old_sempai,
I meant no disrespect when I used the term "pacifist". I simply employed it because most everything I've read about Deguchi Onisaburo states that he was indeed a pacifist... if I am in error by assuming that the religion he started (which I admit I know very little about) espoused much this same view, then I stand corrected. In fact, let me retract the pacifist tag and simply state that Ueshiba's embracing of Omoto Kyo certainly affected his art of Aikido. Fair enough?
Also, as to your statement that hard styles of Aikido are hardly new... I agree. In my post I stated the resurgence of interest in Aikijujutsu in terms of decades ... not merely years (as did you when you talked about hard Aikido styles, i.e. "20 or more years"). In no way was I trying to imply that (some) Aikido schools just stared doing hard technique in the past couple years. I recognize that some of Ueshiba's students did not necessarily prefer the softer version of Aikido that Ueshiba began practicing after WWII. That is why there are groups like Yoshinkan, Tomiki, etc. But I see it as a completely logical step of deductive reasoning that these practitioners were wanting to seek out Aikido's harder, more martial roots (i.e. Aikijujutsu). And these are the styles I was referring to when I said, "some styles of Aikido (IMHO) have adopted a harder style themselves and have begun to try to emulate Aikijujutsu". And this is probably largely responsible for Aikijujutsu's resurgent popularity over the past few decades. Certainly no one can argue that without Aikido, Aikijujutsu wouldn't be nearly as well known as it is becoming.
Anyway, I don't really see that you and I disagreed on much in either of our posts. Perhaps it's just a matter of perspective (I am not an Aikidoka). At any rate, perhaps by using the term "pacifist" I inadvertently got your Irish up and perhaps you thought I was attacking Aikido. That was not my intention. My entire first post was meant merely as a way of trying to correct Koga-Shinobi's misunderstanding of the parent/child relationship between Aikijujutsu and Aikido. I apologize if offense was taken.
And finally, I'll add that there is a third "choice" when executing a technique. You mentioned letting them down gently or dumping them on their head. But a third choice is throwing/pinning (whatever) with focus and power (btw, power does not necessarily mean physical strength) in such a way that they remain in a constant state of pain and control. This can be done without permanent or even temporary injury (as long as the uke knows proper ukemi and the tori has good command of his technique) and is the basis for practicing strong and realistic techniques in Aikijujutsu. If all one knows is how to do it gently or lethally (i.e. dumping on head) then one misses out on the far more realistic (and usable) choice.
Anyway, I'm sure you realize this and I'm probably just nitpicking... if so I apologize. Again, it was far from my intention to try to start an argument. I've read much of your other posts on this and other forums (note the getting up of the Irish comment earlier)
and consider you knowledgeable and well-spoken and I look forward to reading more of your posts and perhaps having further dialogue in the future.
Respectfully,
:rofl: :rofl: 
