Aikido: The Cancer of Imitative "Tradition"

[@olegajitsu]

I started attending wrestling class. Wrestling coach moves in a way that feels as magical as Aikido. I have a feeling I'll be able to pull off more Aikido techniques as I become a better wrestler.

[@GeorgeMoon-p1t]

I think the only way to pressure test aikido is to remove the joint breaking techniques. Use kudo helmets and rubber weapons. So you can practice atemi and kuzushi without anyone getting hurt

[@SeanHannityable]

Wrestling: 1. The good; best talent pool in combat sports. 2. The bad; knee problems. If the coach has no knee problems, ask him what the hell he's doing because it's valuable info. 3. The ugly; same as BJJ, make sure the mats are clean because ringworm and staph are real and they suck,

[@GeorgeMoon-p1t]

@@SeanHannityable don’t forget in freestyle fighting your using a tiny piece of what you learn in wrestling

[@AzraelCaptain]

I feel like people often gloss over how masters like Morihei Ueshiba and others used to know how to fight at a no-nonsense, survival level before they refined their martial arts to resemble things like Aikido. Learn what works, keep doing it and eventually the weird techniques will have a place, time and purpose.

[@TenguMartialArts]

I feel like No-Gi + Push Out rules make a lot of Aikido stuff come out almost naturally. It isn’t discussed much because it’s sort of a “fuzzy” issue, but most of Aikido is technically a “No-Gi” art, perhaps harkening back to some of its Suno origins. Even Tomiko Aikido-which still dons the Gi-doesn’t allow Gi grips which almost makes it No-Gi in some ways. This is a video I’ve thought about making for a while. I personally like the Gi a lot, but there is a part of me that things we should adopt something closer to the Shuai Jiao jacket.

[@monkeylife2318]

🔥Il faut entretenir la flamme, et non pas vénérer la cendre.🔥 Which I would translate like this : " We must keep the flame alive, not worship the ashes."🔥 As a former stone cutter and tradional stone meason worked in heritage restoration on old building, I had joined a brotherhood of craftmens. So I am particularly sensitive to the preservation of traditions in all areas of life (culture, languages, history, architecture, beliefs and spiritualities...) and of course Aïkido. That is why I completely agree with you on the need for Aikido to evolve. I would dare to say that Aikido needs to die to be "reborn" somehow. In France, which was for a long time the second country in the world after Japan in terms of the number of Aikido practitioners, the completely sclerotic teaching of the practice by people refusing to re-educate themselves has disgusted more than one person, including me. I went in search of "efficiency", which was useful to me in my journey as customs officers later in my life. I have seen some people who have mixing aikido with other arts. One with shotokan, the other one with Muay -thaï, that was very interesting and insigthfull. At the age of 18 I attended a seminar with Shoji NISHIO sama. He created his own way with emphase atemi, kicks, dynamics attack by uke ( opposite to static way of teaching). He also created is own, weapon system : Iaido, Jodo, kenjutsu. All that technics have a empty hands and weapons counter-part. As today with the Yoseïkan-budo, I think NISHIO was the most complete evolved form of Aïkido, keeping the flame alive by offering a solid curiculum. Of course he was a minority and been putting aside by the aikikai "temple". I am glad that you heard my voice about opening your tengu school, and also surprise that others thought the same. I really loved and still loving Aikido so much😢. That the readon why I had to quit it😭. It was my first martial art starting at the!age of 13'. As a teen I was a fan of Seagal because he was and still the only one to put it on screen for a larger audience. I really suffer about what Aikido has became.😭😭😭😭😭. Now you are working on it, it arrive with 30 year late for me but I support your work and your efforts to the sake of saving Aikido, which is now sadly only an internet meme and joke and the archetype of bullshido😭😭😭😭😭😭. Sempaï, I would express my deep respects about your work and your commitment to our cause. You make me believe in it again. 🙏心より感謝申し上げます。🙏 Force, Honneur, Courage !!🤜👊✊️. (Please excuse my english skills, I wrote it down straight guided by emotion.).

