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Informative Articles

8 Technical Aspects of the Martial Arts
In the past Japanese samurai, Mongolian horsemen, Manchu bannermen, and European knights spent a lifetime learning the highly complex art of fighting. It took many years of discipline to master the techniques of unarmed fighting and fighting...

Health is Your Greatest Asset
Health is Your Greatest Asset? By Kamau Austin If you are like many people who take the entrepreneurial plunge, you do so most successfully when you are approaching or entering into middle age. Your middle-aged years are also ironically around the...

Physical Fitness - Is Your Workout Missing Something?
Copyright 2005 Mike Adams Hiking along a rocky trail, two of the three friends carefully picked their way from rock to rock. But one leaped from rock to rock, bounding by the others like a gazelle running and leaping from rock to rock. Never...

Positive Aikido - Part One
Positive Aikido Interview with Henry Ellis by Arthur Lockyear - Fighting Arts International - Issue 93 Where and when were you born, Henry? I was born in Yorkshire, in May 1936 in a little coal mining village called Brampton, near Rotherham. A...

T'ai-Chi for the Masses--and Others...
Kuang Ping was the T'ai-chi set favored by Yang Lu-Chan, the man who brought forward the "Yang" style in the mid-1800's, now so popular throughout the world. Kuang Ping is what the man trained with himself. The popular "Yang" set was/is something...

 
Is Aikido a Martial Art ? Part Two

Part Two.

Choreography

Aikidoists are often accused of practicing " Choreographed Aikido" and to be honest I must admit that these claims are very often justified, with Uke (attacker) preparing to break fall long before he makes his attack, and most of them attack off balance , therefore making any multiples of techniques possible with the minimum of effort and of course this makes Tori (defender) look "fantastic".

What is really sad is that these people believe that this is good Aikido.
Kenshiro Abbe Sensei would always say to us that "two" students are training at the same time, one is Uke who is learning and improving his attacking techniques and his
opponent Tori is also learning and improving his defensive techniques, whilst we were training with Abbe Sensei if Uke's foot or heel came off the mat as he attacked Abbe Sensei would give the offending leg a good whack with a shinai (bamboo sword) he would then say " My English is very bad but my shinai speaks fluently!".

If Uke attacks on balance then it is obvious that Tori's technique must be good and strong to throw him, and as Abbe Sensei said so many times " two students are training" .
Mark Eastman a strong young Dan grade with me went on a seminar recently where there was a 6th Dan. The 6th Dan refused to use him as Uke stating " I can not use you as you do not harmonize with me", he was not being awkward or difficult just attacking on balance.

Diluted training

Today all of these traditional exercises and training methods have now changed to a simple warm up routine with jumping up and down on the spot and lots of deep spiritual discussion.
Hard exercise is now considered to be aggressive and not in harmony with the true spirit of Aikido.

Abbe Sensei said that hard training developed the spirit, he also referred to Ki during those early days as he demonstrated the power of his technique, when asked to explain the meaning of Ki, he said not to worry about Ki as that would be a part of our training and development.

He then said "Only when you reach first Dan will you be able to understand the true concept of Ki as a further extension of your Aikido."
I still believe that line of thought, and the instructors in our dojo's very rarely speak of Ki although it is taught as a important and integral part of our training and study.

Ki Aikido

Although Ki is generally recognized as the spirit and breathing during the application of technique, every teacher and student will offer a very wide and varied and sometimes bizarre interpretation of the meaning of this much abused word.
The main problems arise and are created by the teachers themselves, who very often mislead their students to the extent that they almost believe that Ki is a form of magic. The following is one prime example from a very prominent Aikido magazines letters section.

Title: The Spirit of Protection
I am a carpenter and 2nd kyu in Aikido. I was working in a large new home doing repair work, I had finished my job and was heading for a long staircase when I noticed the owners two year old son was heading for the same stairs from the opposite direction.
As he approached the top of the stair he was watching me and not where he was going. I was too far away to grab him, so I shot to him (irimi) and stuck my arm straight out to him, my "Ki" went through the little boys' face and out the back of his head, he fell backwards and started crying.
His mother heard the crying and came up the stairs, when I told her what had happened, she thanked me,
I said "Don't thank me, Thank Aikido".

