hi there..any 1 here taking aikido..seen threads on other martial art..but not 1 for only aikido.

Seidokan Aikido here (stopped temporarily to study)
Heavily influenced by Shibukawa Gouki to get into this

What about you?

Wow... really quite in here. lol

4th Kyu, Aikido Yoshinkan Shudokan Malaysia.

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Added on August 1, 2008, 5:10 pmJoe Thambu sensei, 7th Dan Aikido Shudokan had arrived in Malaysia to conduct some seminar.

His latest youtube




The demo which he won in 2005 for the Tokubetsu Embu Sho or Demonstration Special Award.




Aikido Shudokan Chief Instructor, Ramlan Ahmed Sensei, 4th Dan

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Added on August 1, 2008, 5:11 pm

An Insight into the way of Yoshinkan Aikido... it talks about what's a yoshinkan aikido is all about... Joe Thambu sensei is the one who throwing people.

If its not because of the slightly blurry video, I could've sworn Joe-sensei looks like Barack Obama

Kinda cool that he's coming down to Malaysia to give the seminar, saw it from this post --> http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=18456974

Yeah I trained under Shudokan in Nottingham and I was surprised with its Malaysian affiliation considering that Aikido isn't very big. Master Thamby and Joe-sensei are amazing Aikido practitioners.

Although I'm from Aikikai, learnt a lot of things from the Shudokan and had a good experience with them. Some of Yoshinkan's/Shudokan's moves were more suitable for someone of my height since they were more direct.

Appreciate their efforts to promote Aikido in Malaysia.

Prior to our chat in the PM, here are my questions if you don't mind:

1. How would to stop getting dizzy during the rolling practice? I see my sensei and seniors had practice together with me, but they don't 'look' dizzy (maybe they just try to control themselves infront of their juniors, I dunno ), but I just wonder.

2. Are each moves in aikido taught in Malaysia, are translated into English (or Malay), or were they taught in their Japanese terms? - to which during the test, the sensei will call out an aikido move for you to perform, so I was just wondering about the language of the moves in Malaysia that the students have to memorize. I understood that as a practitioner, we should embodied the moves within ourselves so that during real-life situation, we are able to perform any aikido moves without hesitation, but just wondering about the test.

1) Well I don't know I never felt dizzy during rolling practice. Maybe because it's not spinning around like a ballerina but a forward kind of roll so it doesn't affect the brain much? Do you feel dizzy? I actually get a 'high' if I do hard ukemis over and over.

2) In the dojo which I train, it's all called out in Japanese. I am unsure about other dojos but I would think they would be in Japanese too since it's not that difficult to learn anyway . Of course I guess each dojo has its own style but if you think of it, shiho nage is a lot easier to say than 'four direction throw' and kaiten nage instead of 'rotary throw'. Guess it's also more authentic? But to be honest doesn't really matter to me but it's just convenient if you learn it in Japanese since you can use it in any dojo and they should understand what you are talking about.

Anyway little vid of me demoing at Swinburne. I'm the guy in the hakama.
Was a bit sloppy as I was rather nervous.

Before this session was a much gentler session to show how Aikido is thought in class and how it's a gentler martial art but this segment was more for the eyecandy and to say to those non-believers that Aikido can be effective and practical. As we all know...Aikido looks damn fake to the uninitiated.



In answer to your question about not 'thinking about the moves':

As a practitioner, you're right, the moves should come as a reflex without you thinking what move to use next. I still haven't quite reached that stage yet...getting there . i tend to have a few favorite moves that I stick with which I sometimes choose instead of one which is more appropriate to the situation.

Another related point is this:

What I just RECENTLY learned is that you need to just keep on practicing those techniques till they really become just second nature to you and even though it may seem boring, you have to learn it to the point where you don't think about it anymore. So actually even when it's boring, you're developing a very important part of your Aikido. As only once the technique is mastered to a certain level and you find it not as challenging anymore, can you move on to the next plateau. A lot of people don't realize that and just say damn I am not progressing anymore when actually they're just committing those moves to muscle memory so that you don't have to think anymore. I think that's a lesson that should be emphasized more in Aikido classes so that people don't just quit when they think they aren't learning anything new.

actually..they are about the same..if u actually progress to higher kyu's your steps are more direct, one thing i learn bout aikido is to know how to off balance ur opponent. n yes it may be abit different if ur big/small in size..im small n there are slight difference in certain ways i move..but tats something ull learn to adapt or change as u train along



1. if ur getting dizzy..could be 2 reasons..1 ur doing it wrong. 2..low blood pressure or high?
or u can try doing it slowly...n then only slowly progressing to faster ukemi...my 2 cents la..im no master but just try n see which suits u

2. hmm not too sure wat u mean..but im guessing...this..

we are taught the terms in japanese..or atleast we use it ..but at the same time we do understand wat the words means in english..it may not be 100% accurate..cos its like translating chinese to english..the words may not always be the perfect fit.

like irimi - enter..irimi nage - enter throw? cos nage means throw..then again theres uke n nage..which im not too sure hows tat nage spelled.

