You find ways of thinking out load and I hope this will help others to hear what you find within the films. All we can do is give and hope what words do not say the eyes will answer.

I find it some days better than others. It is a very smooth technique and needs lots of concentration to keep it flowing and Uke under control.

I give all i can in hopes that others will also give their best to Aikidoka, and hope the world will become a better place with us showing love and not to fight.

Thank U for your 'Very kind words.'

A student asked me for help, which made me make the film. As this week has been low for me due to health issues, I thought it possibly the best time to talk about it. Thank U for your words.

Thank you I am glade you like wartching my films.

Thank you.

Glad it was helpful! I am still learning how much we miss even when we are doing it. The answers can hide from us, but I live in hopes that each time I try this way of working I will learn more and open the doors to understanding.

@@Tony_Sargeant Even your reply opens the gates of possibilities, definitely tai chi has allowed me to discover more than when engaged in aikido practise, as there is more time to find the internal connections and engage consciousness. The sense of elbows always going away from you isn't necessarily taught in aikido but makes a huge difference to whole body connection. I'm trying to apply things like this to the aiki jo and ken. I have found it makes it more powerful but with less strength involved. I'm sure this is a useful gate ! But who knows? For elbows going away from you, think morote dori kokyu ho, it is a perfect example. Thank you for all your years of teaching.

I am also convinced that we can change and power to points we wish to stop the Uke and defy angels by thought alone. Somehow my body has the confidence that if i` think of an angle change I am then locked into that position and they cannot move or escape the angle. But I may now be going beyond what. keeps us sane?

@@Tony_Sargeant It makes sense to me, Our consciousness guides our body to carry out that function without the tension of any muscles countering our effort. I find it valuable and interesting because it takes me beyond previous limits, and not because it would assist me in self defence, just the excitement of continual discovery is enough. If you think that is odd, today we looked at pushing people using their skin not their bones. Sounds insane but it actually works. I'll stop there and let someone else have a say. Richard

Makes sense to me, but I am perhaps. 'also Mad'.

Yes, so many want it spelt out for them, but in my opinion, those who have to look and take what they see are the ones who get it deeper inside of them.

@@Tony_Sargeant I agree with you!

Totally agree.

Thank U for watching.

I do nopt quit understand your point. Please send me a link to you showing the Kata with what you consider correct feet and body alignment. As when doing the Kata's one should think of Suburi and not a dance. This is the way Saito sensei taught us and blocks and strikes should be the delivering of these Suburi's. Your point I need to see to comment. I am not saying you are incorrect, just stating my point of view as you are. Thank you for writing in.

I truly think that what one learns from 'Many years' of doing Aikido is that it forges us as better people and we look at each situation with clearer eyes. "But" and there is always that BUT. In my case my human self took over and the fuze was light and that was from deep within myself and it was at that point I realised that we are all just who we are, and that does not change even if we think and fool ourself we have. Thanks for your thoughts on it and taking the time to watch, all four or just this one.

Thanks for your comments and as it is almost at the end 18.25 I am not sure what part U are specifying for me to re-look at. Sadly looking at my own work I think I look a little 'Sloppy doing it' and it makes me want to do it again, so I may revisit this suburi. Hopefully I cover the Hasso better elsewhere. Thank you again for taking the trouble to look. and comment. We must all keep training as a beginner and hope we can gain from each others pointers.

I love your comment about the glass as it never entered my head due to Saito Shihan teaching me to have Zanshin all the time and not just do a 'Dance with the. Jo."

Wow, thank you, I have always try to show. what Saito sensei taught me as each year seeing him over twenty year around the world he like everyone changes but his basics never did;. He was adamant that O-Sensei would scold him from the grave if he altered what he had been taught. If I can go some way to keeping this style alive I shall do my best and thank all those who are trying to do the same located around the world that had the pleasure of being taught directly by himself.

Yes they are. But they are also vERY old now but still. good. They R better on wooden floors but, no one complains they R too hard to. take Ukemi on. The new Tatami also comes in different thicknesses and depending on what the floor covering is then it will depend on what Tatami one buys. Well. thats what we did when we bought them 30 years ago. It was for my Dojo with wooden floor. Hope this helps.

