Can You Make Aikido Throwing Techniques Effective?

[@elnombredelarosa3167]

Ramsey Dewey once mentioned an Aikido guy that did a throw perfectly in his gym.

[@JIUJITSUMAN22]

Yes, and he claimed also that, in hi's point of viem, Aikido can work if the practioner get experience with other fighting styles more functional. Like Roquas Coach demonstrated.

[@elnombredelarosa3167]

@@JIUJITSUMAN22 Yeah, I forgot to mention that

[@christiancurcio2576]

Can u link the vid of him mentioning it?

[@elnombredelarosa3167]

@@christiancurcio2576 With pleasure: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4CwcmaiqZtlrdU

[@alittlepuertoricanboy1993]

@@godeater6382 Dan's also big as fuck.

[@FedericoMalagutti]

In HEMA Longsword and Dagger there are a number of throws and locks which share similarities with Aikido. I ended up practicing Aikido and Traditional Japanese Ju Jutsu mainly to learn how to deal with those actions, but after those years I came to the conclusion that too much time has passed for a training environment without proper testing ground to keep up a clear work. What you say about getting to the place/time needed to land the technique is the problem I faced myself. Many traditional (non competitive) martial arts lack tactics and approach methods. Yes they will tell you “oh but that’s because it’s self defense and not dueling”... Yeah, it may be so, but even in that case, if you don’t learn to recognize the rhythm, the timing, the placement... Nothing works!! So I restarted by myself working on that techniques, Traditional MA gave me a lot in terms of proprioception and form, so I’ll be always thankful for this, but to work properly, they need to get brought back to life with tactics and sparring.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

I am looking forward to make an Aikido HEMA video once I get the chance :)

[@FedericoMalagutti]

@@MartialArtsJourney looking forward too :-)

[@Erime]

@@MartialArtsJourney excellent idea. On many comments on your channel I have been emphasing the greatest difference between 'western' MMA and 'Asian' TMA is the absence or presence of spears and swords. How can any MARTIAL art consider itself complete without turning any attention to weapons. Humans are prolific tool-users. The average thug on the street rarely squares up empty-handed.

[@zacharycondon1098]

@@MartialArtsJourney When you do make the video there is one element of HEMA that I feel like people don't always address: HEMA died. Or rather, the Historical European Martial Arts died. All the treatise that HEMA practitioners draw from were made with certain basic assumptions that have little to no relevance today. Yet they were also all made with the assumption of real life threatening situations. In some ways you could say that olympic fencing is to HEMA as Aikido is to the samurai traditions that spawned it. Except, of course, olympic fencing doesn't pretend to be useful.

[@SwordWieldingDuck]

@@zacharycondon1098 but there are manuals left by which most techniques are taught. Longsword techniques got preserved pretty well, other weapon types not so well.

[@jriv75]

You’ve hit a new level in your videos. It’s like exposing the gaslighting of martial artists. Love the line about the techniques maybe working on drunk people. That’s what I found while working in NYC nightclubs. Old JJJ standing locks worked well on drunks.

[@Yoandrys23]

Aikido came from Daito Ryu and Daito Ryu was created in times of war and Samurai, you don't let go the hand because you fear that the person will reach for the tanto knife thats why your try to keep the hand or hands away from the waist in most cases.

[@diegoaragao9404]

Indeed. I'm surprised that a long-time aikidoka like Rokas didn't even mention it in this video.

[@Yoandrys23]

​@@diegoaragao9404 he said the the answer don't convinced him. that was the first thing a asked my sensei. and he show me, release = stab.

[@SurmaSampo]

@@Yoandrys23 Why doesn't the attacker also have a knife? Should not there be knife combat as part of the training as well then? Why are the old HEMA traditions more integrated with knife and grappling than Aikido if it comes from a similar background of training the knightly classes in the Martial arts? What happened to the art to make it such a shadow of its claimed former tradition of martial prowess?

[@Yoandrys23]

@@SurmaSampo i don't know about Aikido. I trained Daito Ryu when younger. I we do have techniques for those scenarios but the dynamic is different.

[@ResidentVentus]

@@Yoandrys23 I am quite amazed how one could buy into such an explanation. Seriously: 1. You are assuming that an unarmed person attacks you, knowing that you have a weapon and he has not. Who the hell is that stupid to attack an armed person with bare hands? 2. Why you let him grab your hand instead of using your weapon on the first place? Let's for a moment imagine the ridiculously absurd situation. An unarmed person attack you and decides to grabs you for the arm, instead him trying to reach directly for your weapon. 3 Why he grab holds only one of your arms? What prevents you from reaching to your weapon with your second arm? Why the attacker doesn't also try to reach the weapon but stays there like a puppet instead? Sorry but such an explanation is lame.

[@keeppoliticsweird1138]

The last couple of minutes of this video, about the training methodology and the necessity of sparring to experience a realistic set-up and positioning, are spot on! Kudos, Rokas. Maybe all aikido people should stop calling it "techniques" and just presenting for what they are: "two people kata" meant to teach some basic principles in a very limited and fictitious setting. And then once you got the basics done stop obsessing with the details of the kata and increase your pressure training

[@kachowtime]

Most Aikido dojos that I've visited don't want the pressure testing. They see the art as a meditative practice, and most know the way its taught makes it ineffective in a fight. My Aikido dojo shares its space with a BJJ and a Muy Thai group, so we have a lot of cross over and teach Aikido in a little more functional manner. But other Aikidoists that have visited find our mixed styling repulsive. Just depends on what you want out of your art.

[@keeppoliticsweird1138]

@@kachowtime I do the same. I cross-train in karate and judo. Who cares about the others. They are stuck in fantasy world

[@kachowtime]

@@keeppoliticsweird1138 Well I don't necessarily mean that. I just mean it depends on what you want from your martial art: more martial, or more art :) I'm hoping to do a little more cross-training myself once dojos and gyms are fully open (I find training in a mask difficult...)

[@keeppoliticsweird1138]

@@kachowtime you are right. I agree. It's important to have a practice that is consistent with individual needs and expectations.

