Has anyone used aikido in real life situations?

[Pastyti]

It depends on what I thought was more important and whether I truly trusted the instructor. No I wouldn't just sign all my rights away on a whim. I would definitely investigate their school, ask other students questions and all sorts of stuff. It wouldnt be taken lightly. If however, I thought that learning realistic self-defense was a priority then yes, I would sign a waiver. When you look at those reality-TV shows, all those people have signed their rights away, and this is for a TV show, not even close to as important as being able to defend your family and friends.

So I say that if you are running a bussiness and offer waivers, there will always be a customer base willing to sign their rights away for a greater good.



Without offering a waiver you will always be left with this thought. The laws are there to protect you. It is legal to have someone sign a waiver, as that protects your right to teach in a realistic manner without fear of litigation.

If you are any good as a teacher you shouldn't be in fear of litigation because apart from the odd bruse, injury should not occur. I've never been on a TV reality show and have no desire to do so, I most certainly would not sign away my rights for the 'pleasure'. However, if anyone in any dojo, dojan or school breaks any of my limbs, causes me to bleed, tears my flesh, wrenches joints, dislocates joints or renders me unconscious by whatever means, that is a deliberate act of aggression, and should be punished under the law of whatever land I'm in at the time, in the same way that the law would pursue the same action against an attacker on the streets. Should it happen to either my kids or myself in the UK, my solicitor would be talking to the school propietor the following day. I'm in the same lodge as my solicitor, so we would be talking lots of 00000's on the end of the cheque. That amount of finance would definitely be the greater good from my point of view. What could possibly be more important that securing your family's financial future, particularly that of your kids? Back to the base question though. All schools should operate inside the law, including the one regarding duty of care. If they cannot or will not comply with this, then they shouldn't be permitted to operate at all. Have fun, Pastyti.

[Pastyti]

Mike.

A question for you, in reference to your screening of pupils for several months and the conditioning of the body and mind. It's the mental conditioning which bothers me. Would this constitute mass hypnotism or brain washing, or the same under a one to one basis? If so under which organisation or who's authority would you be acting in order to turn a reasonably 'normal' person into a more 'animalistic' and 'antagonistic' personality type? Seems to me that many schools are of the opinion that it's perfectly OK to seek to undo many centuries of the civilisation and socialisation process, simply in order to turn out more effective 'fighters', why should this be? I wonder if many governments are aware of this latent potential to start a 'bloody revolution' on the streets?

Have fun, and a happy new year.

[Pastyti]

As an after thought, it is precisely because so many schools out there think it's perfectly okay to turn students into streetfighting animals that I respect my student's choices to learn how to protect against them. However, I also recognize that one does not win the battle by becoming the object he despises.

Good Observations!!

Hi Mike,

Sorry to be a pain with so many questions. However, could you please explain (perhaps contact me privately if you wish) what type of individual wishes to learn how to maim and perhaps kill a fellow human being with their bear hands? Also how in hell do they then square this (what I feel to be) disgusting deed with their own conscience? You see I don't understand this at all, as I've never felt the need to harm anyone, so it's outside my realm of experience, and I'm 53 next year. I can understand HM Special Forces requiring that type of knowledge, but, not even other branches of the armed services, nor the police. So what are the personality types who feel the need to know this type of stuff? I have to say I agree with certain members of the government who postulate the thoughts that and I quote from the article in a national Sunday Broadsheet (Telegraph) of some months ago. "There is no 'need' for a civilian going about their lawful daily business to have any knowledge of the violent forms of martial arts". This cropped up because of the attack on the sitting MP for Cheltenham (about 150 miles distant from me) being attacked by a Samuri Sword weilding member of his constituancy, which resulted in the death of his politcal agent, and very severe injuries to himself.

So if the individual traning to this level has no intention of using it, why bother to learn it? There has in my humble opinion to be a sinister motive behind this. I understand that from your previous comments that you do your level best to weed out, what for want of a better expression, those I'll call 'nutters', but; with the greatest respect you, just, like the rest of us you can make an honest mistake. I feel that by training to this level the pupil has every intention of using this level of skill, and thereby by implication poses an on going and very real danger to the rest of society.

If parliment also takes on my current stance, then we could see the outlawing of martial arts practices in the UK full stop, after the Dunblain fiasco the ownership of hand guns was made completley illegal, and that did not involve any MP's. It would be a shame to see this happening to 'all' martial arts. I happen to enjoy my kick boxing classes, but I only use them as a means of obtaining an enjoyable and 'different' type of CV workout to relieve the monotony of the treadmill, crosstrainer, stepper, static bike and rower at my usual gym. Also the girl who runs it is a chum of mine (young enough to be my daughter and a great privilage to know her) and for financial reasons needed the support of me persuading a few people I know to go along to her class.

Many thanks.

Regards.

Pastyti.

[Pastyti]

Mike,

Thanks for being so open and honest, your reply's have been illuminating. Now I guess it's my turn. I am afraid (yes thats right afraid) that by my going down that particular path I'd be turned into something which I detest. Ie, a Thug, Hudlum, Bully, Nasty Bastard whatever term you wish to use.

