[Aikido Weapons] Tachi Dori (Sword Defense) Basics

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This is an in-depth tutorial on the principles of defending against a samurai sword based on traditional Aikido. This is a basic technique so it is more a collection of important points to develop, rather than practice a precise situation. Let us know if you have any questions in the comments or you would like to see other sword taking techniques!
Other Aikido Weapon Tutorials:
Aikido Jo Suburi Tutorial ► bit.ly/1WpyiIp
7 Bokken Suburi Tutorial ► bit.ly/1pYIDBp
Staff Spinning Tutorial ► bit.ly/22LvTPM
Brief History Videos:
Aikido Lost Popularity ► bit.ly/1QZMWWA
Steven Seagal's Negative Influence ►bit.ly/1OvQs6y
Greatest Martial Artists ►bit.ly/1UVuON1
Follow Sensei Rokas on Twitter ► bit.ly/1n1fByI
Editing: Danguole Garškaitė
Instructor: Sensei Rokas
Uke: Martynas Martišauskis
Camera: Eduardas Girjotas
Aikido Siauliai is a full time Dojo focusing on self-development through Aikido and Yoga. The Dojo is run by Sensei Rokas Leonavicius.

[@MonsieurChips]

Defending against a sword bare handed is impossible unless he makes a big (and I mean a BIG) mistake.

[@muayboran6111]

Obviously this is an absurd situation because who tf uses a sword anymore. I would say that if you were in a warzone in whatever sword period there is, it’s very likely that your sword will break or you will lose it. Knowing some movements is better than nothing.

[@62202ify]

Yes, you're unarmed and the enemy has a sword, you're in trouble, plain English.

[@deepuviswanathan46]

No enemy will stop his moves and cuts in a single action like your companion does here...!!! This is not a safe way against sword attack it will possible infront of your dojo Kid not a cruel trained enemy....!!! Just remember the enemy can do plenty of technics and moves while you try to grab his sword or hand ...!!!

[@briandesir5005]

This guy has made all the important points known here. Well done. Of course taking a sword is difficult in the hands of an expert near impossible. But if you were attacked by a long sharp metallic object. The points shared here might give you a chance of survival. Footwork must be fast timing is essential.

[@wackojim]

Thanks so much for this video Rokas. Your explanations are very clear and relevant as usual.

[@LevyCarneiro]

Great explanation, step by step. Thanks for the video!

[@MartialArtsJourney]

+Levy Carneiro My pleasure!

[@tyronekim3506]

I hope when you teach the techniques against a sword wielder that you will emphasise that this is just an exercise, and that the chance of success is very small, for a blade can move a lot faster than you can move out of the way, and also, a there will be, more than likely, multiple, lighting quick swings with a sword to contend with.

[@Y0kAiS]

The best defense is to probably to run xD

[@aaronkriz8139]

Bro, I just got my katana the other day and thank god I stumbled across this video so I could learn how to defend against other weeb wielders such as myself. Btw great video can't wait to try this out at the dojo

[@ended-randomcreations]

Suddenly They start breathing giving you weird vibes

[@funnysecksnumber6998]

haha i fence with actual swords. you wont. the tempo is off, the understanding of distance is butchered, the object itself is misunderstood... by fencing i dont mean electric tag with shiny noodles, by the way. i mean these: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6O5p3V_oL90r8U kzbin.info/www/bejne/aouZd5pqhaukiZo kzbin.info/www/bejne/oF7MmZSqibSgqq8 kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGm0nZWBm71ras0 kzbin.info/www/bejne/q56XqIOweNGasJI kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYLSXp-foZaFg8U kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6rOhXh7Z7eEgaM kzbin.info/www/bejne/fp20pJSXmZtmidE

[@Oringoz]

awesome keep the good work:)

[@MartialArtsJourney]

+Omar Hendy Thanks! Will do :)

[@michealpuckett8856]

Rokas ,pretty good job on this. Funny though that you talk about the principles you learn is the main reason for continuing this old practice but miss that the same is the reason for the empty hand techniques. Also would say try to enter deeper sometimes. If not you are endangered that they will pull back or turn into you cutting you. You know like a punch pulled back

[@mohammadmahdighorbani7862]

My name is Mohammad mahdi l am Iranian Excuse me as far as I know the sword guard is pointing at the opponent's eye so he doesn't know how much sword size is

[@ericfavre2301]

guys your cutting motion is so wrong....you have to push the tip of the tachi in a large circular motion for better speed and reach of the cut.