[@Jenjak]

I like that investigation mindset you have. It can be very uncomfortable to question something you love(d) and invested a lot of time and dedication in. A lot of people (myself included at times) prefer to wear blinders and keep going on the safe path that is already set for them. I'm realizing I am following a bit of the same process with Taichi Chuan, with a couple of years latency ^^ I'm starting to see the flaws in the methods and face the same kind of stubborn arguments you faced with the Aikido community.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

I'm with you Alex! It's much more difficult to question what you love than to follow it. In the end, I don't know even a single person that regretted questioning their martial art 👊

[@CombatSelfDefense]

Firstly, I think the people from other styles not mentioned previously just want to fight you, regardless of what style you called out. Secondly, I agree with you (and with Matt Thornton from the interview last week). Any technique can work if it’s done by someone who knows how to control, dominate, and outmaneuver their opponent. The realism of a technique (aikido or otherwise) is determined by the way it is practiced, not by the technique itself.

[@DLDmaster]

One thing I understood about Aikido opponents "not letting go" is because Aikido was designed to be used at an armed opponent. Since letting go of your sword(especially when your opponent is grabbing and yanking your sword handle) would mean death in a sword battle, it made it possible for some of Aikido moves to work at least in theory.

[@mockrj]

I think it would be better if you consult a judo coach to help you fix the Aikido throws

[@dianecenteno5275]

Agreed. Aikido comes from Jujutsu as does Judo. Both would be far more adept at adjusting the Aikido throws.

[@wsl3119]

So right dude, BJJ practitioners mainly suck at takedown 😂

[@gregorde]

There are actually judo applications of aikido throws. One that comes to mind is Korean seoi nage, which is basically Shiho nage but with with an actual application package.

[@MrKahunadog]

EXACTLY.

[@MrKahunadog]

One hand tai otoshi to start.

[@bobosc20y20]

BRUH YOU JUST RE-DISCOVERED HOPE ON AIKIDO VIA UR COACH, U GUYS ARE REALLY COOL

[@SlickTim9905]

First, I was greatly impress by your Aikido videos. I watched the video and i too have seen and asked this question while training. This is the answer i came up with. In a class room setting we have the notion that any hold is not broken until someone breaks it. This is the same problem with people who throw themselves because they believe they should be thrown. in your case, when someone holds you, try give a gentle pull. Most people who grab will try harder to hold on if they feel you slipping away. But the head and shoulders are a different issue. in the Aikido, they try to stand behind a persons’ back. You are in a position where you can’t be reached. Also when you touch, the balance is taken. The body follows the head. Controlling the head, the shoulders and removing the balance from the feet is the right approach. In Aikido, this is the effect of your Irimi, your circling and pivoting (kenton). In Judo we call this Kuzukski. In English, how do you break the balance? This is the test I've learned. If you feel like you can choke, lock, trap and or throw or if you can do an atemi from the same position then it is correct. if the person changes position, or changes the grip or changes weight you fall into a variation. One thing I noticed in when did the move, you did not tuck Uke's shoulder into your arm pit. the motion should be like rolling a big wheel. it should roll and ripple. try without pulling Uke's arm simply move it out the way. step first, break balance, grab tuck the shoulder, then throw. Like someone once said "It should flow like sun light across a deck" . This is just me. i don’t represent Aikido or BJJ. I am not an authority on martial arts but i have had my head in it since the early 80's. I too had a bad teacher in the beginning of my training career and I suffered injuries that still persists today, many years later. The frustration only encourages you to seek more answers. This will only lead to more frustration. I do agree on the concept that the way you train is as important as what you train. But I also agree that if one teacher is not enough simply consider examining several schools to see how they each deal with the same situation. They can’t all agree but yet they should contribute to the foundation understanding. Aikido comes from Jujitsu and Judo comes from Jujitsu. Two different styles, points of view and yet have something in common. Martial Arts is a communication and sometimes communications get blocked, get lost misinterpreted and if that isn’t enough, the timing is sometimes off. To get the true message you sometimes have to change your approach. That is what you are doing. You can’t see the message (clearly) until you change your point of view. Ask others what message they received. Question the message. but be aware fallacies, misconceptions and simply a bad message are all normal. Some people just don’t know.... but they still talk anyway. I disagree that that you should stop training Aikido simply because the answers are not clear. Let me ask you a question. Does BJJ practice staff, knife cutting and sword disarming? They practice locks and submissions. Do they practice pressure point manipulation? ..multiple attackers? ..Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo...variations with the weapon...etc. ? breadth control? Trapping while striking or even use the Makiwara when training?

[@SlickTim9905]

Looking more at the Seagal move. It is different. he pushes the lower back above the belt line forward. this is a shoving move that causes the head to lean back. This is not the same thing you are doing in your move. in your move you take the Uke balance as you pivot. pushing and guiding the shoulders down. the downward push takes Uke's balance even more. then you lift upward and cut down ward. this is a downward strike aiming the persons neck and shoulders downward. Seagal is blocking a kick, and then pushing the lower back funneling the person's lower section forward into the closeline strike. The strikes are different and how the balance is broken is different. Please take a look at O-soto Gari, there is a jujitsu variation one with ai-gamae front stike and another with a close lining move. The moves are very similar. This video is not great. it shows you other variations. To do this move you show take the balance first and then plant you right shoulder against Uke's Right shoulder and then throw. the Key to this is the Balance Break not the leg sweap motion. but the sweap and the angle of the impact both drive Uke downward kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYmto31rrdCebbs

[@raoleite]

I love your channel... I'm trained in a few styles (karate, capoeira, judo, kunf-fu, kendo.. a litlle bit o bjj, a little bit o boxe) and was a kunf-fu master that once told me "a true training has 4 steps: you learn a techinique, you learn how to apply the techinique, you understand every aspect of the techinique... Then you put all you have learned to the test in a fight. If your opponent stand still, you have nothing".

[@jacoporegini8841]

As an aikidoka I find these videos both informative and useful, keep it up :)

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Happy to hear that!

[@alphonsofrett2757]

Unfortunately I can't go full speed with older people or smaller people. I accident struck an MMA instructor in the wrong place. Thanks for sharing your hard work 💜 this is changing the reasons why I will train Aikido however this reinforce why I like training Aikido I don't want to hurt anyone unless I have to.

[@danielquezada9902]

This is where your channel really is at its best. Loving this series.

[@arisia5]

Akido was originally used in the context of weapons. Your attacker holds on to your wrist because they are trying to prevent you from using your weapon. They hang on to your wrist for dear life because they know if you break free you will use that weapon against them. The technique you are applying is trying to free you weapon hand so you can use it. If they let go at any point during the technique being used, mission accomplished, that's what you want, now you can use your weapon against them. There isn't any mystery why an attacker is hanging on to your wrist.