It was quite different for me since Aikikai's focus is on dynamism and really utilizing the momentum. Yoshinkan seems more of unbalancing the opponent using a surgical application of force at their weak moment. One emphasizes flow more (Yoshinkan also promotes flow though) and using momentum but Yoshinkan's directness makes it easier to apply in real life situations where not all attacks are full blown with full force in it.

Also Yoshinkan/Shudokan leg power is quite different than Aikikai's. There's a lot of emphasis on leg stability and strong legs to burst forward. I think Gozo Shioda placed a lot of emphasis on this and the power of the 'big toe'. I personally found this quite difficult to come to grips with after reaching dan level in Aikikai. Having to start from scratch in Shudokan as a white belt was a very enlightening experience as it taught me different ways on how to approach it. I hope it was interesting for them too as often they also found other effective ways of moving. I think a lot of the time, mixing with other dojos and styles is important to broaden our scope. Especially since we are from Malaysia, our pool of Aikidoka is quite small and tend to be trained similarly.

Sure of course they are 'similar' but there are some conceptual differences. The way the body is always straight on full body straight. The extended hands and the strong forward movement.

Btw not saying that any is better ;P as i said I really enjoyed both a lot. though I think I forgot how to do kihon dosa.

oh i think i should rephase wat i meant...i mean or i think hes saying that its more direct cos he felt like there were extra steps before completing a move/technique..wat i was emphasizing is that when ur reach a certain level ur "flow" would be alot smoother and techniques like er...shiho nage would be alot more direct compared to when training n maybe broken into 3 steps..depending on dojo n sensei.

ofcourse this is just my thoughts im not shodan or anyting

Cool videos, bro When the audience was ooh and ahh and laughed, I really felt like I was there in the class too
Good sensei

Thanks for the tips too; I agree with you on several points.
Out of all the practices, I too favor several moves myself.

Practice will always makes perfect, I've read a few notes here and there last time of others experience, some whom had been attacked by a car jacker had taken him down just as easy as he is taking down a beginner in aikido I find that pretty inspiring

Oh yah you meant direct as in like there's no step step step and break in the 'flow'. ya like shiho nage ;P

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Added on August 3, 2008, 11:36 pm

Aiya i not sensei yet far from it I just teach when the other instructor is busy

The little kids I teach sometimes go 'TEACHER TEACHER' which is kinda meh. makes me feel damn old.

Yeah I defended myself once too in Subang Jaya while coming back from a cybercafe at 1-2 AM like that. That time I was skinny boi wearing slippers, bad posture, lousy t-shirt for sure kena targeted by drug addict :/

That was a funny experience really. Cause he pointed a knife at my chest and i did koto gaeshi but i got him in a yonkyo lock at the end and i was like WHAT TODO WHAT TO DO...
cause i really couldn't leave him there or else he'll come and get me and he was squirming and screaming and trying to get out of the lock which I wasn't sure would hold. I was screaming myself too cause I was so shocked at what I did.

So I just went all the way heard something pop. Kicked him a few times in the ribs to make sure he won't follow me and ran away like a girl.

So uhm yea. not pretty but hey lol maybe I should have given him the money since there was only RM20 in my pocket

i see ur kota gashi..however its spelled..is a lil diff..u bring the opponent to the ground before you tekkan..man i just realise i duno to spell these terms ive been saying out.haha

anyways back to my point...its diff..and nice..learn a new variation today ..thanks for the vid.anymore?

Ya I find it a bit easier to do without the tenkan as it's more direct and since i'm tall can use my body weight to shift it though I have been working on the tenkan variation lately.

Recently a NZ guy came to join our dojo and his techniques again were pretty different! Pretty nice to see really.

No more vids atm. Usually a bit self conscious about my vids as I cringe sometimes when I see myself lol. I'll post more as they come along.

Hi,

any aikidoka here from JB?

I've been practicing yoshinkan for almost 7 years now in JB. Do any of you guys know any other dojo here other than City Square??

woots. dropping by to say hello. I'll assume I am the junior here so GO AIKIDO! Never shouted that before, must try it once in my life.

Since all of you re talking about techniques, I'll start the ukemi part. I WANT TO BREAKFALL LIKE CHRISTIAN TISSIER'S STUDENTS!!!

breakfall..can learn from judo vids as well..some dojo's got some pretty flashy ways of break falling

is the aikido dojo at jalan gasing still there?

so miss my aikido trainings... will be going back this month to prepare for my 3rd kyu grading...

1. it's all about experience, seniors had been learning ukemi since they started their training. Through out the trainings, their body will be starting to get used to rolls and flips, this is a must when you start doing jiyuwaza.