@@Tony_Sargeant Thank you!

Thank U. Very kind words.

Sorry I should say, the new discoveries were actually teachers that are good.

I love reading your theory on it all, but my quick answer is "One never knows how one will act until the situation they are ut in, so my words are from memory of the happenings and its more a story than what other should do" Unless I am reading. your comments incorrectly? Answering the time of how long one has trained I personally think we learn to 'Not fight'. and that what time in Aikido. gives us, but who knows art what level one will. panic? In 1982/3 the UK had very few who knew the 31 Jo Kata or. any weapons apart from books and film from Saito sensei, so it was mostly do it hoping one was correct, and. as for. the 'Anti-kata' well never knew it then. Like I say it was all exciting and also humbling to think I knew nothing when I thought I did. Hope. this covers at least some of your questions? Thanks for taking the time to write and watch.

It could be Farther Christmas. Ha,ha

Thanks for watching! I always hope that we can give to each other.

You are very kind for saying these words. I know that we must "All help O-SEnsei" the best way we can to make the world a better place. To me we speak different languages but we all hope and dream for the same rewards. To become better people.

Well said! I cannot add more words as between us we have been touched by the founders art in such a way we will never need to search to find our goal. All we have to do is keep training as ;A Student"

I agree!! ❤😊

Thank you for taking the time to say.

Glad you think so! My belief is that we should give and try to make those who are truly searching for O-Sensei's Aikido to understand that not enough time is given to the detail.

Wonderful! I only wish others would not make excuses and do more to keep the fitness at a level that one requires to be their best at all martial arts, as well as the health benefits it brings with doing it.

I totally agree, and one that I hope keeps training.

To answer in reverse. No I do not believe one can ever be ready for what springs out at any given moment until it does. "Why." How is one feeling that time and did one see or sense it coming? The only answer I can offer as the years roll by is: either act fast and crush such treat or talk your way out of fighting. I have done both and to date each one was the correct one to keep myself safe. Perhaps a question that can never be answered only by the one who survives. To me aikido has so mnay gems to offer one in life; the question of defeat is one not now days in my thinking. Thank you for sharing your personal findings. It has inspired me to read it.

@@Tony_Sargeant Many thanks for your answer! It makes sense to me.

I love to hear when others use their skills to use whatever it takes to improve their Aikido mastery. Well done and the path only gets better by doing so.

I made the comment and well done for making your own improvisations to advance your study.

My pleasure! Thank you for watching.

Thank you for your kind words.

Us too!

yes I can understand why you would say that. But after many years of training I do believe that what my Master said to me was true. "Tony the technique is strong you do not have to be." How many years one must train is what no one knows before this can happen. Thanks for your thoughts.

Yes I love them and miss them all. Such dedicated students and now sadly being forced in a downward direction that seems to have put all our trips there on hold for many years. They will keep training and this we can be grateful to have met and part of their journey.

And half my age if it helps you in your point.

Well when young have fun I say. Thanks for watching.

Like you say it takes time to acquire this calmness, But as I always try to speak truly, I am not sure if it can be gained by training or if it is in-built within our character and we put it down to Aikido training. I cannot answer the question, all I know is it worked when required and that is what is important I think we all agree on that. As for the others who hid, they may never change?

Thankfully, only a few of us will ever need to experience this. But perhaps it is in-built and not just the Aikido that keeps us sane and understands that anyone can fight, but to survive is better without damage. Thank you for sharing

The good part of it. all looking back is 'Aikido works'