[@larkhallman]

The second last aikido video in your video is Yukio Kawahara, I studied under him for over 10 years he was multi layered in his skill as a martial artist , with knowledge in boxing , judo , sumo etc . He was the chief technical Shihan for Canada known for his strong no nonsense approach to self defence, he encouraged the student to experience physical contact sports like rugby, wrestling etc . He was not your typical aikido teacher …. I was a boxer and former Royal Marine that was attracted to Aikido because of Kawahara skill and how to move your body It was like going to the Royal conservatory of music to learn how to read musics and master the scales , once learned you can play all types of music

[@playmotion.trailer]

I very much agree with everything you said. The part about "the church of O-sensei" hits exactly where it hurts and SHOULD hurt.

[@michaelstokes6048]

I understand your frustration, man. I've posted pressure testing videos in UK Aikido forums where my techniques are shown to be very functional (surprise, surprise, I know, lol), but I get comments from Aikidoka saying it's not "real Aikido" because it's not the typical kata you'd see in classes or demonstrations. It gets on my nerves because I've been to countless courses all over the country and am involved in British Aikido organisations where both students and senseis have never seemed to explore Aikido beyond the basic kata from wrist contact or very predictable, stylized strikes. Like excuse me for making the techniques I've learned in training actually functional! I am rooted in traditional Aikido too, been practising diligently for 8 years and everything I can do under pressure is because I trained Aikido and actually thought about the techniques. It's a martial art ffs. I have no problem with people who just want to do the kata but being criticized by people within my own art for pushing myself and exploring the interesting, underexplored potential of Aikido irritates me.

[@TenguMartialArts]

It’s absolutely bizarre, quite frankly. I hate to do armchair psychology too much, but my general sense is people feel threatened like their art will be subsumed if a more martial expression becomes popular. This is why I’ve always tried to reiterate that, no, we can have it both ways, but it doesn’t appear that’s helped assuage I way I interpret to be fears.

[@talleyphillippe-mclain2040]

I had to come and comment that your observation about people imitating their teacher perfectly is really good and I would also like to add that a lot of teachers wanna make their students basically into themselves instead of allowing them to innovate.

[@neotenylv09]

In the same way some (and more than we like to) kata moves in karate have lost their original purpose and it is up to us, the practitioners to find and "translate" those movements again, it is up to us to find and "translate" Aikido techniques in order to apply them in a wider context than just demonstrations or pure art forms. Great video Tengu!! 👺 🍻

[@johnl2648]

Stay strong man, I have similar sentiments as an FMA guy in the Philippines lol, take your time and compose yourself but keep at it and keep honing

[@mountaingoattaichi]

Such a valuable video essay! I’d love to hear your thoughts on Seagal’s influence and what he tried and FAILED at introducing.

[@muteqx]

This is so on point and I'm in complete agreement. I have broken with aikido while continuing to practice it. My aikido doesn't look much like "aikido" any more - it's mixed with other stuff through experimentation and play. It has a sense of humor and playfulness too! We don't have a dojo just a practise group. It is technically a "mixed martial arts" group because everyones background is different. But we're ordinary (and somewhat middle aged!) people training for fun and not for competition. I train aikido inside everything but I've stopped caring about the aikidoists who say you can't do that, and also the sports fighters who say that aikido doesn't work. We do just have to break away and do our own things. Start a martial arts practice lab! Conduct experiments, try things out. No need to kick the shit out of each other either. Someone could definitely be a better fighter than me but not forever. (Come back in a decade or two you kids lol!) There is life in martial arts way beyond competitive fighting. Martial arts are for older and disabled people too. Everyone needs to find their own way and use what they've got, and it changes as you grow up and aren't so young, fit, strong and quick to repair from injuries. My aikido works for me all the time but I never use it to fight people, always to not fight them. Apparently that's often hard for the Internet to understand but I think it's extremely obvious and logical and a high-level conflict navigation skill that is one of the most useful things I've ever learned. I don't care if someone - even one of my teachers - thinks what I practice is bullshit because I know what I'm doing with it, which is taking it my own way so I can understand it and pass it on hopefully based on everything I know and am, rather than borrowing one person's authority to try and be a mere copy of them. Copying can never be in the present moment! Thanks for making this video Tengu. I hope you do start a practice group!