[@SurmaSampo]

If that is so why doesn't the attacker also have a knife in the other hand? Historically it is very rare that an unarmed person would attack one that is armed and deemed capable. Most attacks against a person with a knife on show come from someone else with a knife or baton. Where are the techniques that deal with this rather than unarmed drunk guy stupid enough to try and attack armed and trained warrior?

[@DennisTheDane]

@Surma Sampo If you study any style of Japanese swordmanship, you'll find there are a bunch of techniques the unarmed man on the battlefield. In some you'll try get in clinch and draw your opoonents sword. Others you'll try to prevent the opponent from drawing the sword, by grapping his wrist while you could either knee him, headbutt him, punch him with your free hand, or even take his secondary wepon (tanto or wagsashi) and kill him with that. So ofcourse you'll find techniques to prevent that kind of scenario. The same occur with the empty handed techniques. Noone attacks someones wrist. It could be a strike to the eye of the attacker when he's engaging. So he holds on to that wrist, not to get struck in the eye.

[@shingitai5882]

@@SurmaSampoSorry but you have missed the point, the person who is the aggressor is actually the person doing the throw. It works like this you attack a person and they are then trying to control you by grabbing your arm because it is the one with the weapon. The person attacking then counters with a throw or a lock and then finishes the person of once they are in position that they can’t defend themselves. This is the how all so called classical Martial Arts work. The problem is that most people either don’t understand what they are watching and the people who practice classical systems either can’t be bothered to show you, or they don’t want you to see what is actually going on. It is very common for traditional schools not show the full technique in public demonstrations. You have also have to take in account that they don’t want to be seen in a bad light as being violent! The other reason is that some classical instructors think you should work it out yourself from your own personal training. I do get it though some people never understand and they in turn teach people who also then frustratingly don’t understand. I don’t mean to be disrespectful but this gentleman who used to be an Aikido instructor doesn’t actually seem to have very good technique. It is very common in Japanese organisations not to let anyone open a Dojo until they are at least graded to Sandan (third Dan). If you want Aikido to work the technique must be immediate and not as you have seen here which is really just an exercise to show how it works. It is a bit silly to complain that your techniques don’t work when you haven’t got the knowledge to know how to actually apply the techniques in the context of real applications. I have always believed that due to the junior/senior system in Japanese martial arts i.e. you don’t ask questions that a lot of knowledge is lost during training. I believe that this has definitely been done intentionally sometimes. Also the martial arts are in the main when taught to the general public is done as just a hobby and method to improve fitness and not for combat. If they were just taught for combat I suspect the injuries would make sure that Dojo’s would just close down. The founder of Aikido in his life time was considered by everyone who meet him to be the real deal. I blame the recent poor image of Aikido on the poor approach by many instructors. The big secret of Aikido is in its principles not in the techniques once you truly understand that everything will fall into place. It would make more sense that they asked a real instructor to show them the technique, rather than arrogantly thinking that they know why they can’t make it work and trying using there own experience of another art to improve it.

[@alvarotovarmontesinos5556]

That's a good explanation, knowing that aikido comes from ancient jujitsu, which was meant to be used on the battlefield

[@ResidentVentus]

Do you seriously believe in that? This reasoning tells me that Aikido is most useful against stupid persons. Only a total idiot would attack an armed person with bear hands. Also why you don't use your weapon before letting him grab your wrist? Don't get me wrong. I don't want to bash on Aikido. I think if man look deeply man can get benefits from every combat system - including Aikido. What I think is unfair is that people were fulled by sometimes stupid explanations like this nonsense in particular. What is even more dangerous is that people believe in such stories and might expose themselves to a danger because they were implied with false believes.

[@adam-k]

I only studied Aikido for at the university for three years. Again we learned two very different Aikido. On the first day our coach (who insisted on being called coach instead of master or sensei) asked why we want to learn aikido. Those who wanted to learn self-deffence were told to take boxing or wrestling classes aside aikido. "Because to learn to fight you have to fight." He himself was a wrestler. Everybody were told that he teaches the techniques, but they wont work unless you have the physique. So he did advice hitting the gym at least three times a week. He explained with the first technique that what we learn is the form, to learn and understand the principle behind the movements. The principle is not to resist the movements but to redirect them by applying a perpendicular force to it. That is why everything in aikido looks like circles or spirals. Because the attack comes in straight at you, you move out of the way while applying a 90 degree force. And as the force changes direction you maintine the 90 degree. Hence you redirect the force ideally in a way that it hurts the attacker. Either through a joint lock or unbalancing him etc. he went on demonstrating how the same principle is used in almost every other martial arts/ sports. However when you apply this principle in real life you have to do it fast since fight is fast, hence the large movements turn into tight twists. Not unlike Segal does in his movies, however painful it is to admit it he does know his aikido. Also he is a fat jerk now. As for why do the attacker keeps grabbing the hand. It is because that is what attackers do in many situation. Those techniques are not designed to used in a ring. They were not designed to be used in a bar brawl. If a rapist tries to force himself on a woman he wont start boxing or grappling. He will try to grab her hand an hold it tight. If the attacker doesn't hold your hand then you dont do the technique. Aikido doesn't have attacking moves. You cannot decide in advance what move you will do. You have to use what is effective against the attack that is coming.

[@SurmaSampo]

Trying to be purely reactive is suicidal. A tactical fighter will take a position and present an opening to draw a specific attack so that they can counter at first movement before the attack could normally be identified. If I know where you will strike then I have taken control of the fight and made the attacker the reactive fighter one step behind in the encounter. The clever fighter decides what their opponent will do so that they can defeat them with a counter strategy. Just waiting for an attack gives control and the balance of chance to the attacker.

