Green Tea Forum

HerbalTeaGifts · Uh, Can I Add Sugar? Joined: 20 Apr 2007 Posts: 3

I guess this could go in this section.
I have been training in Tae Kwon Do for about a year and I was considering learning the very beautiful art of Aikido.
Anyone have an experience?

Oh and Hi...i'm new here. Very Happy

Kevangogh · Forum God Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 926 Location: Japan

I think it's the best one to learn, honestly. There is no teacher in this small city I live unfortunately or I would be doing it.

HerbalTeaGifts · Uh, Can I Add Sugar? Joined: 20 Apr 2007 Posts: 3

I think it's a very beautiful art to learn. I'm still undecided about it. The only reason why I haven't made a move to pursue it is because of time constraints due to my work schedule.
The teacher that works in my area teaches what you could say falls into a middle road in aikido. It's not the teethy, blood and guts form that Tokyo police learn, but it's also not the non-violent form either.
He mixes a few striking strategies in with the non-harmful take downs.
So, you still learn the gracefulness, but if you ever have to really let someone know it's time to back off, than you can do that too.

RichardThrower · Uh, Can I Add Sugar? Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 10

It sounds very similar to style of Jui Jitsu I study- not too hard, not too soft, but just right. hahaha

Karen · Black Belt Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 123

I'm ranked "shodan" (first-level black belt) in both aikido (Tomiki style) and ju-jitsu, although I haven't played in years. My sensei's wife--an outrageous "aikidoka" in her own right--once said to me "you can become too old for judo, but for aikido, your body will never betray you." I've never forgotten that and I couldn't agree more. It's a beautiful art and very fulfilling to practice but in my experience, one has to click with a style and a sensei. The only way to do this is to do some research and then give it a shot.
BTW, some styles of aikido are rougher than others.