[@muteqx]

Further thoughts today. We have science nowadays! We can study aikido using the scientific method - why not? Maybe aikido is a kind of science as well as an art? Still, what can't we explain about it using physics, neuroscience, psychology... computer modelling? There is definitely a huge something we can't explain with any of that stuff. Do you know what it is? I don't, it's a big question. Go try to find out for yourselves and you'll never be bored ever again, no matter what! If only I could remember it though - but I can't so that's why I practice - to regain my humility and my sense of humor, as well as to keep my body going a bit longer! I no longer care what someone else thinks of my practice because it's still my own practice whatever anyone says. I can't be bothered to fight about it... what would be the point anyway!? Aren't we all on a mission to be that possibly crazy old person at the park training solo under the trees? I'm getting there, haha! Just do your own thing and stop caring about approval, it's the way!

[@Mbgengar]

Sorry literally not even 3 minutes in but you are so so right. I used to think Karate kata were soooo cool and they ARE theres a lot to like about them but as a method of preserving techniques and practices? On their own?? They literally failed, its been around a hundred years and we’ve already lost a lot of original meaning to the kata even in styles with a very strict lineage. Tradition does not make preservation by itself

[@TenguMartialArts]

You’re correct. I didn’t even get into it in the video, but human error is very much a thing, too. It’s impossible to measure, but people are fallible and can mishear or misinterpret their teachers. I also know for a fact here in Japan that teachers will sometimes tow the line in front of their own teachers, then when they leave they will “deliberately misinterpret” things so as to have plausible deniability. I’m not saying these “deliberate misinterpretations” are always bad, necessarily. They could be more or less practical in nature. It’s more just that whatever they replace will likely be forgotten by a whole school. Additionally, the necessity to stealth change an art is just pointless red tape, imo.

[@volatileepiphanies5547]

The best Aikido instruction I ever received was that Aikido is a collection of ideas and principles, not a collection of techniques. The goal is not to get a kata-accurate Kote Gaeshi to work, but to harmonize with an attack in a way that aligns with the principles of Aikido. This can amount to, as an example, ducking a punch and defusing the situation as best as possible. As far as practical techniques go, Aikido is not the right place to look for that. Look to BJJ, Boxing, Wrestling and Muay Thai for that, and then see how to apply the principles as best as possible. I have been told by Aikido people that I am right and wrong.

[@williamkrevey1098]

There's a point where giving back to the art becomes very relevant. In essence we are trying to make better people. Doing Seminars may be an idea. Opening a dojo? Here's an interesting thought.... if one trys to teach early on in their journey they can gain alot of knowledge from the experience, but continuing to teach effects the art of the practitioner...ae: The best practitioners are not allways the best teachers? because they have different goals that lead toward a perfection of self that isn't necessarily comfortable for less driven students. The whole "thing" is in their "doing". On the other hand those who want to teach want have success in that endeavor and those are ultimately different goals. If you've been at "it" for long enough then you get the seriousness that is needed. Perhaps reverence for the old masters then comes from the preception that they trained with greater seriousness than we are capable. My favorite thought is that we should train ourselves the best we can to make our students better than ourselves and that they carry that tradition forward is the best we should ask for. Just an idea? Thank you for sharing your thoughts! Cheers!

[@gengotaku]

Thanks for another exciting video. I have been practicing shōdōkan aikido for about 1 year and don’t understand why it isn’t popular among people who want something more martial and practical than Aikikai aikido, which I’m also practicing but feel it’s more for aesthetic purposes and presentation.

[@TenguMartialArts]

Unfortunately I just think it’s very rare and gets outcompeted in popular discourse. A lot of chatter about Aikido comes from people who don’t know a thing about it… and I don’t necessarily mean that it an insulting way, people don’t know about things they don’t know about. But I do think outside opinion tends to view Aikido as this big, singular monolith.

[@gengotaku]

@@TenguMartialArts : Indeed! I even did a react on Rokas video about Aikido being USELESS(competing against a BJJ guy in his terms...) and Joe Rogan talking trash despite knowing NOTHING about aikido. Rokas has a 3rd degree in Aikikai(I suppose), but never practiced Tomiki in his life, which would change his opinion about the ¨uselessness of aikido. Other than Tomiki I guess that ¨hatenkai¨ has sparring.

[@blockmasterscott]

Listen to you talk about tradition reminded me of a story that my Choy Li Fut master told me. He said that when he started studying Choy Li Fut in the 1950s, students started with a black sash and graduated with a white sash to represent purity, but when he opened up his first school in the 60s he had to reverse the colors to avoid confusion with all the Tae Kwon Do and Karate schools in the area, since they started with white and ended with black. He said his master was not happy, but he had to do would he had to do.

[@Bigboss5]

I think Tamura sensei's methodology was pretty helpful. It was a lot more socratic in its approach. Ukemi is all about honesty. There is natural resistance without "fighting" the technique.

[@FunkyBukkyo]

If they want to be honest, Aikikai Honbu has deviated a lot from Osensei's form. Every Aikikai Shihan has their own interpretation, but when in Honbu there are certain instruction guidelines. When on their own dojo, every Shihan has their own unique methods. Aikikai 2nd Doshu, Osensei's son, the late Ueshiba Kisshomaru Doshu, admitted that Aikido has changed from the times of Osensei. On the other hand, in Yoshinkan, they are more true to Shioda Kancho's methods. Shioda Gozo, has also deviated from Osensei's methods, but teaches Osensei's principles. Yoshinkan Shihan's stay strict ro the methods when teaching Yoshinkan Aikido, but they usually have additional classes showing their own interpretations of the art. Iwama Aikido, founded by the late Saito Morihiro Sensei, and now continued by his son, Saito Hitohira Sensei, swore to preserve Osensei's teachings, and, at least technically and teaching methods, are starkly different than Aikikai or Yoshinkan. I'm not going into politics here. IYKYK. I don't interest myself in the many politics of Aikido factions. So, anyway. These shifts from traditions have already been happening, even when Osensei was still alive. Some schools do have dual methods of teaching. Teaching the traditional ways in one class and then an interpretation in a modern setting. Some sort of bunkai, like on the Karate sense. I do see that Aikido traditional teaching method is a form of Kata. It is not teaching application. The application will need to be put into context and interpreted. However, most of the times it is conflated, and practitioners would think it's what you see is what you get. Well, it's not. What's been missing most of the times, is the second part. Putting the movements into context and learning how to apply them in a more realistic scenario. Some may try to change the kata to a "modern" scenario, but they are still kata practiced with a cooperative partner. It's not the same thing. So yes, I still agree the "traditional" methods may still need to be taught, but contextual applications must also be taught. However, I don't know what "traditional" Aikido means anymore as there are many iterations of the art.

[@JustSomeGuy69420]

Basically, we need an Aikido resto-mod.

[@davidtrapani933]

a very refreshing point of view !!! thank you ! espacialy the analogie with the house !

[@beardydave]

So much yes. I have been training aikido for almost 40yrs now, but have become increasingly disillusioned by what aikido is becoming. I run my own class here in Japan and have managed to fit in aspects of BJJ (for which I am a blue belt) where appropriate, and my students love it. I have had many of the ideas you mention in your videos and it is so nice to find that I am not alone. Thank you.

[@TenguMartialArts]

Where in Japan are you teaching? I might try to drop by sometime if possible and you’d be cool with it. I’m in Tokyo, though, so if there is a big geographical divide maybe have to hold off lol

[@beardydave]

@@TenguMartialArts I'm in Tochigi (about 2hrs from Shinjuku) You are more than wecome to come visit, Kicks and all ;)

[@TenguMartialArts]

@@beardydaveI appreciate it! If I’m ever out that way I’ll see if I can’t track ya down. Unfortunately with work it can be tough to escape the gravity of Tokyo, but it’s not impossible!

[@LatinTraveler]

One of the disappointing things I think has happened is the reliance on seminars to “help build up” very basic skills. Why should people pay extra to learn at a seminar what they should have already been taught by their own instructors? The encouragement to attend seminars is even strongly “encouraged” in the promotion process and the Yudansha books.

[@TenguMartialArts]

Seminar culture in traditional martial arts is a massive peeve of mine. I’ve been fortunate to be a part of the an Aikido org that does them fairly well, but I’ve also been part of a Karate org that… really doesn’t, imo, and it’s down to what you described here. I get maybe a session of basics or whatever to establish a baseline for teaching purposes, but agreed, there isn’t a reason why a whole seminar needs to be dedicated to building up basics unless it’s specifically aimed at beginners. If the mat is full of beginner to immediate people, fine. But if it’s all yudansha candidates and above… what are we doing exactly?

[@williamkrevey1098]

Seminars can and should be a way for experienced practitioners to share and learn. As a student, may not comprehend a particular instructors "style of teaching," once exposed to another way of processing the same ideas benefits from it. Standard class time could then give the student time absorb that knowledge until the next opportunity is presented. While gaining all they can from their sensi at the same time. I have benefited greatly from most seminars but not all. As advanced we should perhaps entertain the idea of giving such. Like teaching an individual class from time to time catering to specific ideas that we have come to appreciate. Giving back is a part of the journey.

[@unixtohack]

Maybe I can understand his view. We have today a seminar with a zen-monk who relates some aikido move to energy and old but just actual theory today. It was based on just ONE move but studied into the deepest level exist. Thsi wil change my own aikido forever when I understand his talkings. It will take some time. This is growing using old/new principels into modern moves. Thanks sensei.

[@PetalsandGems]

I think my break from the Aikikai really began with impulse to see, sense and make sense of the stuff of Aikido for myself, instead of following the Gump-and-Drill-Seargent model of teaching relationship. The break became inevitable when I started trying to take Osensei's various artifacts of his practices into a dialog-like approach with his process for developing the way he saw things (an approach I am grateful my home dojo taught, even if it has to tow lines to keep included in the Aikikai). And I'm of mixed feelings to say it feels nearly complete, now that I have moved well away, started a family, and given my practice over fully to learning through that vision, away from everyone else. Videos like yours and others in MartialArtsTube have been all the instruction I can manage to attend to, my only training partners are toddlers kicking me during diaper changes--and yet, I continue to develop and feel I have improved since my little sojourn started in 2020. I wish we could center that more in Aikido community, over the more "do it like Doshu" attitude that disappoints me wherever I find it.

[@dorukgolcu9191]

An interesting point about copying one's teacher is that I study a koryu weapons system, and the head of the school is very adamant that we should avoid copying, but strive to adapt the style to our bodies. He even demonstrates very rarely because he thinks that ends up with students trying to copy him too much 🤔

[@TenguMartialArts]

That’s fascinating because Koryu are usually held up as emblematic of the “copy, copy, copy” style. Yet, I’ve had interactions with Koryu folks who have said the same as you do here. Some of which I respect quite a bit and are academics, too. Admittedly, my sample size still falls into the “anecdotal evidence” category but it is interesting to see how this almost feels more like a Budo problem based on that anecdotal evidence.

[@dorukgolcu9191]

The way it was explained to me, and it makes some amount of sense, was that koryu schools being as small and intimate as they usually are, it is more feasible to adapt the teaching to each student whereas a lot of modern budo has to contend with trying to teach large groups all at once, and an approach towards uniformity is more productive under those conditions

[@tristanchermack6735]

Honesty and truth can be hard to hear but as the Russian saying goes "It is better to be slapped with the truth than kissed with a lie." What is even harder is using that brutal honesty and truth to take accountability and forge ahead with innovation and development. It starts with each of us individually because no one else can fix us, we must do that our selves. Likewise, each of us are ambassadors and representatives of our art. If we do not take responsibility for ourselves, who will? Knowledge is not power unless it is applied. God doesn't expect us to lean on a shovel and pray for a hole.

[@dreshkkialveras3596]

New tengu video, nice.

[@christophervelez1561]

Wimp Lo’s master would believe preservation is the most important of a martial art.

[@Fierydice]

Somewhere along the way, it gets lost that martial arts are there to serve the practitioner, not the other way around. It's not asking much for a martial art to address the most common first attacks: haymaker and double-leg takedown. If they won't even meet you there, then where will they meet you?

[@jarrodpelrine7229]

While training in Aikido i was also in kung fu and jujutsu my Aikido doesn't look like anyone else's and i like that if it works confuses people and can't be replicated without effort over time all the better for me I don't care about rank trophies and belt colors I care about can I clash with another fighter with around the same level years of training whatever and get the better of them in a freestyle environment and that's that

[@SeanHannityable]

YES! I am going to be that guy. Here is your quote: ‘Do not alter the arts I have taught! They are not my arts, nor yours, nor even my masters and their masters, masters, but belong to the lineage, Not to a single person! Do Not alter them!’ Chee Kim Thong To be fair to him, he was setting up shop in Malaysia after World War 2. He was not so much a renegade as a refugee. I'm not saying this to "refute" the video. I'm just an internet know-it-all and I love answering rhetorical questions.

[@TenguMartialArts]

I’m sure these kinds of quotes exist, but I’d certainly also say that this gentleman had likely altered plenty in the construction of his own art. My personal impression, at least from the Japanese angle, is that masters really only report their art “complete” when it’s ready to be sold. Which I don’t blame them for, people need to eat. But also it seems that “complete” has been taken to mean “perfect forever.”

[@SeanHannityable]

@@TenguMartialArts I can't speak as to any changes he did or didn't make. However, his primary art was already a composite. Personally, I think his views were colored by his displacement from his native country. He wanted a sense of cultural continuity in his adopted homeland. Compounding that, there was a kind of mass extinction event of Chinese martial arts in his lifetime.

[@SchwarzeKatter]

Glad to have you back man. I recently came across these videos of Bruce Bookman about Aikido extensions about more realistic attacks, sparring, and transitioning from one technique to another one in case the first one failed. Wonder if you came across with them.

[@TenguMartialArts]

I want to say yes I’ve seen them, but honestly it’s been a hot minute (probably a few years now?) I’d have to go take another glance to really give proper insight Or maybe I’m thinking of something else entirely. I’ll have to go take a peek.

[@DaitoryuBlog]

Thank you for your video! Tradition can certainly be corrective and adaptive - however, I do think it's important from a student perspective to investigate how things used to be practiced to some degree, and until recent times there weren't many ways to keep good records of how things used to be done. Which must have created some dilemma as to how to preserve how things were done while still allowing for some incremental changes - or so I suspect. Quick question though - are you including Daito ryu in this mix? Asking since you're including some background clip of a Daitokan embu from the 60s and the Daito ryu clip from the Nippon Budokai with demonstrations from the Takumakai.

[@TenguMartialArts]

