Rediscovering my Practice - Article

[Xue Sheng96]

Martial Journal Article - Rediscovering my Practice​

This article struck a cord with me, but with Yang Style Taijiquan, not Aikido. But since it is an article about Aikido, I put it in the Aikido section

 

[O'Malley89]

This kind of shock often happens to folks with an Aikikai background (where both partners often actively cooperate to make the technique work) when they come into contact with older styles like Iwama or Yoshinkan (where uke is instructed to provide passive mechanical resistance by "blocking" the movement). They usually feel helpless and start learning the mechanics from the ground up. Then, they may have a superiority complex over Aikikai practitioners (just like ex-aikido people towards aikidoka). Then they may try their stuff against combat sports athletes and feel helpless again.

There's an interesting paradox about modern aikido: as there are no standards for the art, you can take your practice into whatever direction you want, and if you look hard enough you may find a dojo that can inspire you. For example, I have some doubts about this guy's techniques (because I've gone through the hard basic training and I see inconsistencies) but I really envy his athleticism, flexibility and fluidity: