Questions tagged [aikido]

A Japanese martial art that focuses on using an enemy’s energy to either throw or pin them using natural movements, posture, and movement.

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9 votes
4 answers
2k views

What's the real difference between Ikkyo omote and Nikkyo omote?

In some variations, such as kata tori and gyaku hamni katatedori, ikkyo and nikkyo techniques are very similar, except for the ending pin. What is then, the real difference between, say, kata tori ...
2 votes
2 answers
163 views

When bringing an opponent to kuzushi from a wrist/arm manipulation technique can all 8 points of balance be used?

According to Judo textbooks and diagrams there are 8 points of balance that can be used to topple an opponent/bring an opponent to kuzushi. When Aikido practitioners talk about kuzushi (which not all ...
11 votes
4 answers
1k views

Where can I find or how can I make a tailored white dogi for women?

Does anyone know of a good supplier of white dogi for either aikido or judo that are tailored to women? If not, does anyone know of homemade modifications that can be made to a "male" dogi to make ...
2 votes
0 answers
62 views

Most reliable/effective finger locks?

Jujutsu, Chin-na, and Aikido all have excellent finger locks. Which are the most effective? What are most reliable finger locks? Also interested in pinky locks specifically b/c that's the weakest ...
2 votes
0 answers
83 views

Was Gozo Shioda influenced by Kimura & Oyama?

I ask because my understanding is that Shioda's Yoshinkan school of Aikido was considered controversial in that it recognized the brutality of combat, when one is fighting for one's life, and ...
14 votes
10 answers
7k views

Why doesn't aikido have kicking techniques?

Aikido training does not have kicks. They have of course one-two techniques to avoid and lock kicks, but do not have any. They have strike techniques called "atemi", but did not use kicks in general, ...
20 votes
6 answers
16k views

Getting more comfortable sitting in 正座 (seiza)

We often end up sitting in 正座 (seiza) for some time during class. This is much longer during demonstrations and gradings. In addition, a whole corpus of techniques (suwari waza, ghosin no kata) do ...
5 votes
1 answer
258 views

kumitachi, hasso-no-kamae, and hand positions

I was under the impression that in hasso-no-kamae, the sword should be forward of the face, facing the right shoulder. I cannot remember who taught me this. However, Sakai-sensei has his sword ...
10 votes
3 answers
2k views

Fall Differences between Jujitsu, Aikido, and Judo

I just started learning Japanese Jujitsu and the techniques for falling are different than Judo and more similar to Aikido. When I learned to do a front or side fall through my previous martial arts ...
9 votes
7 answers
3k views

Does Krav Maga have any roots in Aikido?

Looking at this video, it seems that Krav Maga has a lot in common with Aikido, suprisingly! A lot of the techniques demonstrated here seem to be from Aikido, and also, the keikogi is almost identical....
6 votes
1 answer
287 views

Does anyone know a good source of information about Sambo on the web?

I've seen some videos of Sambo, but I've never seen real practice. I've practiced some Aikido and BJJ. It looks like Sambo has some ground elements that might be similar to Jiu-Jitsu and some ...
12 votes
6 answers
20k views

Have you seen a fight between *top* Judo and Aikido practitioners?

First of all, no disrespect to anyone. I am not trying to get into a discussion of which art is better/faster/more effective/etc... I get that the quality of the fighter is more important than the ...
7 votes
2 answers
401 views

Etymology and meaning of ukemi

I believe that ukemi can be translated as receiving body (受け身). It is what uke (受け, whoever receives the technique) does when nage (投げ thrower) or tori (取り, grabber) applies a technique. Am I correct ...
4 votes
1 answer
5k views

Are there any differences between karategi, judogi, and aikidogi?

I want to buy aikidogi but I'm not sure whether judogi and karategi can also be used. Are there any differences between karategi, judogi, and aikidogi?
4 votes
4 answers
982 views

I've seen it repeated several times now that both Aikido and Hapkido have many thousands of techniques, is it true?

By "many thousands" I mean 10,000. Wikipedia says the same, though likely is using some other source for that number. It specifically calls them "nameable techniques". I assume that there is a naming ...
2 votes
0 answers
136 views

Shuriken in Aikido

During the Hell Dojo times of Ueshiba, he was known to teach shuriken throwing. After a famous incident, this stopped. Is there any records of how this was taught? What style of shuriken was thrown? ...
5 votes
1 answer
398 views

How to do Shomen Ate?