I’m not directly singling out Daito-ryu. The background film is mostly there for some movement, but I would generically lump in most kata-based systems. So while I’m not directing it at Daito-ryu per se, it’s one of those “if the shoe fits” type deals. I know many karate systems, for example, don’t really deal with modern attacks much at all. While I wasn’t really directly concerned with them here, the same concepts apply. I don’t think any system should be so focused on constant preservation. I would agree that it’s useful to know how things were at one point; my academic background is actually in history proper so I see a lot of value in that. However, I’d also say it shouldn’t be the core of practice. History just to know history is just the accumulation of knowledge without practical application. If it can’t serve modern people, there isn’t much point to it. Maybe that’s a weak example, though, because I think plenty of historians fall into that trap, too. One of the first questions I was asked during my thesis defense was “why should we care?” And I think that rings true for martial arts, too. Tradition is fine, but why should people today care? There are, of course, the common litany of answers to that: fitness, community, cultural immersion, etc. etc. But the reality is that how often do we see a downward chop in any martial context (sport or street or otherwise) today? How often do we see the sword slice such an attack is often said to represent? That’s more generally what I’m getting at here. It’s fine to get to know your roots, but it’s no good to constantly be doubling back on them while the world continues to change. If Aikido or Daito-ryu or Karate or whatever else wishes to make good on martial claims, then they have to address current martial realities as opposed to one’s from a century or more ago. Although, I’d again stress that I’m not arguing for the replacement of historical practice. I get some people train specifically to preserve and that’s fine. I just simultaneously think we need to be clear about that being the aim as it’s often at odds with modern martial proficiency.

[@andrewoliver7095]

What do you think of the ways that Rokas has been innovating Aikido?

[@TenguMartialArts]

To be honest I don’t follow him super closely. That isn’t because of any personal opinion one way or the other-I’m just less interested in Self Defense Championships which seems like his major project at the moment. Which, again, I’m not “against” or anything, just not my preference. The last thing I think I saw of him doing Aikido was working with his BJJ coach working on a very close range Kote Gaeshi (which is something I’ve seen on other channels, too, like Ramsey Dewey’s). To be honest, I don’t feel any certain way about it, either. I don’t really consider myself a Kote Gaeshi “specialist,” personally and it’s not really the technique I’d personally chase after in terms of priorities. That said, I understand why people do; it’s the face of Aikido in many ways. The Martial Geeks channel also likes it quite a bit, although I think he just likes the technique for the technique, not because it represents anything in particular (at least that’s my impression). In other words, I think he (Rokas) is just focusing on different things and coming from it from a different angle than I am. Which is fine, I think that’s healthy for the art. But as a result, I also don’t have a whole lot to say about it-I’m just kind of neutral.

[@lawrencecron672]

Yin style and Cheng style baguazhang referenced. Thanks.

[@TenguMartialArts]

I am outside appreciator lol

[@flykyrt81]

Sorry, could you tell me what video (title/source) is that from? Clip/footage from @14:28 to @24:38.

[@TenguMartialArts]

If you type in Soden Densho Daito-ryu to KZbin, it should pop up

[@flykyrt81]

@@TenguMartialArts Thanks! Btw, keep up the good work!

[@martialgeeks]

"The deffinition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results" Aikido: 🤪 Blingblahblxicjksu8m😜

[@TenguMartialArts]

That really is it in a nut shell 😂

[@richardkillblane5698]

I discuss the same philosophy in my video Aikido v Boxing kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5Ktdpelq7SZorc Unfortunately, there have been a number of aikido schools break away from the Hambudojo to form their own style of functional aikido. I agree that aikido needs to evolve and will in America after we have lost the first generation of Japanese shihans. Yes, tradition is the problem but also the solution. Right now, traditional aikido just focuses on drills and a limited number of attacks. There is only one closed fist attack, while in boxing there are many types closed fist punches. However, traditional aikido teaches the skills that one needs for functional aikido. What is lacking is pressure testing and sparring. Once these are added (as you suggested after the traditional class) then aikido becomes functional. I have only a few students who want to learn the functional aikido, but the functional aikido has improved my instruction of traditional aikido because I know understand the context and motivation behind the techniques.

[@michaelrizzo5523]

Agreed. Well said.

[@sfkingalpha]

Tengu Ryu would be sick

[@TenguMartialArts]

Someday perhaps. The tricky part of that is always going to be funding. I hate to ask it of people because it strikes me as a bit too “sales-ish” for my taste, but if it’s something folks want, the best way to help is to get the channel booming.

