A
AikidoCal
Guest
I was having a discussion about Aikido with another person the other day, and that came up. I am not sure if cross training in another art while an active Aikidoka demonstrates a lack of faith in the art.
Some people cross train because the want a more rounded martial arts experience. Some people X-train because they feel Aikido doesn't address other issues say, ground work. Other's I have read and spoke with feel the philosophy of non-violence as dicated in Aikido via technique is really useless into day's world. If you throw the attacker several times it my not ever dawn on him that he can't win. In fact, it may make him work harder at it. The longer the encounter the greater the possibilities of the tables turning on the Aikidoka. Therefore, you have to have a kill or be killed attitude.
Of course in the Aikido community there are those who don't feel that way at all. Aikidokas who non-violently have successfully countered attacks as dictated out by O'Sensei. These people get a lot of gruff from those pro cross training as if those who don't x-train are unskilled and stupid bunnies. But these people I think have more faith in Aikido, and the don't have to cross train, they feel.
Those who x-train may not have been very well skilled in Aikido, as a result they are lacking confidence in the art. Some may too impatience. I see this to be true personally. 9out of 10 times those who cross train or feel the need to X-train have not "got" Aikido very well. It is a difficult art. When the bar is so high it is frustrating. X-training deflates that frustration that come when the bar is set too high, and allows for expectations of Aikido to be met differently.
Is having faith in Aikido blinding, or enlightening who is right?
Some people cross train because the want a more rounded martial arts experience. Some people X-train because they feel Aikido doesn't address other issues say, ground work. Other's I have read and spoke with feel the philosophy of non-violence as dicated in Aikido via technique is really useless into day's world. If you throw the attacker several times it my not ever dawn on him that he can't win. In fact, it may make him work harder at it. The longer the encounter the greater the possibilities of the tables turning on the Aikidoka. Therefore, you have to have a kill or be killed attitude.
Of course in the Aikido community there are those who don't feel that way at all. Aikidokas who non-violently have successfully countered attacks as dictated out by O'Sensei. These people get a lot of gruff from those pro cross training as if those who don't x-train are unskilled and stupid bunnies. But these people I think have more faith in Aikido, and the don't have to cross train, they feel.
Those who x-train may not have been very well skilled in Aikido, as a result they are lacking confidence in the art. Some may too impatience. I see this to be true personally. 9out of 10 times those who cross train or feel the need to X-train have not "got" Aikido very well. It is a difficult art. When the bar is so high it is frustrating. X-training deflates that frustration that come when the bar is set too high, and allows for expectations of Aikido to be met differently.
Is having faith in Aikido blinding, or enlightening who is right?