That poor child may well now be as disturbed as the writer.

Harry Potter Ryu

There are many such misguided examples which I will refer to in future articles, it is this kind of nonsense that brings Aikidos credibility into doubt I am fully aware that every martial art has its own version of " Harry Potter" in their ranks, what I fail to understand is that there are more of them in Aikido than all the other martial arts combined.

The reason that I am so critical and vociferous about Aikido is that every day I see these people watering down this great martial art that I have spent most of my life studying, teaching and promoting for the past 46 years. I am often asked "Sensei, which do you think is the best and worst martial art".

I always make the same reply " All the martial arts are good, if there is a problem with any martial art, then it can only be the people who represent that particular art who misrepresent their art

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PART 3

The Converted

In articles parts one and two I have covered the introduction of Aikido to the West, and the impact on other Martial Artists, Aikido progressed and developed in the UK by visiting existing dojos of all the various Martial Arts and offering to demonstrate and teach for free in the hope of starting a small class in the more receptive dojos, as one can imagine this was no easy task as more often than not our efforts were not an open invitation to most dojos.
In the end the positive style of the early Aikido won through, and this is a very important point to make in the early development of Western Aikido was that most of the new students of Aikido were from other Martial Arts. I do not believe that we could have converted other Martial Artists to Aikido had it not been so strong and effective.

Kenshiro Abbe Sensei - 8th Dan Judo, 6th Dan Karate, 6th Dan Kendo, 6th Dan Aikido.

Bad breath!

I have referred to the many changes in Aikido over the past 46 years from its history to training and choreography and Ki Aikido and also the many Harry Potters of the Aikido world, as a direct result of these articles I was contacted by a Aikido student in the UK to tell me that she had now


stopped training in Aikido because her teacher stated that he was now going to teach the students "To breath through their toes".

Lets Dance

The most important of all the changes that have taken place in the past 46 years have to be the changes in technique and its application, the early style of Aikido was very compact and powerful. From the day of its introduction to the UK, Aikido was always taught as a circular moving Martial Art with Tori at the centre of all movement.
As Uke (the attacker) made his attack, Tori would turn within his own circle making it possible to carry out the technique in a very small area of maybe four square feet. Today the fantasy aikidoist need a football pitch.
I have seen some so called "masters" twirling Uke around on the end of one finger and pirouetting several times before being thrown the full length of the mat.

Harmonising

Kenshiro Abbe Sensei always taught that Uke would only "go" if the technique was effective. I often hear and have seen some of these people who say they can throw an opponent without touching them and sometimes by breathing and projecting their "Ki".
You cannot do that if someone is attacking on balance, I have never seen anyone do that to a student of mine. Of course if you do attack on balance you will then be accused of "Not harmonizing".

Aikido for real

I have read various accounts of the first Americans to practice Aikido in the early 60's. There were Americans practicing Aikido in the UK in the late 1950's at "The Hut" The Abbe School of Budo.
The Americans were members of the USAF stationed in the UK. they were always questioning " How would that work in the street?" and we would often finish up in the car park of The Hut after class and engage in some real Aikido.
Afterwards everyone would be in good spirits and have a few beers.

Sunday mornings were always the best practice sessions with the dojo doors being locked to all but the Dan grades. It was then that the Dan grades would fight each other for real. This was the only way to truly evaluate your technique.
On one occasion I was fighting with Sensei Ken Williams (The British National Coach) he hit me hard and I went down clutching my chest and moaning loudly in agony.
It was known that I didn't go down and I never made a fuss, so now everyone was concerned for me and as Sensei Williams leaned over me asking "Harry, are you OK" I lashed out with my fist at his head, just making a glancing contact, he then stepped back and kicked me in the head putting an end to my cunning.

The smallest of all the Dan grades was Eric Dollimore, he was only about 5ft-6in in height and around 130 lbs.
I always felt that Eric was avoiding me on these Sunday morning sessions, as he was about to leave the mat I said to him "Eric, would you like to try against me" he just turned and said "Sorry Harry, I have to be at my girlfriends home for lunch". As he left the mat I smiled to myself and thought "That's what I expected" the smugness did not last long as I heard a voice behind me say
"OK then Harry, can we make it quick as I must get away".
It was Eric; for a moment I was surprised then I thought to myself if you want it quick I will accommodate you.
I moved in to take him out with the one punch and the next thing I knew I had gone through the dojo office partition wall and I was still lying stunned the office floor when I heard Eric's voice call out
"See you Monday Harry, gotta go".
That was a very important lesson to me, I have never underestimated anyone since the little guy taught me a lesson.

The Grading Lottery

If in the 1950's and 60's you saw a 5th or 6th Dan you would be in awe of him. I now see so many multi grades and to be honest they would not be graded first Dan in the old days. They make these claims knowing that if they are ever challenged and prove their mettle they know they can claim that this is against the principals of Aikido.
Another favourite of these people is to juggle around with their grades and come up with multiples of matching grades, for a prime example of this abuse check out the article "British Aikido-The Controversy" on the web-site http://www.geocities.com/BritishAikido

Mitsusuke Harada Sensei "5th Dan"
Harada Sensei was my Karate teacher in the 1960's, he was then and still is a 5th Dan at the Shotokan dojo in Tokyo. he was graded by the founder of modern day Karate Gichin Funakoshi Sensei.
He taught Karate to the USAF at the Kodokan dojo after the second world war. He was graded 5th Dan by Funakoshi Sensei in 1957 and is still 5th Dan after 45 years, stating that "Any grade above 5th Dan is totally pointless".
This is exactly the feeling of Sensei Derek Eastman and myself, although we are two of the only remaining four of the original group left of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei's group from the 1950's, we both agreed that there were too many "Harry Potter" grades around, we then decided that like Harada Sensei we would make 5th Dan the highest level in our organization.



Serious study

I will take a break now that these articles are complete and do some serious "Toe breathing".
This will be my last article for CyberKwoon for a while, I would like to thank Master Fabien Sena for allowing me to air my views on a subject most would try to avoid.
I do not know what direction the Martial Arts will take when all the "Old Timers " are gone.

As one of the comments (to the Cyberkwoon site forum) said "We can still make a difference".

To the one who asked after my father, he was not a martial artist, just a hard man who started working at the age of 13 years two miles underground in the South Yorkshire coal mines.

Sensei Henry Ellis.

http://www.EllisAikido.org
http://www.geocities.com/britishaikido

About the Author

Henry Ellis Co-Author new book Positive Aikido.

 

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Content Menu
  • 2 minute fitness

