so,many of you think Aikido is no use for 'real world' app', eh?, hmm

[Hikage]

... but taking aikido isnt really to get good at fighting real fast. its more like a lifelong dedication to an art and the philosophy that comes with it. our sensie had been doing aikido for 25 years, and when he moved, it was like poetry in motion. his skill was absolutely devastating, and i pity anyone trying to attack him on the street or in a bar or whatever...

Isn't this the same for every art? If you think you are going to become "good" at a fighting style in less than 20 years you're dreaming. By good I don't refer to 90% of the people out there who can tell you basic stuff and re-word it in a new way to sound innovative and flashy.

Good is defined as being able to demonstrate an understanding, through measurable demonstrations of prowess, of the higher order of thinking, movement, and how these two have come together to form a style of your own within your style of study. Again - not to be confused with the wannabes of the rainbow belts or even some of the younger black belts whose technique may seem brilliant to the amateur, but in reality is little different than poor understanding of the fundamentals.

-Hikage

[EmptyneSs]

If you think you are going to become "good" at a fighting style in less than 20 years you're dreaming. \

i disagree. u can become a bjj blackbelt in like 5-7 years and be awesome in grappling. even if at bluebelt level u should be a decent grappler. u can do muay thai and boxing for like 3 years and be an awesome striker. there are golden gloves boxers at my gym that have been training only a few years. there are blackbelts from other arts at our school who have been training for years, and they get worked by people who have been doing muay thai/boxing for like 9 months when its sparring time.

[medic06]

The difference is that you can become a decent fighter in a few years. To become a true martial artist, to understand movement, flow, structure at the level of an art form takes many years of practice and study.

[EmptyneSs]

The difference is that you can become a decent fighter in a few years. To become a true martial artist, to understand movement, flow, structure at the level of an art form takes many years of practice and study.

i think a bjj blackbelt has all that shit down pretty well

[medic06]

i think a bjj blackbelt has all that shit down pretty well

He may have good technique, but does he truly understand the lines of force, of motion, the beauty of perfect timing? Does he possess a level of understanding of the opponents psyche that makes the techniques almost effortless?

[ZenZhu]

There can be a difference between studying martial arts to become a competent fighter, and an actual martial artist. You can certainly become a competent fighter in a few years of martial arts instruction. But, bear in mind that the word is "martial artist." Like any art, there is more than the simple technique. Just as in painting, sculpting, music, or cooking, the martial arts have varied applications. One can learn to draw well in a short time, but it does not mean you will rival DaVinci or Michelangelo (the artist, not the turtle ;D). Likewise, one can learn to fight well in a short time, but to fully explore the many facets of a martial art and express them as a true "artist" takes a lot of time.

Bear in mind that some of the martial arts did not even develop as a means of fighting, but as a means of exercise to simply condition the body for intense meditation. There is much more to a martial art than learning to kick ass.

[sdizier]

I've trained Aikido for several years and loved it. The issue with most people is that it does not look like Jet Li and it takes years to even resemble a self defence, but when you finaly have you are effective in all aspects of defence. I know train kung fu and have for close to 10 years and my style of kung fu is very influanced by the grace of Aikido.

sdizier

[georgie]

Poetry In Motion

from what i understand aikido is very effective but that takes many years of training . why use steven segals namesake? sometimes i wish the real deals would actually come to these forums and offer advice. id love to sit down with norris, lewis or the real segal and talk martial arts. someone like the real segal is definitely effective as he is a high ranking belt(7th dan i think). i think of all the martial arts movie stars ive seen since bruce lee's demise, segal has the flashiest moves . he makes aikido look poetic.

[sdizier]

A lot of people forget that when O-Sensei developed Aikido, that Aikido went through the testing blocks V.S. some of the best Karate men, and they where all humbled after their experience with Aikido. A good article on Aikido can be found here http://www.thelawofthefist.com/Aikido.html

[EmptyneSs]

He may have good technique, but does he truly understand the lines of force, of motion, the beauty of perfect timing? Does he possess a level of understanding of the opponents psyche that makes the techniques almost effortless?

um, yeah dude. they do. the bjj blackbelt that teaches at my school can just sit on the floor and tool with people like its nothing, truly effortlessly while the other person is trying their absolute hardest. most bjj blackbelts are the same way, their techniques are so fluid and perfect they can just tool people like its nothing. they truly have mastered the art of grappling at the blackbelt level. hell even brown belts are already masters at the art of grappling. this is true

[sdizier]

um, yeah dude. they do. the bjj blackbelt that teaches at my school can just sit on the floor and tool with people like its nothing, truly effortlessly while the other person is trying their absolute hardest. most bjj blackbelts are the same way, their techniques are so fluid and perfect they can just tool people like its nothing. they truly have mastered the art of grappling at the blackbelt level. hell even brown belts are already masters at the art of grappling. this is true

Just Curious. How do bjj blackbelts deal with multiple attackers if they are tangled up in the grappling techniques?

[medic06]

um, yeah dude. they do. the bjj blackbelt that teaches at my school can just sit on the floor and tool with people like its nothing, truly effortlessly while the other person is trying their absolute hardest. most bjj blackbelts are the same way, their techniques are so fluid and perfect they can just tool people like its nothing. they truly have mastered the art of grappling at the blackbelt level. hell even brown belts are already masters at the art of grappling. this is true

Like I said, great fighters, but are they martial artists?

[EmptyneSs]

Like I said, great fighters, but are they martial artists?

a blackbelt in bjj isnt a martial artist?

[medic06]

Explain to me, what is the philosophy and concepts behind BJJ? What are the central unifying ideals which make BJJ a martial art?

[medic06]

Okay, I'll quit messing with you. In all honesty you can train to be a great fighter in about 1 to 2 years with hard work and sound basics.