[@adam-k]

@@SurmaSampo You completely missing the point. Aikido was never designed to be used in a ring. it was never designed to spar. It is a tool for self improving and it teaches you some self defense tactics. The idea behind Aikido is that you avoid confontration. Every time when you can avoid the fight you avoid the fight. There is no such thing in Aikido that "Come outside and slug it out" In real life outside the ring nobody will start wrestling you out of the blue. If you cannot walk away then there will be an escalation of aggression. Which then gives an opportunity to do that one technique that breaks some bones or puts the opponent to the ground in which case you can pin the opponent or run away or get some weapons. At that time the fight will be over. Basically every technique in Aikido has the singular purpose to end the fight right then and there. That is the idea. If you are a 110 pound woman and a 180 pound guy wants to rape you. if you start to take tactical position to find your opponent weak point you probably will be killed. What Aikido teaches is to do a lots of damage with relatively little force, or to unbalance your opponent so you can get away. If you are in a street fight and you start to do BJJ or MMA or whatever. If your opponent have a hidden knife and desperate enough to use it, you are fucked. If your opponent have friends who jump in you are fucked. What Aikido teaches is. Do not get into street fight. If you are there, keep your distance, do the one thing that at the time give you the most advantage then get out of that street fight. I know it is not glorious, but this is still probably the best advice any martial art ever given about street fights.

[@SurmaSampo]

@@adam-k Obviously the best defense is to avoid the risk of harm but that has nothing to do with the comments so far. If you can avoid a fight you don't need any martial arts at all because there is no fight. If you have to fight then you need to take control of the fight as early as possible and because as you said "Akido has no attacks" then you are left with hoping your reflexes and training are good enough to avoid getting your teeth sprayed across the floor or dictating your opponent's opening move so you have the position and to counter unharmed and execute your technique. It has nothing to do with sport or sparring (which at least involve pressure testing your martial ability). It has to do with maximizing your ability to use your defense techniques. It is much easier to counter your opponent if you can dictate their attack. You can not learn how to do this effectively actual fight experience like sparring. You can spent more than a lifetime drilling technique but if you don't make the effort to practice it in application all you have done is dance.

[@ProfMonkeys]

You captured the spirit of what Aikido is intended for very well. In its origins, it was devised for people who are already black belts in multiple other martial arts to figure out how to tone down their response when it wasn't necessary. As you said, they are not intended to be used in the ring, but rather are intended to be used when other de-escalation pathways are plausible (generally either the attacker realizing they are wildly outmatched or giving yourself a chance to exit the situation). In practical application, the actual techniques of Aikido aren't great for fighting but the training has tremendous value for avoiding physical altercations. Your awareness of things around you and feeling comfortable when being attacked does a tremendous amount to prevent someone from attacking you in the first place. Retraining your instincts such that you don't freeze up when attacked but instead react by getting off the line of attack is a valuable defensive instinct. My sensei likes to talk about how he started Aikido because he was getting bullied and beaten up and he wanted to be able to defend himself. He never actually needed to use the training in a fight because he stopped getting attacked after that. Incidentally, he has also said in multiple interviews something to the effect of "if you want to learn how to fight, there are much better martial arts than Aikido."

[@esgietheqroue]

Bla bla bla. Theory heaped upon theory within an anecdote. Do you have any actual evidence, such as recorded video material, of aikido working in a bar fight?

[@guilhermebotelho8691]

That training topic is really interesting, that is key. It's so nice to see a martial art when it's trained that "right" way

[@littlestoneliontraditional9838]

This new series, or what ever you want to call it, circling back to what feels like full circle, makes my heart happy. 😁 Very interesting look into Aikido.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@mindbodyaikido9586]

That is an important question, and I think you hit upon a good reason - the training. Up to the 50s and maybe the 60s, aikido was taught as Budo, as a direct application based on reality, ie preserving oneself. More and more, it has become a practice that is disconnected from reality, that is choreographed movement. There are different stages of training. The first is basic, ie from static holds and slow attacks. These are intended to acclimatise beginners to the experience of being grasped, and how to get some movement going in order to do a technique. The problem is, many aikido practitioners still do static holds after many years of practice. Static techniques are artificial, because life is never static - situations always unfold through movement. The second stage is extended moving holds and attacks, with long flowing techniques, the ones you were demonstrating. These are meant to learn the feeling of leading a person, applying centrifugal force etc, yet still require some cooperation from the uke. They consolidate the experience, but are still artificial. The final stage is contracting the feeling of drawing and leading uke, into a tight, direct, devastating movement that uke cannot escape from. The technique becomes no-technique. That is the goal of budo. The uke should not feel what is happening - only the stinging feeling of striking the mat. I see that many, even famous, practitioners do not yet seem to practise at that level. That is why the people they teach are misled.

[@jeet1do]

Another fantastic video. A wise man sees more at the bottom of a well than a fool does at the top of a mountain .🙏

[@hiddenpathwingchun5045]

Great comment.👍

[@mrmiyagi6742]

Great comment

[@scomoonlyfans2640]

love the videos mate, keep it up

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Thanks!

[@Michael-yr5oq]

Since aikido comes mainly from daito ryu and a lot daito ryu comes from sumo, you could make a lot of the throws work in certain contexts that resemble a sumo match.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

That would be interesting to see

[@Michael-yr5oq]

@@MartialArtsJourney kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4KXioqtqtWqn6M

[@morgtv1023]

I second this. And while no martial artist myself, I think getting to incapacitate the enemy through cheap shots would help set up the throws

[@Yoandrys23]

most japanese grappling arts came from or are influenced by Sumo, but the Dai To Context is different

[@Michael-yr5oq]

@@Yoandrys23 I would definitely not say most. Most come from using small arms up close and iaijutsu. Almost all koryu jujutsu schools use weapons extensively, especially the further you go back. There are schools that were influenced by sumo (I am only aware of a handful) but they are the exception, at least in my experience.

[@urieldaluz250]

This video is one I’ve been waiting for, as it mirrors a thought I’ve had in a lot of your other videos. Eager for more

[@tamalafaiki6192]

As a Aikido practitioner for the last 14yrs there has been some niggling things I've started thinking about in my training over the last few years and the way it is taught as well as the no pressure testing both are definitely an issue. The times I truly enjoy my training is when the partner I'm training with decide to "pressure test" by deciding between ourselves to just go for it and in those few minutes of training I learn the most because I am forced to learn or you end up, yes getting exposed. But in saying that I enjoy Aikido and can see the potential but again it's the way it is trained.

[@alittlepuertoricanboy1993]

Honestly, there's nothing wrong with doing aikido for aikido sake. I get it. But if you want to train martial arts to be good at fighting, you seriously need to train it for that purpose, and that's where doing judo and Brazilian jiujitsu are best suited, because that's how the training is based. You drill with a resisting opponent, and you mock fight with a resisting opponent.