2. hmm.. it doesn't directly translated into English. But the pronounce of the japanese term is. Like 片手持ち四方投げ(一), we will pronounce or write it as "Katate Mochi Shihonage ichi" but not "Single Hand Grappling Four Direction Throw 1st Technique" in my dojo's syllabus. This is one of the way they teaches aikido term and also japanese words in Malaysia. Keeping the originality of the technique name and easier to pronounce and memorize. In time to time, seniors will teach juniors how to memorize the words and moves.

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Added on October 6, 2008, 6:29 pm

Yes, Yoshinkan Aikido Malaysia Jalan Gasing is there.

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Added on October 6, 2008, 6:33 pm

lol.... why don't you try and be Takeno Takafumi sensei's uke.. i think that's a lot more fun (or pain? ) than Christian Tissier sensei.

Aikido seems cool, using gentle art to diffuse and disable the opponent effectively.

Correct me if i'm wrong but aikido seems to be only applied during counter attack movements, and the demonstration always shows the attacker swinging in big motions, leaving his limb extended. This puts him in a position to be easily submitted.

Are there moves that can be used against attackers who keep their hands close to their body?
It will seem as if the aikido practitioner is initiating the attack, instead of during counter attack.

Cheers

Why wanna attack someone if someone doesn't attack you? lol..

The basic rule in Aikido is to harmonize with the offenders. If a person doesn't attack you, you just stand there and do nothing with him~
If a person start to attack, you just perform the technique in order to counter him, lock him, pin him down, in a harmonizing way. This is also a way to train your patience. Basically, Aikidoka will only move when the offender move.

Extending the limbs when falling you mean? hmm... it's hard to describe it, but when someone is flipping or spinning in the air, can they control their body? for those who specially trained maybe can la.. but for those who are not.. i think it's quite hard.

As in he throws a punch, leaving his elbow extended for a relative long period of time. Which exposes him to the elbow lock.
If he didn't extend his limbs too much, then it would be hard to lock him wont it?





Example if the offenders are holding a weapon, i would think the wise thing if choosing to fight, is to disarm then ASAP instead of waiting for a strike.
A good defense is a good offense sometimes.

Improvise, not only aikido but almost all martial art involve on timing, rhythm, and distance. for example if an attacker doesnt extend his arm, then it must be in a curve state, you can do other techniques from there as well.

That's why aikido need to constantly changed partners to train in order to get the different feeling for different type of people, and know what the effective way to do your techniques.

The timing to catch really need practice, need to know when to move, where to move, control the flow and the split second moment to "do" a lock...unlike punching you just need to hit at the correct place within your reach.

I just started aikido about a year ago and still a 5th kyuu.

I've tried aikido in sg for a like a month. I stop aikido because i was migrating from singapore to malaysia. It was quite fun but i hate the part where you need to roll till the end of the wall and back. I think i'm doing it wrongly because i always feel a lil giddy after every roll.

i would also say..that aikido isnt all defence..we do attack...sure when we practice, katatetori..we let ppl grab our hands..but we dun just leave our hands there rite? or lead the opponent thinking tat we attack..n reflects would usually tell a person to back off or grab or do something..just an example la..i wouldnt agree aikido is just plain defence.

just my 2 cents

Aikido is interesting but does it translate to practical applications in real life? Just asking since I don't feel it do. You might be better off learning something practical.

Aikido is almost similar to Judo. They also have atemi (stike to the body), thou both Aikido and Judo remove the harmful element for Jujitsu and atemi is not in the syllabus, it is still being taught in class for real life situation, but you would need to ask the sensei to it show you. The Japanase are not teaching their police force Judo for nothing.

For me, I'm also learning other martial art other than aikido, and aikido really helps a lots. The flow, the discipline, the timing, the steps and the roll (if you knew how to fall, man its a saver). I can see the fruits of my aikido training benefits and complement very well in my other trainings. Very.

I've seen and heard a lots of people says aikido is easy , just side stepping and go grap the arm, boring cause the movement is like dancing, but I believe they can say those cause they just "seen" and not yet "tasted" it. I bet they wont think the same after if their complete first grading. Many of my other martial arts friends very interested in joining in but the $$$$ to join is "pain" as well, keep them back from jumping in, and time isn't being friendly with all.

Try search the net for "Nishio Aikido", a very good video to get understanding in aikido before spending real money on the thing. A good video for aikido practitioner as well.

maybe u can try attacking the malaysian police ?they learn aikido too then tell them its not practical if u manage to be standing before them

the malaysian police can fight?

Police not only learn Aikido, they learn other martial arts too.
M'sia police learn Aikido ? are u sure? or you mean Jpn police force ?