Let's build a video reference library of aikido techniques. Please post: A (link to a ) video clip of someone doing shomen ate. Your description of the essential features of the technique. What ...
3 votes
1 answer
315 views

Japanese Short Sword Kata

I want to practice a sword kata indoors. I have a bokken, but my ceiling is too low for me to use it indoors. Because of this, I am considering acquiring a wakizashi bo. From this point, I see two ...
11 votes
3 answers
1k views

Finding the forearm pressure point in Aikido's yonkyo grip?

I'm having a bit of trouble trying to find the pressure point on the forearm with which to do yonkyo. Does anyone have any tips on how to find the right spot? I understand yonkyo doesn't necessarily ...
5 votes
5 answers
1k views

How to escape from a sankyo grip?

As can be seen here in this video, it seems impossible to escape from the sankyo grip. Is there a way to escape from it (including self defense options)?
6 votes
6 answers
2k views

Aikido seiza: Why is the left toe placed over the right toe?

A student asked the Aikido master the reason behind keeping the left toe over the right toe when sitting, and he told her "I honestly don't know". He later said that one reason might be because of how ...
9 votes
7 answers
3k views

Video evidence of Aikido applied against a resisting non-aikidoka?

Can anyone produce video evidence of Aikido being used effectively against a resisting opponent who is not an Aikidoka? Qualifications: Must display classical Aikido technique (Kote Gaeshi, Ikkyo, ...
13 votes
8 answers
33k views

Are there any benefits to Sitting Seiza?

One characteristic exercises from when I studied Aikido was sitting seiza for periods of time, either for a short while between exercises/while watching or as part of an exercise where, sometimes, a ...
1 vote
2 answers
432 views

Collection of O.Ratti Aikido illustrations?

Does anyone where there is a collection of Oscar Ratti's Aikido drawings? Most notably those in "Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere". I find them piecemeal all over the internet for pretty much any kind ...
0 votes
2 answers
2k views

Which pressure points are easy reachable for attack?

What I do know about pressure points are some points of body where vital attack could break the nerve system and make human less conscious about surrounding. but most of them are very behind of ...
3 votes
2 answers
373 views

First fictional film to show Aikido

I was wondering what was the first fictional film to show more than one Aikido technique1. I am assuming that the 1988 Above The Law might be it but it there might be something else. 1 Let's assume ...
4 votes
2 answers
281 views

Aikido demonstration with master(s) as uke

Having watched many aikido demonstrations on YouTube, I have noticed that many high-rank aikidoka perform the demo with a lower rank uke. I have never seen, for example, a pair of Susumu Chino sensei ...
4 votes
3 answers
6k views

What is misogi?

I have heard the word Misogi (禊) during Aikido, and read it on books. Says that aikido is one thing, but also that misogi is the "extra training" in order to make aikido really works in a real ...
2 votes
2 answers
280 views

standing and crouching posture name in Aikido

I'm trying to remember the specific Japanese name of a common posture/stretch I used and heard of in Aikido during training and warming-up. Basically it was called by our sensei "standing and ...
11 votes
1 answer
761 views

Benefits of training with suwari waza

I'm curious about the purpose of suwari-waza practice, the Aikido technique sometimes described as "knee walking", although I'm aware that the two are different. I know some styles like Hapkido and ...
4 votes
5 answers
549 views

Apply Falling Technique in Real Situation

I have been learning Hapkido (and also Judo, Aikido, and some other similiar arts) for around 4 ~ 5 months now and one of it curriculum is falling technique (낙법 / nakbeob) that we studied so when we ...
14 votes
9 answers
17k views

What are the main uses of aikido in self-defense?

So what are the main, real life purposes of aikido that work? Anything specific? Short range? Long range? blocking? striking? etc? What are the most likely times one would probably use it?
2 votes
2 answers
2k views

What is the difference between "Real Aikido" and traditional aikido?