[@mccy114]

One suggestion to why your opponent would not let go of his grip on your hand - you are holding a samurai sword or knife with that hand, which becomes an obsession for him to control that he'd rather run circles around you to keep holding on your hand rather than letting go of it. These techniques came from a different historical times and context to our own's.

[@adrianluna9541]

Interesting video. A few thoughts I have... 1. Irimi Nage can absolutely work, especially if you blend it with an O-Soto-Gari. 2. While I understand your statements about the attacker holding onto the wrist, and how Aikido seemingly relies on this, I feel you do not need an attacker to hold onto your wrist, it’s a connection like anything else. Perhaps take the principle of the technique and apply your own connection(s)? 3. I’d be curious for you to work with a known Judo professional. Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, wanted his Judo students to learn Aikido as well, as he saw value in its principles. This is how Tomiki learned Aikido as he was originally a student of Kano. Kano felt the two arts could be blended and students would benefit by cross training in both. Indeed, many of the principles are similar. Good video. Continue on your journey.

[@kevinho2746]

Given Aikido's emphasis on "self cultivation", I wouldn't be surprised if all that holding on to the defender for ages was just meant as a spiritual lesson for the attacker in letting go. Here's what happens if you cling too tight, or if you focus on the wrong thing and miss the big picture. In some of those techniques the attacker is practically putting himself in an arm lock, what could the defender possibly be learning?

[@Chadi]

Hi Rokas, First i want to say great video, Aikido's techniques have a lot of martial value and i think they should have a legit set up for them. Concerning irimi nage, i learned from Tissier sensei that irimi nage the hand that's throwing should have the bicep diagonally on the face to minimize resistance, and the head is held close to the clavicle with the other hand, cause if the bicep is on the neck they can resist with their neck and pec muscles. Regarding koshi nage i saw your bjj teacher do a kata guruma (shoulder wheel) which is in fact a completely different technique, it is labeled in judo as a te waza (hand technique) while koshi nage is a hip technique (koshi waza) for a legit example of Aikido's koshi nage example in judo competition look up Toshihiko Koga's sode tsurikomi goshi, it's a great example of the one hand koshi nage of aikido. Hope this helps, always enjoy your content.

[@bombastikderteutone6858]

I thought about Sode aswell

[@chaos_omega]

I think the reason for continuing to hold on to the wrist is a remnant of the original jujutsu. This would only really happen if you were holding a weapon in your hand that they were trying to control, resulting in a kind of "death grip." I think it's a similar situation to holding on to a guillotine choke, even though the person you are trying to choke has passed to side control (and can now counter with the Von Flue.) They are trying to hold on to what little control they had in vain. You can actually see this behavior when watching knife defence scenario training (usually the higher intensity ones, like what you would see the Dog Brothers doing.)

[@SwordWieldingDuck]

This actually makes the most sense. And also explains why only throwing techniques exist in aikido, since striking is relatively modern invention, before in history it was either a melee weapon or grappling with weapons, never punching.

[@WhiteApeMA]

I really appreciate what you're doing. Been on and off watching your journey. I love your honesty and ability to set aside your pride for the sake of growth. As a guy whose first love and lifelong passion is Chinese martial arts, particularly Taijiquan, as well as traditional Chinese weapon arts, I've taken to BJJ, Muay Thai and boxing/kickboxing to shore up the basics. It is similar to what you're doing with Aikido. I do want to return to those arts again with an actual sense of how to properly engage via these other practices which heavily grind on that very aspect. I feel at that point it will make much more sense when reevaluating the more nuanced applications in these TCMA's. I'm very green on this journey, but I am on it and have great partners in training. Best of luck to you and your journey as well. 😊

[@blainetrahan8883]

Listen I’ve been watching your videos for a couple of years now and I must say I have fallen in love with them. Keep up the good work.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Thanks a lot Blaine! Usually comments which start like that end with saying something rude... 😂 It was a relief to get a supportive ending 👊🙏

[@blainetrahan8883]

@@MartialArtsJourney man forget those haters. Keep rocking your channel. You are helping me with my martial arts journey. I’m 47 and I started 2 years ago. I still suck but I’m not quitting.

[@chrisgk7494]

I mean you can, but as i see it you will pretty much end up with judo or something extremly close to it. And thats after you disregard throws that just don't work and modify the rest to something functional.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

I can see that happening too

[@murphymurph8282]

There're nothing we can do more than grappling and striking

[@64Northern1]

nearly 2 decades of martial arts experience, and just now Rokas learns "it's not what you train, it's how you train"

[@MartialArtsJourney]

To be fair I realized that far longer ago, but you have to consider that I am making these videos not for myself, but for people watching and I want to bring them along the journey :) It's one thing to tell people "this is how it is" it's another to share the process of discovery.

[@tomaslucena607]

Unfortunately I believe he's traded one holy bible for another BJJ has a fantastic training methodology for producing competent fighters but content and the rules prevent it from being a holistic style. Muay thai, judo, boxing, Kali, Pencak Silat or katate may have an alternative strategy and techniques that may increase the effectiveness of what you're trying to achieve or find an alternative solution. BJJ is a great style and popular for good reason but it won't give you the entire equation or skills to deal with situations outside of its skill set. Hence why most BJJ schools have supplementary classes in other styles usually striking based.

[@justasleepparalysisdemonwi8719]

@@tomaslucena607 that is most certainly true, cross training is most certainly important, since there is always going to be a weakness to every style. As far as it goes with Rokas I know he does train kickboxing, and even uploaded a video of him learning how to kick better from a world champion kickboxer, glad he’s not just sticking to one style.

[@Jenjak]

@@tomaslucena607 the criticism you bring upon BJJ is applicable on any discipline. They all apply in a given context. What is important is the training methods. Combat sport have great training methods because competition impose to search for the most effective tactic available in the context. If you have a good method you can apply it and adapt to many different contexts.

[@TheOutlando]

@@MartialArtsJourney And it helped! i was thinking about starting Aikido last year and changed my mind due to your honest and brave channel, which i discovered when i was doing my research. I chose Ju-Jutsu and BJJ instead, and man , it changed my life! It was tough because I'm a 43 year old whitebelt, but i will do this for the rest of my life! I wish i started earlier, but there is a time and a place for everything. Aikido has its place though, and fun fact, we have a couple of Aikido techniques implemented in our (German) Ju-Jutsu, because it was designed for our police forces in the sixties. The Tekubi-Waza for the greenbelt test for instance, to be used in defense situations after a throw or similar technique. Keep up the good work Rokas and thank you again!

