I’ve written several posts about the martial art of Aikido, mainly in an attempt to educate people about its origins and effectiveness. And because it is one of the martial arts we teach here at the dojo, I’m hoping to stir some interest in our local area and get more people on the mat. If that seems self-serving, well...you got me. No, not really; fact is, and I mean this sincerely, martial arts are not for everybody but anybody can practice…anybody, despite age or physical limitations. And aikido offers something for everybody if you are willing to give it a try. But this martial discipline has two major problems: First, you’re not going to find it on Google unless you specifically search for it. Despite having been around for almost 100 years, it is not a well-known system. Second, those in the martial arts community, specifically the “fight club” tend to sneer at aikido, both for its philosophy and apparent ineffectiveness. I respectfully disagree.
Let’s talk about jujutsu. Ju (supple or suppleness) jutsu (the actual way to spell it, meaning method) comes from Japan. Well, the systemized methodology comes from Japan, at least, but grappling and throwing is prevalent in most forms of hand-to-hand combat. Simply put, jujutsu was studied and perfected by samurai warriors. It’s what you did if you lost your sword or were too close to use one. And unlike today’s BJJ or “combat sports,” old school jujutsu was specifically for combat. Like, to the death combat. Nobody got tied up in complicated pins, nor were they thrown to the ground in such a way as to get back up and try again. Real jujutsu was devastatingly permanent; broken bones, dislocated joints, broken neck. Done. No samurai warrior ever put his sword down when facing an enemy, rolled onto his back and said, “Come at me, bro.” Like any modern military professional today, the samurai had to possess many skills in order to survive combat, including swordsmanship along with other weapons, horsemanship (if you had the status) and jujutsu.
So, what does all that have to do with aikido? Everything. You see, there were many styles of jujutsu and like other martial arts, each system emphasized certain tactics. For example, some styles were adept at atemi, the art of striking specific targets on the body. Others were known for masterful throws and takedowns. And later another method was developed, a mysterious form of jujutsu known as Aiki, or Aikijujutsu. Let me explain. Jujutsu was and is primarily a grappling art, the basic principle being, “when pulled, push; when pushed, pull.” That’s why it is the art or method of suppleness. It requires a relaxed mind and body when attacked. This fluid state allows one to intercept a punch, kick, sword strike, etc., and “go with it” rather than clash against it. The concept of aiki goes a step beyond that. Rather than just pull or push an opponent, a master learns to harmonize or blend his speed, body movement and intentions with an aggressor in a swirling, fluid motion that takes him completely off guard. If you really want to understand the concept of aiki, find a stream with rocks in it. As you watch the water flow around the rocks (an opposing force), think of that in terms of two combatants. Rocks are hard and seemingly permanent, but water just keeps flowing around it, eventually wearing it down.
Skip forward a couple hundred years and you have the two modern day extensions of jujutsu; judo and aikido. Both have gone through tremendous changes over the years. Though judo always had a competitive aspect, it was still very much an art of self-defense complete with strikes and kicks. Today’s judo competitors are superb athletes but I doubt few if any are familiar with the old forms. And aikido…whatever happened to aikido? Nobody even heard of it before Steven Seagal brought it to the screen in 1988. Even then, most people who witnessed it for the first time had no idea what it was. A lot of this has to do with its non-competitive nature. While there is a sport form of aikido, it never really caught on and some of us old school guys are happy about that. You see, just like the old forms of jujutsu, aikido is a “kata-based” martial art. One attacker, one defender. Why? Because many of the original techniques can be pretty devastating. That’s why beginners primarily spend the first few months learning how to fall and roll. I know, I’m not really making this sound very appealing, am I? Here’s the best part…
Aikido requires A LOT of time, patience, stamina, dedication and grit. You’re not going to walk out of a training session feeling really good about yourself and that’s the point. Aikido is budo and budo is self-perfection first, self-protection second. No trophies, no multi-colored belts, no flashy kicks. Most importantly, no ego. You cannot begin to understand the art of harmony, to actually blend with another human being if you put your ego first. If you've ever been in a relationship with someone, you understand this, right? When you study aikido, you have to have a certain level of cooperation with all of your partners. If not, nobody learns a damn thing. And this doesn’t mean that it’s ineffective; aikido can be pretty brutal, trust me that one. I have joints that will never be the same, mainly because I was young, dumb and full of ego. Once I finally grasped what the art was all about, it changed my life. It can change yours too.
You know, I don’t know who reads these blogs. I’m sure several of my students do, hopefully out of guilt. Just kidding. It’s usually about the same number every week and I wonder if even one of you has ever contemplated trying martial arts. Perhaps you think you’re too busy, too old, or too broken. Maybe you’re not ready to commit to another activity or your budget is too tight. Let me just tell you this: It has been my lifelong dream to have a full-time dojo and training center. A unique place set aside for people searching for a unique experience. If you’re one of those folks, don’t let excuses get in your way. Try a little aiki and “flow” around the rock that seems to be blocking your path. I happen to know a guy who can help you with that.
Dave Magliano
Tatsu Dojo
Jissenkan Budo
Dojo Cho
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