, coz it was little more a crime than killing a fish for some food. Given this, most books by Samurai were pretty poor in truth. But you can extract some pretty valid concepts from them. It depends on the viewer.

[Tenchu]

Originally Posted by Ryuk999

kinda random but does anyone do shotokan karate??

That is not random. This is a martial arts thread.

I do Muay Thai and MMA.

I practice Tae Kwon Do and Karate kicks to supplement my Muay Thai kicking, but I only learn that from watching instructional vids, then I take them to Muay Thai and use them for that. I dont actually attend any Karate classes or TKD classes.

BTW, the guy who said Kendo and Aikido related. They are NOT. Aikido is both a new and a gay style.

[Paul11]

I practiced Aikido for a few years in Japan and taught a bit back in the states. I haven't read the whole thread, so I don't want to repaeat anyhting people already said. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

[Tenchu]

Originally Posted by Paul11

I practiced Aikido for a few years in Japan and taught a bit back in the states. I haven't read the whole thread, so I don't want to repaeat anyhting people already said. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Have you ever used, or VISUALLY witnessed Aikido being used in a real situation.

The inventor was not a fighter. I think it does not hold up. In my opinion, with the Muay Thai skills I know, I see no way in how it could be usefull...

[Paul11]

The founder was a fighter. His earlier videos show him smacking people at the begininng of his moves. Aikido can be practical, but only after practicing for a long time. After you learn balance and body mechanics it's not so much about moves and knowing where you can move next and control the opponent.
It also emphasises (some styles) softness, which are great for wrestling.

You have to be carefull because some people see it as some type of new agism and make it too soft. If I mix in kicks and punches, then it's a great combinaton.

When I taught in the states it was in a kng-fu/karate dojo. So I would take what the teacher taught and show how to defend against it in the aikido style. Mix in strikes (ok, not pure aikido) and you have a good style.

The best thing about it is you relearn body mechanics, so in a fight, when things get chaotic and you loose your coordination due to adrenaline, you will at least lower your center of gravity, keep soft, etc.

[Paul11]

Also, I found most people who came from other schools of fighting improved in that field after studying a bit of Aikido. It's great to mix.

[Tenchu]

Well, if you mix in punches and kicks then it may do better. But most dont, and would just get their ass kicked.

In reality, if you come up against a competant fighter you can expect to have to deal with about either 2 kicks per second, or 4 punches per second, or 1 kick and 2 punches, or a punch and then a knee. Stuff like this.

The main problem is Aikido practices against unrealistic punches, and the opponent often lunges into the punch. A good boxer will learn to put his weight into a punch without commiting to it. This means even if you were quick enough to grab his arm, you still have another punch coming.

I think many of the throws could work, but the style alone seems lacking. If you dont cross train it into a striking style then I dont see anyone becoming a good fighter with it.

[Paul11]

Yes, understood. But you know that we all practice exaggerated moves for practice.

Most people can't fight and most martial arts folk tend not to pick street fights. for example, most of the training for police in the states is based on Aikido and it works pretty well because most people on the street aren't muy thai masters.

lastly, I would only be kicking under two circumstances. A) Only low kicks to break a knee, or B) if I was super ass fast and strong. I've never really met someone whos kick was so strong and fast that they could kick high without the kick being nuetralized. then, well, you only have one foot on the ground.

I don't think one system is better than another. It depends on the person. Aikido just fit for me. My first teacher was a student of the founder and 82 years old when I met him. He is no longer living. When he was 82 years old and I was 27, he nearly kicked my ass.