I've sparred with a friend who took Aikido. I was learning Karate then and he too but we decided to spar with me using Karate and he using Aikido. I managed to tag him most of the time with straight punches and combos, and although he managed to slip away a couple of times, he totally failed to catch & throw me.

I have no experience in Aikido but I find that generally martial arts that emphasis full contact sparring like Muay Thai are definitely effective. The winners of all the past Ultimate Warrior here are Muay Thai experts.

Also, I knew few Aikidokas who took BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu), an art that specialises in ground fighting who never went back to Aikido.

Read his interesting transition from Aikido to BJJ/MMA: http://ohmigoshumeanitsonly9inches.blogspo.../10/year-2.html

I know my seniors came from other martial arts and currently sits on aikido and I also know couple of my friends changing Aikido to other martial arts. I myself is still learning few other martial arts. Changing / leaping / learning different style is not outside of the norm.

i think most ppl here hav the misconception tat if u learn tat art..ur great or watever..its not the art tat really makes u who u are..but the person...every 1 goes to school..but not every is a scholar..if u learn aikido..u dun practise..i dun do nuts..u expect urself to be able to defend urself?

we all think differently and we all need to discipline ourself...tats the most important thing here..i was talking to some chinese kung fu sifu's last nite..and they brought up a very good point which im gonna share...

a direct translation from his chinese saying.."kung fu cannot be passed down from master to student" which then didnt really made sense..reason to this..

"if i were to tell you, i can pass down my kung fu or best moves to you.thats a lie...kung fu is ever changing..different times different situation it changes.nothing is the same. but theres one thing i can pass down to you..cough,flu and fever.."

i laughed out when i heard this..which is so damn true..so ..tho this is not anything related to aikido..but its true..no matter wat art u learn...its not gonna be good if u dun practise n build it up urself..and not rely only on whats being taught.

and to add to this..we learn certain martial arts because we feel it suits us..im not very big size nor am i very physically strong..so maybe i should learn an art tat is not tat demanding in physical strength?maybe karate isnt for me..maybe tai chi?wing chun?aikido?or judo?its really self preference..n theres no best martial art..

how did bruce lee die?how did branded lee die?martial art didnt manage to save them as well..but it probably got them out of most hostile situation

ATEMI.... that's all i'm going to say

Try join some self defence seminar which based on aiki concept. After that just think again if it is practical or not.
but it wont come in cheap

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Added on November 3, 2008, 11:05 am

On the early stage, i hate it too. But after half year i've trained i starting to enjoy it and now i love it. lol

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Added on November 3, 2008, 11:16 am

For me, i wont be sparring with frens if he do not know how to fall correctly. cos scare later fren hit the ground i would be in big problem. lol.. Aikido not just about grappling, controlling the opponent movement flow and unbalance the opponent body center line is the key. I only will spar if fren let me do all my stuff on him and know how to fall safely.

Maybe Aikido is useful, but I won't really know unless I take a class. Point taken and thanks for the advice.



Since when Malaysian police learn aikido? Source please. Even if they learn Aikido, they won't just learn Aikido alone right? They definitely learn other martial arts as well.



Damn straight bro. I am doing Muay Thai and Boxing now and they are challenging and tough. Maybe I will learn BJJ next year as I want to improve my standup first.



Lol, you will only spar with a fren if he let you do all your stuff to him? Mate, real fighting doesn't work that way. No one will let another person to completely dominate them. I am not bragging but if you are fighting me, I am sure as hell ain't gonna let you dominate me or even hold me down. Even if you manage to hold me, I really don't think I will let you push me around.

If the person doesn't attack, you can fish him. You make the move first, pretending to attack to make the contact. Upon contact, you can start your move and execution. This is what you call Fishing in Tai Chi Martial Art.




It takes many many years for someone to become real good at Aikido and use it in actual combat. Yoshinkan school is more practical than Akikai.
A newbie doesn't represent Aikido. What a newbie has learnt is very limited. Even 5 years of Aikido is nothing. That's the problem with soft art. It needs decades to become expert like Tai Chi, Hsing I, I Chuan and Ba Gua.

You're da man. Glad you found ur place in MT, awesome art. I'm doing MMA now, and I've trained a couple of times with Adam Kayoom, the WPMF World Champ, one heckuva fighter.

You see guys, I'm not saying Aikido or <fill in the blank> doesn't work or is not practical. I'm saying HOW you train is important.

Any MA that do only "cooperative training" with complying partners using pre-set movements are less effective that MAs which emphasis training with moving resisting opponents that fights back ala sparring. In fact, full contact sparring not only improve your skills but also your stamina, timing, balance and mental toughness.

To illustrate my point, please see this video:



This is just my 2c, just IMHO. I dun mean to upset anyone here, esp all the Aikidokas. Some of my pals in the gym are BB Aikidokas. I'm just sharing my past experience compare to what I'm doing now (a mix of standup, clinch and ground).