[@Johnny1angry1Johnny]

For the first throw just place your heel behind their heel. You don't even have to sweep the leg, you can just peg your heel firmly against their heel and then when you swing your arm into them they flop right over. We used to do this to each other in high school as a prank, eventually after having it happen all the time you get used to defending it but even when expecting it if the person is fast they can still knock you off balance.

[@temple-dojo]

My comments keep disappearing...I guess I can't post video links. It's WHAT you train and HOW you train it too. You might revisit the video we did 3 years ago "Functional Aikido Training for Aikido vs MMA Rematch • ft. Nathanael Chawkin." Iriminage is much easier with a single leg, a knee tap, or osotogari in the clinch. Kaiten nage is best with an underhook 2-on-1 head control + trip. Jeff Chan has an epic Muay Thai kokyu ho - you just need a running start. Nikkyo and Sankyo better set up with four-finger grips. But then, is it Aikido any more? Or is it just MMA with a twist? :)

[@alfonsonajera2439]

Awesome!! I 100% agree with the conclusion!! 😃👍

[@euxion7389]

This is what ive been saying to myself. People whom practice aikido doesnt know how to get to the point where technique works because we are only trained in ways which uke submits to tori. We never get to see wrestling part where attacker starts resisting as pyhsical contact begins. Thats why while training instead of attacking each other with common shomen uchi me and my friends start wrestling to see if those techniques could be used in real situations.

[@willydoeslife]

Great video!! Thank you!

[@sniperwolf50]

My layman impression from your videos is that Aikido seems to be a highly specialised martial art. Using a toolbox as an analogy, Aikido would be the jigsaw. It can do the same job as a hand saw better and faster, but if the situation requires you to hammer a nail or drive a screw and all you have in your toolbox is a jigsaw, you're out of luck. The thing is, hammering nails and driving screws is much more common than sawing boards.

[@TimesNewCanaanite]

Honestly, how Aikido stuck around for so long despite being so illogical is amazing.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Indeed. But there are also a lot of other things which are like that too, like homeopathy. I think that is a reflection of how we lack critical thinking as a society.

[@Hapkumdo]

If you're viewing it as moving meditation, it has its right ;)

[@TimesNewCanaanite]

@@Hapkumdo bro I'm a kumdo black belt btw and former national champ 💪🏾😂 (I ditched that too for MMA)

[@TimesNewCanaanite]

@@MartialArtsJourney that's an excellent point

[@Hapkumdo]

@@TimesNewCanaanite Nice, me too. But what does kumdo have to do with MMA? It's like saying to ditched cycling for MMA - It's great but you just changed sports, it's not like you "upgraded" (no offense, if I misunderstood..)

[@Subfightr]

"he's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we'll hunt him. Because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. A dark knight." That's you homie. Thank you!

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Haha that's awesome Justin! Best compliment ever. Love it

[@combatsportlover6919]

@@MartialArtsJourney I believe I have an answer for why someone would continue to hold you wrist. The ONLY REASON I could see someone doing that in a practical sense is if you had a weapon in your hand. If someone was attempting to disarm you of a blade for example and they grabbed your wrist they would be very hesitant to release it. It is hard to get a hold of the wrist with out taking damage to begin with and letting it go once they finally have it could mean their end.

[@combatsportlover6919]

@@MartialArtsJourney It only works that way if for your opponent keeping control of your wrist is the most important factor in his survival.

[@combatsportlover6919]

@@MartialArtsJourney A lot of these moves are probably counters to Disarm Attempts. This isn't just a wrist grab.

[@darilcaldwell31]

A big issue here is he doesn't know shit

[@toderox]

"i wish you to own your journey" what a great sentence!

[@venomous_spiderx7939]

Great video. I like these videos where you pressure test and try to explore the practical application.

[@tuomaskeltanen]

I don't know did you read my comment the other day,but it seems like you did AND you thought about it. This is a big step forward for you, respect for that 🙏 I'm not aikidoka but I've studied it's principles a bit and trained according to those and I can tell you it's great style if trained right and applied correctly. You're good example of aikidoka that has been taught watered down version and badly. I believe if you continue training you'll get a lot from your aikido years. They didn't go to waste, of you continue studying on a deeper level. But don't fall to just sports fighting, there's a lot in you already for real life altercations, JUST REMEMBER what Ueshiba taught: 99% of aikido is atemi. ATEMI is like throwing sand to eyes, it'll give you time to apply even softest techniques. If you like,send a friend request on Facebook and we can have conversations and share. First I didn't like your thoughts and what you say, to be honest. But clearly you listen your teachers AND use your head yourself, respect for that 🙏

[@KindaNameless]

I've been saying this for a long while! How you practice is just as, maybe more important than the style you practice! I read a thing written by a Muay Thai practitioner, who said his gym just teaches techniques without any sparring for 6 months, and when they finally spar they forget everything they've learnt in that time, yet Muay Thai is known as one of the "most effective" martial arts. The technique has, by my estimate around 1/3 importance and effective training methods around 2/3 importance.

[@budisutanto5987]

You are spot on . . on this one. None of the technique (for instance in Judo) that works in sparing, exactly as it's thought. Modification is a big part at sparing or competition, because your opponent can counter your 'by the book' movement.

[@goshuryusc]

You make a good point about how you training being important. That’s why we first drill without resistance and once the technique is understood, then make Uke ‘live’ and actively resist so that the shite can explore the pressure points of the technique and understand further where and how they need to control Uke.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Can you send some videos of that? I'd love to see it

[@goshuryusc]

@@MartialArtsJourney Here’s one example of this with Ikkajo in a Fundamentals Class - black belts working with beginners: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipybq4OlmLV9fqc

[@nigelcox-hagan6820]

The Steven Seagal technique looks very similar to a maneuver used in American Football called a “Clothesline”, where a defensive player uses their whole arm to ram an offensive player running in the opposite direction in the neck, leading to the same whiplash reaction seen in the video. The move was so dangerous it was eventually banned.

