The student and the tatami –
just one view among many.
'Hey, you haven't got any mats down.'
No, tonight we are practising weapons techniques, if it involves a throw we control to point of balance. It's quite simple. When their balance is taken they are no longer a threat.
'I can't train without mats.'
Why not? Why must you have mats?
'So we don't get hurt when we are thrown.'
Why do you have to be thrown? Aren't some of the techniques locks, even kotegaeshi can be used as a gently applied lock, it doesn't have to involve a throw and a high fall.
'You've only got to watch Aikido on u tube and you can see you need mats. . . otherwise the uke would be hurt due to the power of the throw.'
So, why does Aikido require such hard throws? Isn't it good enough to harmonise, take uke's balance and gently place them in a position where they realise attack is futile?
'It's good fun to be thrown on the mat, gets the adrenalin going; makes you feel good.'
And how old are you now, do you think you will think the same when you are in your fifties, sixties, seventies? Or is Aikido only for young, fit and able people?
'We don't have any old people in our dojo so that doesn't apply, it's not for wimps; it's a martial art.'
Aha, a martial art? So what was the prime ethos of the founder then?
'Who?'
The founder of Aikido the one we call O-Sensei and bow to at the beginning of class.
'Ah, yes, move out of the way, take control and apply technique until they tap to surrender.'
So it wasn't this then?
"Aikido is not a technique to fight with or defeat the enemy. It is the way to reconcile the world and make human beings one family. " Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido.
Can't you do that without mats?
Written by some old chap who has taught weapons for over 5 years in a hall without mats.
just one view among many.
'Hey, you haven't got any mats down.'
No, tonight we are practising weapons techniques, if it involves a throw we control to point of balance. It's quite simple. When their balance is taken they are no longer a threat.
'I can't train without mats.'
Why not? Why must you have mats?
'So we don't get hurt when we are thrown.'
Why do you have to be thrown? Aren't some of the techniques locks, even kotegaeshi can be used as a gently applied lock, it doesn't have to involve a throw and a high fall.
'You've only got to watch Aikido on u tube and you can see you need mats. . . otherwise the uke would be hurt due to the power of the throw.'
So, why does Aikido require such hard throws? Isn't it good enough to harmonise, take uke's balance and gently place them in a position where they realise attack is futile?
'It's good fun to be thrown on the mat, gets the adrenalin going; makes you feel good.'
And how old are you now, do you think you will think the same when you are in your fifties, sixties, seventies? Or is Aikido only for young, fit and able people?
'We don't have any old people in our dojo so that doesn't apply, it's not for wimps; it's a martial art.'
Aha, a martial art? So what was the prime ethos of the founder then?
'Who?'
The founder of Aikido the one we call O-Sensei and bow to at the beginning of class.
'Ah, yes, move out of the way, take control and apply technique until they tap to surrender.'
So it wasn't this then?
"Aikido is not a technique to fight with or defeat the enemy. It is the way to reconcile the world and make human beings one family. " Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido.
Can't you do that without mats?
Written by some old chap who has taught weapons for over 5 years in a hall without mats.