[@verybarebones]

Why is the other guy attacking like that? Raising his arms then lowering at waist height and pulling the sword forward like a bounce instead of in a straight line. It looks like the vertical cut version of a haymaker.

[@louistimm5994]

You can not disarm a trained swordsman like that. He will never attack in a straight line. His sword will always move first and threaten you and then his body. So you run directly into his attack.

[@percivalconcord9209]

Not to mention even if he pulls it off the guy might release his left hand and engage his offhand. He might be strong and outwrestle you with the sword. Pushes, slices etc. And to grip a specific part of the handle under stress...

[@jimmyalderson1639]

Remember that aikido was developed from a style of jujutsu which was all about swords. And remember that the samurai did actually exist and they did actually fight and these techniques were developed to fight. But also remember that we didn't have tv or videos back then, and we can't exactly spar without risking life or massive financial loss. So how do we train? With kata, which is what this is. Every martial art has its kata, blxing has its speed bags, judo has its seven kata, karate has lots of kata, BJJ hve a kata form for all thir techniques which you learn before you roll. If you only hve kata then every martil art would look like it didn't work. That's why you need bankai, you need to translate the forms into something tnagible. For example let's take the ipponzelinage in the judo kata. Of course no one will strike you like that, but what the kata is for is to demonstrate the ideas of a technique. It is not there to say 'if they do this, you do this' it is there to teach you how to do the technique. Again we see in the same kata ura nage and yokoguruma, is the kata saying 'if they strike you with an overhand telegraphed strike you do this'? No, of course it's not. What's saying is that if someone attacks you it is good to get close to nulify their technique and control their bldy, and should you be in this situation you can off balance them or off balance them by their reaction to your attempts to off balance them. Thus this is the same here. No one is claiming that if someone hacked at you with a sword that you do this fluid motion, what it is telling you is to wait until they begin their motion, get close so that they can't pierce you, seflect the sword to off balance them and nullify their sword and make their sword merely a burden before applying your technique. People need to understand that there are techniques which don't work, but a kata isn't a technique so criticising a kata for not being realistic is like criticising a boxer for using a speedbag. I'm not much of an aikido fan, but i acknowledge what kata is and that it is more than a technique and is not supposed to be realistic. It is supposed to be a model, just like in lhysics. No one criticised a physicist for making a model of motion which neglects air resistance, but everyone criticises the models made in martial arts, mainly because they don't understand them. So before you go out happily criticising this technique, remember that this is the model, not the application - the application comes with understanding of the model

[@michealpuckett8856]

Thank you voices of understanding are rare on these sites.

[@shybread315]

You get an _A_ on that essay, my guy?

[@xplo5]

If only this can be stated on all forums ...somuch of sense and this is exactly my thoughts, but many morons out there still are looking for the ultimate martial art..which does not exist.

[@gigipizzuto4068]

i know there are different styles and different ways we do our aikido. however the way the arm comes down from the atemi appears leaving the elbow open on the side. what I mean is that you are giving uke a good chance for a sankyo. of course I'm not a big expert, that is just my opinion.

[@interestingworld1569]

I'm looking forward to UK Knife and Machete modified defense aikido styles,

[@amberlycarantes6064]

Could the weapons techniques of aikido be used in self defense since I didn't heard anyone tackling this topic because they might useful in self defense such as applying the weapon techniques of the jo and ken to improvised weapons such as mop and umbrella so I think there's hope for aikido being effective in self defense but it will be more in using weapons than using empty hands such as kobudo since they practice using weapons for self defense instead of using our fist to grab, and punch we use weapons !

[@mohameda561]

awsome video like it much. can you please make a video showing how to defense against knifes and guns in different possitions?

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Thanks! I'll make sure to make a video about how to defend against knives in the future, guns though is not my specialty, but I know that our friends at AikidoFlow have made a video about it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpfboZ2ka76gbMU . Enjoy!

[@mohameda561]

Thanks so much for the link it's really helpful. waiting for the next video. keep up the good work :)

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Hi again, Momo a. As promised, I've made a video about knife taking. It's limited, but here it is! Enjoy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3yUcpyDe8ebgdE

[@telesniper2]

The guy after making the strike, would roll the blade to the side, towards you, and step back into defensive position, slashing you also

[@westwass]

Would love to see you try this on a HEMA master with a German long sword! Or even better, a street thug with a crow bar! Get EMS on the speed dial, you will need it.