[@eriksanchez4735]

I get a different approach when asked why do I train Aikido. You don't ask someone who trains football what is its application in real life. They will tell you that they play football just because they like football. I train aikido because I like doing it. Aikido is a martial art, not a combat sport. If someone wanted to fight me, I would run or avoid any kind of comfrontation. But that is just my approach and I of course respect other's opinions. I do enjoy your videos as I find them quite interesting. Just wanted to share my opinion. Have a nice day :)

[@TheOGJeff]

When I was learning bagua, my teacher would teach us throws like aikido, but most of the time to actually throw someone you had to throw and trip at the same time, cause some sort of flinching reaction (basically anything that throws someone off balance), learning to become solid like a wall, and then fluid when needed. It's easier to knock someone down that's rigid, and knowing where to push, by crossing imaginary lines coming from someone's heels. It'll tip someone everytime lol, especially when you add the trip and a strong push at the same time. We were also taught how to be more distant and how to close up. My teacher has told me that his style is influenced by madam sun and her father sun lu tang. Apparently sun lu tang mixed Tai chi, xingyi, and and bagua together. My teacher also talked about testing using what works best and that you're not going to be able to think of or use every technique, so basically always train and get good at a couple techniques before just learning it all. He talked about pressure testing, and said that some techniques were for different purposes, or they were mis purposed and showed us the correct way. He has taken that and mixed in what he already knew from boxing, taikwondo, and aikido and judo. Haven't done bjj and would love to try it out, but we never did ground work and we were told that the same applies on the ground as it does standing. You have to think of the ground as just another wall. Yet to put that to a test. We didn't learn for sport though, we learned for protecting ourselves, culture, and helping others, and then he showed us a few brutal things the old techniques were about. Eye gouging, jamming your fingers into someone's nose to do the throw instead, or when you throw, sometimes the throw is intended to slam the head lol. I learned public martial arts are the nice showey ways of doing thing's, and that. Last thing, my teacher always like to say in a funny Chinese voice (is it racist? I don't think it is for a joke, and he lived there for 13 plus years. Gives of a white Asian man vibe lol) "ahh martial arts, all same ting!" lmao and when you think about it and watch others, it really is all the same stuff. There's only so many ways to fight hand to hand

[@andershattne]

As I'm interested to get back into Martial Arts and always liked the wrist locks of aikido, it would be interesting to start with.. MMA? and Aikido at the same time and practice these techniques in a rumble situation!

[@bajanmaster2958]

I have been saying for a while that you can't really say if an Aikido technique works or not because you have never training it with progressive resistance. Boxing is so effective not because of the techniques but because they spend so much time working on speed, power, timing, positioning, distance, etc; without those things the techniques will be useless. It would be interesting to see Aikido being trained this way while maintaining the "try to neutralize while doing minimal damage" philosophy. The only question is if there is a reason to train Aikido this way when there are other martial arts? I say yes. Most martial arts are about doing damage, a judo hip throw on concrete is no joke, but what about security, bouncers and police? They should ideally be neutralizing aggressive individuals without seriously hurting them. Or what about persons who work with violent children? This is definitely where an art with the philosophy of Aikido but trained with progressive resistance would be perfect.

[@Vaille32]

I trained in aikido for a short while before leaving the art. My take away was that some aikido techniques, if used quickly on a non-compliant opponent could cause serious injury to the opponent. There is self-defense value in that, tho it defeats the point of aikido. Aikido is a beautiful martial art; it’s just not an actual combat or self-defense art.

[@idleeidolon]

0:43 "why does the opponent keep holding on to the hand" imagine that arm was holding a knife. your opponent will do their best to keep holding on to that hand at all costs.

[@FelipeFigueiredodeCampos]

Finally I am see you progress. Remember if someone get you hard response is hard.

[@NewWorldMMA1]

Very well done! Excellent video and research 💯🥋👍🏾

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Thanks!

[@horphalamph]

I will say that the active training of sparring is significantly better. As a Shodan in Okinawan Go-Ju ryu, I can personally say that body conditioning isn't enough. Even though that is the entire point of Go-Ju ryu. When I was actually pressure tested in a different dojo, I was taken dramatically off guard with the aggression, but the body conditioning I had endured made me nearly invulnerable to the poor college student, lol. All of my fights ended up with stale mates, or losses. NEVER SLACK ON PRESSURE TESTING

[@travissayre6783]

I believe that most Aikido techniques can be modified for grappling, but to learn those skills you have to grapple with it. I am a Sandan in Judo, Shodan in Tomiki Aikido, and an advanced White Belt in BJJ. I will say from my own personal experience that Aikido has complimented my stand up for both Judo and BJJ.

[@joonasvakkilainen2457]

One way to succeed in a technique is, as you said, create a situation where the technique works. Another, maybe even better way is to react right away with the right technique when the situation happens. This is what I'm trying to do as a judoka, and it's hard, but very rewarding when it happens. Then, your throw feels like just an air and your opponent won't notice anything before.

[@trinidadraj152]

Cool exploration. Just want to throw in what I've learned from people who've tested these same questions. Any kind of small joint locks work best in actual combat IF you combine them with a hand strike in some way while also kicking out the opponent's leg. Kick at the knee or the heel or waist. For people who get good at this their opponent can't concentrate on 3 things at once so it's harder to resist the joint attack. -- Dan the Wolfman is pretty good at pulling off joint manipulations in live sparring.

[@superstarlife22]

The whole point and reason to holding on is to maintain the CONNECTION! which is a very important principle in Aikido. Irimi nage practiced today in all schools of aikido is a very soft version of its original sword based technique used by the samurai warriors on the battle field in the feudal days of Japan. There are many variations to this technique. The more circular movements in Aikido are to allow for a sword although this technique can be done very direct as you have pointed out.. The samurai warriors were all about neutralizing the attack as quickly and as efficiently as possible as it was a matter of life or death on the battlefield. To add in case you havent seen or practiced the original technique focused on a head lock spin and before the samurai would raise their arm to project, they would pull out their knife and cut their opponents throat before the projection. Unless you have had training in Aiki Ju Jutsu the original techniques may have never been clearly explained to you.. Its important to realize that Aikido is not a combat art but the techniques do all originate from a sword based combat system. All Japanese martial arts were weapon based and when you see Martial Arts such as Aikido, Aiki JUJutsu or Bujinkan Tai Jutsu performing any technique without a weapon, its all simulation training from its original form and not to forget that those techniques were designed for the samurai warriors in their full armor ware.