I also was bullied whilst at school, I always managed to be able to turn the situation around through the use of humour, except on one occasion. This was where the 'other guy' would not let it alone, I'm also asthmatic, and have always had difficulty in physical excersise CV type that is, (running out of 'puff') but I am quite strong and really enjoy a good weights session in my local Gym. Anyway this other bloke started off and would not quit, punching me and the like, so I picked him up by the belt of his trousers and the collar of his shirt (we all used to wear tie's in those days) and managed to somehow hoist him above my head (like a clean and jerk) at this point I literally threw him down a flight of concrete stairs which led from the assembly hall to the main entrance to the building. Needless to say the crowd of boys surounding us were getting very animated at this point.

The fall was (and I'm working from a memory of over 40 years ago) about 35 - 40 foot at 45 degrees, he went from top to bottom hitting every stair on the way down. I don't remember the precise detail but I do know that he broke all four limbs and one side of the pelvis. Needless to say I was in deep sh1t, both with the school authorities and my parents, how I stayed out of what in the UK was called Borstal (Young offenders institute) I'll never know. The guilt of my actions and the fact that only by the grace of God I didn't kill him have lived with me ever since, and that has been a long long time. I don't know what happened to my victim as we moved to a different area shortly thereafter (possibly because of what had happened), but I still feel terrible about it. I was only 12 at the time. So you can see what I mean when I say I never want to hurt anyone again. I believe that was the only time in my life when I have lost my temper with a fellow human being and I never want it to happen again. I've done it lots of times with inannimate objects, like hammers flying across gardens after colliding with my thumb, but that doesn't hurt anyone.

Thank you for your time & learned consideration in your replies. If you lived in my neck of the woods I'd be proud to buy you a pint or two, at my local pub.

Yours.

Pastyti.

[HappyJackSlade]

I was a prison officer for about 8 years.I have used Aikido just once in a real life situation when a detainee tried to stab me with a sharpened toothbrush.I was lucky that i wasnt injured,or worse.
I spent all but one year on the prison sercurity unit,So all i did was deal with the worst that life had to offer.
Anyways,my partner and i were escorting a prisoner to the detention block after an incident with another prisoner.My Partner was walking in front of him clearing the way and i was walkin behind.
I noticed the prisoner put his han into his pocket.I instructed him to remove his hand from his pocket.He did.He then looked over his shoulder at me giving me a smerky grin and he put his hand back into his pocket.I knew he was up to something so i closed the distance between the prisoner and myself.The prisoner spun around attempting to stab me,But becouse i had closed the gap & i was expecting this idiot to try something i was able to block and redirect the attack then disarm him.I them cuffed him,hobbled him and draged him to the detention block on his face,Taking most of his skin off the left side .
my knowledge of Aikido is limited But what i did know i was able to use it with great effect.
Relying on one MA is death sentace.People often find themselves in some pretty hairy situations when they find the art that they so blindly think is the art to end all arts fails them in a combat situation.cross train i say.Bjj,Vale-tudo,Kick boxing.mix and match.If someone pulled a knife on me today and was able to get away without resorting to mortal cambat,I would run my ass off,RUUUNN FORREST RUUUNN!!!!
No winners.

[HappyJackSlade]

Hia Pastyti.

I also was bullied whilst at school, I always managed to be able to turn the situation around through the use of humour, except on one occasion

.

I went to school in Sydney Australia.My school was a mix and match of just about every culture on the face of the planet.I consider myself lucky that i had never been picked on.Not once.Got along with everyone even though i could kick the crap out of 95% of them.When i was in Primary school my father told me never to pick on anyone.He said some kids have a pretty shity home life and that school is the place they could go to get away from all the shit thats happening at home,So dont make their lives any harder than they already are!!There was never much bullying at my school as my mates and i would not tolerate it.Dont get me wrong.I have beaten the shit out of kids in school,but only becouse they picked on someone weaker.Never went down well with us.
Sorry i went a bit off topic.just got cought up in your post

[Jakuzo]

Good Question?

If u really think about it can u use any fighting style outside of a dojo. Now a'days no one fights fair they all have guns or weapons and other people. I wish it was like the old days when 2 people could fight 1 on 1. People have lost their since of honor.

[HappyJackSlade]

I dont think of it as so much loosing their honour.Drugs have played a major part in the way our society has evolved over the past 40 years.With so many people on drugs,we have lost a gerneration.A gerneration who should have been teaching their kids right from wrong.And in the old days,1 on 1 was call a gun fight at high noon.And in the 1930's,they would have slit your throat and thrown you in the river or left you in the gutter to die.
But like you say,you use what you can on the street.But at least make sure its a style thats going to work.

[HtTKar]

Pastyti.

You mentioned

opinion that it's perfectly OK to seek to undo many centuries of the civilisation and socialisation process,

There are many different ways to "civilize" and "socialize" people on a massive scale. Since Mike brought up the point of philosophers being similar to Martial artists lets take two different views. Aristotle, and Machiavelli

Aristotle wrote that all men in society should know how to fight and protect themselves, otherwise when tragedy strikes people will scatter in fear, mindless of their surroundings and afraid to make a stand the country will crumble.

“is not that the strongest possible proof that a vicious and ugly system of education rules there? Does it not seem disgraceful, and a sure sign of lack of culture, that they should be compelled to resort to justice which they get from others whom they make their masters and judges, and that they should not rely on their own resources.”
Aristotle

Machiavelli wrote that no one in society should know how to fight, protect themselves, or be able to sustain themselves without government help. All men in that society should be completely dependent on the governement

Therefore a wise prince ought to adopt such a course that his citizens will always in every sort and kind of circumstance have need of the state and of him, and then he will always find them faithful.