[@basilistsakalos9643]

Wrong maai (distance - timing) even to start with Rokas...

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Old video :) Sorry

[@clasheironoob9436]

Like!

[@markangeloflores9180]

Title of the demo: How to dodge to a swinging sword Hahaha 😂 ✌ ☕ 🍩 😁

[@troller0.053]

With knight's sword

[@snakeeagle6930]

Can u make a video on how to defend against kendo please

[@verybarebones]

These only work against an incompetent swordsman.

[@RoninGroupUK]

Mate with all respect to you as a fellow martial artist you should try and go up against someone with a foam katana and see how many times you would lose your arms. I am happy to meet you and show you this if you like. Invite to ANY Aikdo guys. If someone has a sword, you want to keep away from them until they concentrate on a target so you can sneak behind them and choke them or donkey punch them into the back of the head. Run and snap off a wooden table leg or something or throw something hard at their face but DO NOT encourage people to try on take on someone wielding what is essentially a giant razor blade.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

I agree. Check my more recent videos, especially Real Aikido Weapon Sparring

[@howquick]

Well said. Someone whom actually understands.

[@Diouk091]

Je ne comprend pas toute les explications mais la sortie ne paret pas correcte vue d'extérieur...

[@SomeGuy-em1pn]

this is a great video, and while the technique demonstrated by your swordsman is possible, even likely from someone trained in using a sword, I'd suggest that if you're actually attacked for real, it's more likely to be by a thug with little or no training. Pretty much anyone can buy a sword online, so thugs that think they're Samurai-Jack are definitely a thing. People like that are more likely to swing a sword in an over the shoulder horizontal arc, the way someone might swing a baseball bat for example. While this isn't an efficient cutting style, it's not something you want to get in the way of, and it's also very difficult to dodge or step out of the cutting arc. I'd guess that for an attack like that you'd need to position yourself behind the attacker, then maybe a shoulder grab takedown? I don't know, I'm asking as much as putting forward my input.

[@anthonybrogan390]

An untrained man with a bladed weapon is often more dangerous because he has no set pattern and is more unpredictable. Any body who has trained in The Filipino martial Arts and has come up against a drunk wielding a weapon quickly discovers that there are more than twelve angles of attack...Real World

[@gordonwolf9336]

Why wouldn’t you run away? Wait, where do you live that you run into this sort of thing.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

😄

[@dandruff3414]

If I were a thug who has no kenjutsu background, that's not how I'd swing my sword. I would most likely swing it diagonally (from bottom to top or vice versa) or horizontally. What would you do to get out of this situation?

[@MilitiauScom]

Dan Druff there are Aikido techniques to defend against a Samurai trying to behead you while you are on your knees in prayer and meditation, a diagonal slash is not a real twist. Also if you know anything about Aikido, you know the answer, don't be where the opponent is striking and become the center of the energy.

[@hoanglinhle4468]

@@MilitiauScom - If a thug have Kendo background, the fight end in 1 second. I am not a thug but have kendo background, i would pay all my bank account to anyone can perform any sword defend techniques again me. - Aikido was found in 1920, so it is impossible for any aikido practitioner to try go again a samurai or experience any real sword fight (samurai no longer exist at that time). About sword defend, it was Jujitsu and was used by samurai on battle field in case they drop their both main weapon and katana. But in this case, that samurai had full armor on him, not a random person with thin clothes, he can handle a few cut before his enemy reach his vital part. - I sure don't know aikido, but it pain me when seeing people perform those very slow strike (which is not even good form), and then they claim that they can defend again sword wielder. As someone who practice sword fighting everyday, it is kind of offensive.

[@hoanglinhle4468]

Sword Defend: Step 1: Have a sword with you. Step 2: If you don't have a sword, find a gun. Step 3: You know the rest. Step 4: If 3 steps above don't work, run.

[@enlightenone4284]

how to do koshinage?