[@MonkeyStealsPeach]

Hey man, is there a way I can contact you? I got some ideas for future projects we could collaborate on

[@TenguMartialArts]

Sorry for the late response! Been a busy month over here. You can contact me at [e-mail] or alternatively at Tengu Martial Arts over on Instagram. I’ve posted nothing there, it’s basically just for messages at the moment. Looking forward to hearing from you! I was actually just watching some of your older content today.

[@TheBlahblah86]

Defining traditional in martial arts doesn't seem to happen too much, from what I've seen.

[@brianbeach5189]

I think the whole "we need to change by not changing" comes from an appeal to authority. Which I'm sure you know is a logical fallacy. But I think the thought process is this: Because Aikido is a kata based art, and playing outside the kata is frowned upon ( expectations of a cooperative uke or at least one that knows their role) how are you going to know/ believe/ convince others of the authenticity of your technique. "My GREAT AND POWERFUL FOUNDER did it this way and everyone agrees he was a GREAT martial artist so if I do it that way, I too will be a great martial artist" Aikido is a wonderful principle based art (and the best ukemi) and has a lot valuable insights but the kata are now essentially parlor tricks that need the proper set up. The "how" something works is rarely explained and the realization that there are multiple ways to achieve the "how" is taboo.

[@TenguMartialArts]

I’m in complete agreement. It’s definitely interesting to me how many people, presented with overwhelming evidence, will still argue the pure traditionalist line, however. To me, it really speaks to an unfortunate deficit in creativity and an unwillingness to grow beyond predecessors.

[@DrTzeus]

Excellent....we can replace Aikido with Wing Chun at it would be true too.....

[@TenguMartialArts]

Tragically, I think this applies to many TMA. I just speak from the Aikido angle because it’s what I personally know, but I’m well aware of how this is mirrored in Wing Chun. I’m just not a practitioner and don’t want to speak on things I really don’t have much experience with. Sometimes I bring it up just to illustrate a point, but yeah, a bit outside my realm of expertise.

[@Jack-xc2ys]

Eatablishing aikido with actual combat doesn't take explaining.

[@Jack-xc2ys]

The unbounding concept is true here. Not using it as shackles or restraint for combat methods but for liberating and freeing the practitioner is one idea.

[@dedydet6646]

imitations & preservations without clear context

[@razzledazzle9971]

Pro tip: play in 2x speed

[@jeffreylinck9273]

Don't like your teacher? Find one you do. All kinda people doing all kinda shit.

[@krdietiker]

Tell us how you really feel! Lol

[@JasonAsh-p4h]

And here you go again with more strawman arguments. And I’ll ask you again: if you know what Aikido needs, why aren’t you doing it? Action, not pontification.

[@TenguMartialArts]

1.) This is the furthest thing from a straw man argument. I’m not sure how you can exist in the Aikido community and NOT have seen this phenomenon. 2.) Step one to fixing something is acknowledging it, but people ARE out here doing something about it, myself included. Beyond that, just because everything I’m up to isn’t online doesn’t mean tho ha aren’t happening. Believing otherwise is myopic. 3.) These comments aren’t constructive. If you’ve commented something like this before, I’ve likely ignored it out of courtesy. I’ve given plenty of sources in this video clearly identifying a problem and some which even offer the beginnings of a solution. In the future I won’t be giving these kinds of comments the time of day. The Chanel is growing too much and I prefer to give my time to those are who are positively engaged. Read the materials sourced. If you take issue with my methods or views, this is an open platform, you’re welcome to start your own channel.

[@JasonAsh-p4h]

@ you’re off subject. If you know how to fix Aikido, why aren’t you implementing the changes you want to see?

[@JasonAsh-p4h]

@ my feed is constantly inundated with people who can’t do a decent kote gaishi saying that Aikido doesn’t work. Put your money where your mouth is. I do with every class I teach and attend.

[@martialgeeks]

First!!!

[@monkeylife2318]

I would complete my long preview post by quoting Bruce Lee who taught us so much : "Be water my friend". Absorb everything good to evolve. 🫡