@@Tony_Sargeant Absolutely! I have seen the huge differences from changing school whilst I was working as Door Supervisor and Iwama Aikido to me, is the strongest and most able to cope under such duress. I have tried it and tested it a few times, and it saved me. Had I not been practicing Iwama Aikido, I would probably have given up on Aikido... As you know, I had practiced Aikikai, Yoshinkan and I was not satisfied with how I was handling physical situation then as Bouncer that I was at a crossing point to really question Aikido as a whole and I remember vividly going to a book shop in Oxford Street, and I spent hours checking various Martial Arts books, and truly wanted Aikido to work as I had a gut feeling that there must be a way to make it effective (I owe this to my passion because, if I did not love Aikido the way I do, I would have given it up) and stumbled into a whole set of books with Morihiro Saito Sensei who was showing lots of weapons practice in images and I was mesmerised as to why I had not seen this before. So I sat down and was reading the pages and came across this line where Morihiro Saito Sensei wrote: If you want to really study Aikido, one must learn Bukiwaza to understand its deep connection with Taijutsu. Your Aikido will become much stronger... It hit me like a strong light bulb moment and knew that it was what I needed to do. The rest became history until now. I have never looked back since and never doubted it, as when I embarked on this new journey, my Aikido became much stronger when I was working as Bouncer...

Wow, must have been scary, but great that you managed to handle yourself so well! What was the decisive factor, you think?

So nice to read others thoughts and how they get on in situations. Thank you for sharing it with those who wish to take the time to read.

Thank you too! It is always good to get feedback if others find the films of value.

​@@Tony_Sargeant I do find your testimony quite interesting and inspiring to watch!

You R very kind.

My pleasure!

Well we all have an opinion and that's yours. Isn't it great to live where we can all have free speech.

Thank U again for watching the films.

Thank you. I hope the films help.

thank you for looking at my films, and I hope they help you.

Simple answer. He was not teaching the same as his father at the same time as they were both teaching and i did not like his style with lifting the leg like starting an old motorbike trying to kickstart it. You may know what I mean? It happens with family where the children clash and they certainly. had their moments and I wonder if H done it just because he did not like his father and wanted his own take on it. But perhaps I am being unkind. Basically he never done it for me.

@@Tony_Sargeant yes I do understand what you mean about the kick start particularly with the Ken. My instructor and senpai both had similar experiences with H, and described his technique as being quite different from his dads. Thanks for your honesty.

I always try to speak honestly but sadly it does at times get me in trouble, as people do not like the 'Blunt truth.' Thanks for you thoughts as well.

I think you have had a similar experience as most. It is costly and it seems to be part of the package sadly. I now run my own organisation and charge half if not less for dan ranks that the Aikikai. I realised towards the end that when they charge $900 for a 5th dan the organisation keeps half an dthe Aikikai get half. I made the suggestion to not take all that for the organisation I. wa sin at the time and they told me to but out. Sad as like you many just can't afford to do Aikido. I think what you are doing is good. I always say 'If U enjoy it then its ok'

@@Tony_Sargeant is great to see that you have broken away from the Aikikai in regards to the financial concern. At the end of the day a black belt is a black belt to the lay person, who gave it to you only matters to those inside Aikido and even then nobody can really say one is better than the other. I think black belts shouldn’t be determined by skill and ability alone if at all. Dedication, friendship and contribution to the Aikido community top that I feel. Otherwise practitioners who have disabilities either physical or learning have a disadvantage whereas everyone should be of equal footing. Sorry for my rant.

Sounds like we are talking from the same page. It's sad but it takes us so many years before we realise it is all about paying out for ranks rather than what it should be for. I was awarded my 7th and did not want it as I felt that over the last 20 -30 years it's like giving away nothing of worth. I look at who gets them and same old story, it's those who creap the closest to the sensei and if in favore they get it. I was pushed by saying "Sensei if U do not go up how can those below U." When I think of those gone before me I am just a small boy compaird to what they done in aikiod and the way they trained so harshly. I am talking about the. Saito era not the western aikidoka. We did train hard but not like they. Well thats my opinion and the way its going soomn it should be changed from 'Aikido' to the "Well-being shool of care" Now my rant. is over.

Thank you for your very kind words. I am still a student and I hope all those followingO-Sensei;s art would be as honest as they can. Thank you again for comments and taking the time to watch my films.

Perhaps I am better with faces than names. Who is he and where does he reside?