[@MartialArtsJourney]

+danger one That's definitely possible. I'll look into it. Sincerely, Sensei Rokas

[@enlightenone4284]

+AikidoSiauliai Thank you so much. I need help with that.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

danger one Great. It might take a few weeks before other videos which are made prior already are released, but I'm pretty sure I'll do it. There are actually some Koshinage tips that really helped me when I was learning it and they do help my students a lot. I'll let you know when the video is released

[@enlightenone4284]

thankyou so much! appreciate it

[@TheBudoAcademy]

well done! not many videos discuss maai distance. very important. great basics video

[@pemogan17]

Kakare

[@poorboi8093]

a person doesn't move in slow mo, furthermore to even grab or push the sword in that momentum, you're grip strength must exceed over 200 kg just in ur fingertips, I believe in the Samurai era it was stated that they did more take downs than Aikido, it was a primitive form of Judo with full Armour.

[@EthanNoble]

Jujutsu

[@muhanuri5722]

ITS just teoritis ? ITS very slowly.

[@jrolland194]

Blast from the past; try that in MMA where your opponent is armed 😛

[@theoavg]

You understand that samurais were wearing armor when trying to take someone's weapon in the field of battle? I hope this is just a kata of aikido and not something you believe it is true. Moreover you need to learn how to use the sword. Do some kendo, iaido or kenjutsu.

[@yoshimitsu72]

12 min of teaching shiraha ken dori, with kaiten movement... Bah....

[@MartialArtsJourney]

12 minutes of doing my best to make it as easy to learn for beginners as possible

[@NinjaKid1985]

Sorry mate. But please don't teach "beginners" stuff like this!!! They might could be killed on the street because they think they could pull it off. They wouldn't be the first ones to be killed! And I'm not even talking about Katanas or any other swords. Just let it be knifes! There already have been enough Dan grades and Instructors killed because they tried...

[@yoshimitsu72]

Yes I think so. That technique is not for beginners, any tech with a sword is not for beginners, so this guy is not a good teacher...

LOL

[@MartialArtsJourney]

I know right? 😂

@@MartialArtsJourney I saw your first videos and the last ones, the great thing is to see your evolution as a fighter, most people never go out from their confort zone, but you did it, keep it up man 🤜🤛

[@MartialArtsJourney]

🙏👊👊

[@kensen1070]

I don't think this is going to work

[@shawnscorpion3589]

No disrespect but Akido people annoy me.

[@yolo1up]

This is bullshit... at real time action he cut you...and what about 45 degres slash or 100 degres cut trayectory? i mean at 90 degres is stupid for attack and of course you can´t evade a katana until you are faster than him move of arm... aikido is mainly focused about dream of something imposible but hey they are clever than thousand of years of iron designers and blacksmithers...

[@brucewayne_72]

completely useless

[@BODYKARATE103]

QUE MEDIOCRE ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ MUY MALO DEVERIA PRIMERO CORTARSE ESE PELO - SEGUNDO CONSEGUIR UNA ESPADA CON LA FORMA VERDADERA Y TERCERO NO SER TAN MEDIOCRE

[@KALLER76]

Please show us how these techniques work in full contact sparring. I think, this is bullshit. Show me wrong.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJDRgaafirObopI

[@KALLER76]

@@MartialArtsJourney ok, I think, I understand. You think "martial" arts are something like Tango. A dance of two partners. But it's called martial arts. If it didn't proof in fight (sparring) it is a bad martial art. I like aikido. I learned some of it. Some techniques could evtenually help in fight. It is a nice sport. It looks very smooth. But I don't think the most of it works. I like your videos. Please try this techniques in a sparring situation and make a video about it. I like your videos.

[@RandAlthor939]

ridiculous.... understand that a skilled person with a sword will kill you every time. I have practiced aikido and jujitsu for 23 years...the title of this video is bullshit sword taking is a training in movement. ..it has stopped being effective sword disarmament. many many years ago....important training but unrealistic to believe you can defend against a samurai sword.unless it's being welded by an aikido practitioner who is ready to take the fall. and attacks without the intent to harm you...even the masters succumb to this false thinking. when it comes to weapon taking ...believe me the skills you can learn in aikido weapon taking can work. but not if trained like this!!!!!!

[@MartialArtsJourney]

I don't disagree :)

[@AikiRandy1969]

The last word in the title is "Basics".

[@scollyb]

It is a perfect defence against a swordsman who telegraphs a strike, who's hands are slower than someone who takes a step, who can't shift direction during a strike, and then freezes after the first strike misses. Oh and doesn't think to make a drawing cut while stepping back...

[@TopLob]

That's the most dogshit practice sword I've ever seen.