"Real Aikido" is a Serbian martial art founded by Ljubomir Vračarević originating from traditional aikido. I have been training traditional aikido for 4 years and trained aikido with aikidokas who ...
2 votes
1 answer
201 views

Name this technique against Chudan tsuki ('knife' to the abdomen)

I'm trying to remember the name of a technique, if it even had one, and would welcome suggestions. Uke and Tori stand facing each other, stance is unimportant. Uke attacks Tori with a tanto; its a ...
8 votes
4 answers
8k views

Bokken and Jo Kata book

When I did Aikido, several years ago, my teacher knew a lot of bokken and jo katas and other three or four combinations moves (small kata) for bokken and jo that I don't know how to call. The number ...
6 votes
2 answers
690 views

Would aikido high feather falls work in judo?

By the title one should notice there is a distinct way to fall in Aikido. In judo & most karate like styles i have never seen these types of falls. In most Japanese like systems the ukemii is ...
7 votes
2 answers
679 views

Explanation of the goshin-ho kata…

The goshin-ho is a set of 50 self defence techniques that are part of the curriculum for 四段 (4th dan), 五段 (5th dan), and 六段 (6th dan). The start can be seen here and the middle here… I am looking for ...
8 votes
2 answers
280 views

Did Ueshiba successfully explain his aikido knowledge to his students?

Original Question This is an excerpt of an interview with Takako Kunigoshi, a direct student of Ueshiba, in THelper's answer to Who were the first female aikidoka?. Editor: During Ueshiba Sensei’s ...
12 votes
1 answer
559 views

Who were the first female aikidoka?

When did the first women start training in Aikido? Who were they and where did they train? Who was the first female aikidoka to achieve teaching rank?
4 votes
2 answers
142 views

Aikido locks/throws while wearing ken in the obi

In some Aikido styles (I have seen this only from people who trained with Tamura, like Suga sensei, but maybe other schools do the same) there is a whole series of techniques where Tori slips the ken ...
2 votes
1 answer
59 views

Can Zenpou hiyaku ukemi be used to replace Zenpou kaiten ukemi?

I want to know whether it is possible to always use Zenpou hiyaku ukemi instead of Zenpou kaiten ukemi?
5 votes
0 answers
814 views

Accuracy and historical veracity of goshi-no-kata knife attack: Yakuza link?

In the Shodokan Aikido goshin-no-kata, there is a technique (the 24th one) where uke's steps with the tanto in both hands and draws it. Tori grabs uke's left hand and executes a tenkai-kote-hineri. ...
9 votes
2 answers
821 views

Aikido - working with difficult uke

I'm a short guy been doing aikikai aikido for a few years now and still have a few problems when practicing on bigger folk. For example, when practicing sankyo from a shomenuchi attack, there's a ...
17 votes
2 answers
2k views

Are Aikido joint locks harmful to children?

Note that this question is a mirror of this one on skeptics.se. Due to the lack of answers at the time of writing, I thought here might be a good place to seek more. Feel free to answer in either. ...
2 votes
1 answer
342 views

Why do we train martial arts? [closed]

I've been doing some serious thinking on WHY I am doing martial arts. I can't get it out of my mind and that's all I've been thinking about. This all happened after a trip to Japan and Australia with ...
4 votes
3 answers
520 views

Shodokan or Tomiki Aikido, which is the proper name for the style and organization?

I'm not a student of it, but occasionally the style's namesake comes up, sometimes referred to as "Shodokan Aikido", and other times "Tomiki Aikido". I don't know which is correct, and I believe it ...
-5 votes
1 answer
349 views

Considering domestic violence, what does Tae Kwon Do teach its practitioners in order for them to protect their loved ones? [closed]

I recently read a comment where the author said he did Tae Kwon Do for self defence and to protect his loved ones. How does Tae Kwon Do, do this? The World Health Organization estimates a third of ...
6 votes
4 answers
1k views

Benefits of training in a hakama…

1 In Shodokan Aikido, we do not train with a hakama whether a yudansha (first degree black belt or above) or not. Mostly, this is for safety during randori-ho (free play) training: one less thing to ...
3 votes
2 answers
425 views

Can Iaido help one's Aikido?

I practice Aikido Iwama Ryu which has a strong weapons emphasis. I often have trouble centering as I get too tense and I suppose I try too hard. Anyway I love weapons and was wondering if Iaido can ...
5 votes
3 answers
386 views

Origins of the ura-waza

The ura-waza (as shown in this video) is a set of ten counters to the basic seventeen techniques of Shodokan Aikido. Those are shown in the first part of the video. While I know the technical details ...