  • 7 ideas to take your fitness training outside

  • 8 technical aspects of the martial arts

  • about no rules full contact fighting

  • advanced military technology in the martial arts

  • advantages of martial arts for kids

  • aikido sensei derek eastman biography part one

  • aikido the derek eastman sensei biography part four

  • aikido the derek eastman sensei biography part three

  • amazing kung fu martial arts history

  • are the martial arts still under development

  • are you combat fit

  • a gorgeous flooring for yoga and exercise tatami interlocking mats

  • a martial arts website using mind body and spirit

  • a natural bodybuilding do 769 way of life

  • before you buy that self defense product

  • black belts and good wine

  • bodybuilding sins that cause back pain and missed workouts part 2

  • british aikido board controversy

  • british aikido board national nepotism seminar

  • british aikido board national nepotism seminar 2004

  • capoeira the brazilian martial art

  • childhood obesity

  • choosing a self defense martial arts school a parents guide

  • choosing the right martial art

  • choosing the right self defense class

  • creatine is just more than a supplement

  • de mystifying fly fishing

  • diet and exercising for weight loss

  • early days of british aikido

  • eden rocks shore dives in grand cayman

  • examining martial arts styles

  • exercise personalities whats your type

  • fitness in five minutes a day

  • five things you dont and should know about stress

  • florida state university study prompts humane self defense training class

  • fun games for children training in martial arts

  • health is your greatest asset

  • herbal plasters and ointments used for pain relief

  • high energy food

  • history and fundamentals of karate

  • how to choose a martial arts school

  • how to choose a self defense product

  • how to defend against a knife dont use the stuff taught in the dojo

  • how to eat all you want and still lose weight

  • how to empower yourself with self defense

  • how to get certified in scuba diving

  • how to keep yourself fit on vacations

  • index

  • is aikido a martial art

  • is aikido a martial art part 1

  • is aikido a martial art part 2

  • is aikido a martial art part 3

  • is aikido a martial art part one

  • is aikido a martial art part three conclusion

  • is aikido a martial art part two

  • is a treadmill the right exercise equipment for you

  • jujitsu history philosophy and methods

  • karate a history

  • kendo a summary

  • kendo dojos

  • kenshiro abbe sensei 50th celebration

  • kenshiro abbe sensie 50th celebrations

  • kick your body into 2nd gear in 3 easy steps

  • kung fu history and basic principles

  • learn about krav maga israels secret martial art

  • l carnitine deficiency

  • martial arts and the bible

  • martial arts in each season nature in training

  • martial arts mind body and spirit presented online

  • martial arts webmasters time to optimize your site

  • martial training as a timeless portal

  • my top 15 non traditional muscle building fat scorching workouts

  • newest martial arts study today

  • new book positive aikido

  • oriental herbal plasters and ointments for pain relief

  • physical fitness is your workout missing something

  • pilates exercise more than just a core workout

  • positive aikido

  • positive aikido part one

  • positive aikido part two

  • positive aikido the book

  • proprioceptive training a key to sports success

  • reasons to join a martial arts class

  • rebounding to better health

  • reflex speed for tennis martial arts basketball

  • rotator

  • safety awareness self defense circle of safety

  • scuba dive the florida keys

  • scuba diving at grand cayman islands stingray city

  • self protective strategies yield positive outcome

  • strategy as applied to warrior citizens

  • stress elimination

  • tae kwon do is great for all ages

  • tai chi for the masses and others

  • targeting your balance for better workouts

  • tatami flooring for yoga martial arts and judo schools

  • tennis humor the gift of making people laugh at the game of tennis

  • the 7 keys to martial arts speed

  • the aikido biography of sensei henry ellis

  • the aikido biography of sensei henry ellis 5th dan

  • the bao way offer fitness and self defense

  • the benefits of martial arts training

  • the best long running las vegas shows

  • the best martial art

  • the biography of sensei derek eastman part 1 of 2

  • the biography of sensei derek eastman part 2 of 2

  • the british aikido board national nepotism seminar

  • the degradation of fitness science one example

  • the difference between karate and tae kwon do

  • the great british aikido controversy

  • the history of darts

  • the history of kali and escrima

  • the kenshiro abbe 50th celebrations

  • the kenshiro abbe 50th celebration event

  • the martial arts and self defense emotional response and reaction

  • the origins of ti chi

  • the plight of industrialized man

  • the reality factor

  • the relationship between yoga meditation and self hypnosis

  • the secrets of martial arts exposed

  • the spread of submission fighting techniques

  • training traditional martial arts

  • traveling with scuba dive gear and equipment

  • weight loss customize personalize spice up

  • what are board shorts the new bermudas

  • what are hard style and soft style martial arts

  • what the heck is an exercise modality and why should i care

  • where to get your martial arts and self defense equipment

  • which boxing gloves will you buy

  • women in the martial arts

  • yoga teachers prepare for the new years rush part 1

  • yoga teachers prepare for the new years rush part 3

  • your first chair yoga class in a senior center

  • youth sports goal settings

  • you have to try this workout