Aikdio

[LittleDemon]

Thinking of taking up aikido any thoughts on the style of martial art? anyone here train In Aikido??

Little Demon!!!

[hEmPY]

Aikidio *

[Thai Bri]

I guess it all depends on what you hope to gain from it.

[shadowkiller]

If you are serious about it, it is a lifelong study. Keep that in mind, its a great art that helps focus your mind. A lot like many other TMA's but its basis on Ki is rather interesting. I went to a few classes with the Ki society, it was really eye opening. The techniques do work if you train them hard enough but the physics of the art are what really interested me. Its all based on body physics and the best way to utilize them against an opponent. Lots of philosophy involved, the ki training is pretty cool too. Really all ki came down to was focus.

If you start it you will be surprised that you already know how to focus your ki, like if you keep in your mind good thoughts. I remember one excercise, the sensei asked us to stand regularly, then told us to think of something we weren't good at. When we had focused on the thing that we were bad at he came and lightly pushed our chests. You lost your balance and had to step back. Then he told us to think of something we are good at or something we like. Then did the same thing pushing with the same pressure, my balance was infinitley more stable and I stood my ground.

Just little things like that. Its a good art but like Thai Bri said it depends on what you want to get out of it. Don't think you will be able to kick people asses because that isn't what the art was designed for. It was developed by an aging man to be able to defend himself and get away from confrontations without seriously injuring the person.

Watch some of Morihei Ueshiba's training vids. They are on Kazaa and other peer to peers, its amazing to watch the old man move.

Oh and, what is the style of aikido? I only took Ki society but a good friend of mine was in yoshinkan before switching to ki society. The stances are less static and it seems to take less time to learn. More fun as well, modernized I guess with less of the formal BS that comes with many TMA's.

Hope this helped out a bit.