Anyone here take Aikido?

[Ninja Geoff]

Or know someone who does? They like it? I've been thinking of taking it up at a local dojo. $75 a month for as many classes as I want to attend that they have open. I think this includes tai kwan do as well. But anyway, the point of it is to maybe get some exercise for a change, both mind and body. I havn't done much of either as of late.

Now, I have some limited Shaolin Karate experiance (took classes for a few years in middle school) to the point that the basic stuff is still with me to this day, along with a few of the most basic katas and a few of the breathing exercises. Buuut I want to try something else. Something that while can still be used as self defense, yet at the same time has less chance of long term injury to the attacker. I know enough already to injur someone, if worse comes to worse, I can call upon that.

[roscowgo]

Nowhere around here to take it.

Always looked like a sort of a dance between balance and inertia to me though.

[Nibblet99]

Always looked like a sort of a dance between balance and inertia to me though.

you mean ballet?

[roscowgo]

Always looked like a sort of a dance between balance and inertia to me though.

you mean ballet?

Not quite. I mean it looks like you become sort of a human fulcrum.

object A moves toward you -----> you direct it 90 degrees up or down or wherever you want it to go. That to me would take an insane amount of balance timing and a sort of a seat of the pants understanding of physics.


I've seen a few of the aikido types on tv, impressive stuff.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/115429/aikido/

[Meanie]

Aikido focuses not on punching or kicking opponents, but rather on using their own energy to gain control of them or to throw them away from you. It is not a static art, but places great emphasis on motion and the dynamics of movement. Basically put, the concept is to use your opponents force against himself.

It is an art derived from Jujitsu and Kenjutsu. It's a very fascinating style and once it is perfected, is extremely effective at subduing your opponent.

[intotherain]

Aikido caught me off one day, here's the story.

I'm 6 feet, 170 pounds. My friend is 5' 7 and 150 pounds. I have 10 years of TKD. My friend has 8 years of Aikido. We were hanging out and I told him if he could flip me over his back onto the couch I would give him 5 dollars, but if he couldn't I would get 5 dollars. I was waiting and somehow I lost 5 dollars. I told him I would give him 5 dollars if he could do it again... and I won.

In that video those guys are giving a show. The first time he flipped me over I was not ready for it, arms down and in a relaxed position. Second time, my hands were up, knees bent... there's absolutely no way he was getting near me without a high kick into his jaw.