[@a053303]

It's HOW you train, that pretty much sums it up. Sparring will root out any technique that is no realistic or difficult to apply, what is left are things that actually work. I've spent close to 10 years in traditional jujutsu. I got my black belt and felt pretty good about myself to be honest. It's a beautiful art with a lot of locks, throws, pins, weapons, etc... Then, going to a seminar where there were a lot of different martial arts I experienced BJJ. I was basically killed...easily. It was a profound experience as they submitted me with techniques I ACTUALLY KNEW!! The difference was, they had been training them with fully resisting partners, I had not and was completely lost and overwhelmed. So I "knew them" the same way as I can read many books about swimming and become an expert theoretically without actually ever stepping in a swimming pool. I put my black belt and pride away, moved to a BJJ school, put on a white belt and started all over and honestly never looked back. Now 7 years later I'm a 4 stripe purple belt and I still use many techniques that I (superficialy) knew before. The difference is that by now I have done a eg. juji gatame so many times against so many different body types, stress testing it in hard sparring. That is the difference.

[@TRTactical]

I love you journey I think many martial artists have struggled with the questions that you explore I have trained many different systems before I decided to set up a system that I would have wanted to learn when I just started. I think the effectiveness of any system or way of training is in your ultimate goal of why you are practicing it. Martial Arts are in my opinion “arts” where it goes wrong is that many teachers sell it as realistic. Fighting sports are ment for sports they have rules and regulations and even though they will equip you with a better set of skills for self defense then even many self proclaimed self defense systems do they are still sports. And then there is the (reality based) self defense but most of the times that lacks sparring which in my opinion makes it useless. I always tell my students here is what the technique is supposed to look like if you can apply it like this in the streets I’ll come and train with you. After they master the technique I tell them to try and make you opponent fail and see if you can still make the technique usable even if it’s only partly. If you want to really learn how to fight you need to fight as closely to reality as possible and let’s face it 95% of martial artists (me included) Just want to train and pretend they are very dangerous. One of the biggest omissions in martial arts and self defense in my opinion is mindset: fear, pain, uncertainty, law and how to deal with that. Having to deal with a decision chain during a fight and deciding how much force you can use. And finding out during a fight that Any technique you throw has no where near the effect you assumed it would have and not be fazed by it. What ever reasoning people have to get into the martial arts, fighting sports or self defense make sure you enjoy it cause training your entire life for an event that might never come and if it does ever present itself you failing cause your expectations of your skills were different then what you encountered, really sucks. Good luck on you journey

[@MrOresko]

In order to make Iridi nage to work, all you need to do is put your right leg (if you using your right arm) to the opponent's right leg, and sweep. I watched this technique before, and I was thinking about it. You will turn into this into osoto gari. I used this hand around neck osoto gari during BJJ sparring. And normal osoto gari during pub fight. It works.

[@archonXII]

I agree to the statement too "how you train with it" Also i am amaze too on how you explore them with critical thinking skills. If its ok sir i would like to ask: Training first without resistance is to learn the form in each technique in Aikido. How would the techniques be applied if the partner is resisting? Will it be effective with Atemi? With putting pressure on nerve points? Explore every possibilities in one technique. Can a technique be in use directly (such as Seagal's neck throw)? with rotation? Or with redirecting the force of a strike to another direction? When is an aikido or any art technique can be applied? Can it work againts a variety of attacks? I pray sir God will guide you 😊 God bless

[@namelessandfaceless9822]

Amazing video man. Props.

[@stanispasov5685]

I love what you are doing. There are 2 tipes of aikido. if you trained for 15 years you must have seen different schools and different opponents. And ye the tings you do in the dodjo seem not usable until you have to defend properly. Then it starts to make sense. Keep doing what you are doing.

[@genvoorhees]

I think there are two primary issues with the way Aikido is trained in my experience. The first, you hinted at, is that there is no fleshed out application stage of training. Randori is useful for learning awareness and managing multiple people, but it's not what most people would call true to life, as you said. The second issue is my own observation. Based on the movements in Aikido, and stories I have heard about Osensei, it seems like Aikido was designed primarily for dealing with opponents who were armed with a sword. In this context, the broad circular movements make sense. When trying to manipulate a sword, it is good to keep it away from your body. The problem with this that not many people use swords now days, so using this as a baseline for teaching the techniques creates an application barrier which is hard for many to get past.

[@ProfMonkeys]

I don't want to claim that any of these techniques are effective in the contexts you are talking about, but I do find some striking differences in how you were trained to get into these techniques and how I have been trained to get into them. With koshinage, for instance, we generally are trained to get into by first rotating your wrist so you can grab them back. As a result, it doesn't matter if they keep holding on or not. Also, the variations on iriminage you talked about were interesting, because I have learned many of the variants you covered as kokyunage throws, rather than referring to them as iriminage.

[@danielcarranza9699]

Now that you are looking for a more functional explanation of aikido, you should go to a tomiki aikido dojo, because they do randori and it can help you a lot in your analysis, the ude kime nage in tomiki is called mae otoshi and they apply it in a very functional way , I hope that information will serve you, greetings and congratulations.

[@vincentmarquez3096]

I did Aikido years ago at a tiny dojo that prided itself on live sparring and discarding the techniques that didn't work. What you got was like...basically judo except we did cool wavy arm motions after we hit a throw.

[@H4I2I2EE]

3:22 is where iriminage was applicable instead of trying to continue to force that technique with strength versus strength. When you twist around and went up right then. I think his force was pulling you up and he was sort of falling backwards.

[@zzzaaapppeee]

I appreciate what you're trying to do in your videos, but... If you have a very bad aikido like you're showing, don't put the blame on aikido about your ineffectiveness. If you perform aikido in that way and test it with any serious martial arts practitioner, always will happen the same. Is good to test what you learned, but first you must be sure you've learned it well

[@RicardoSantos1784]

I agree, i saw so basics errors in techiniques, for example udekimi nage, theres no the basic Twist of hand.

[@RicardoSantos1784]

I like the jouney, i hope see him training aikido again.

[@enzoventurieri8671]

Assume you have a weapon in your hand, that's why the person will not let go that hand for so long

[@hamadalrowaie6882]

position before submission !

[@nathanwhitfield4462]

Your channel is one of my favorites brother keep it up 👍

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Thanks Nathan! Glad to know that

[@nandoxus]

My father took me into an Aikido school when I was 8. I kept training till I turned 14. Then it became extremely obvious to me that it was ineffective in real street fights. So I joined a Muay Thai school and finally got into MMA. Oh man I got pummeled by those BJJ guys and I loved every second of it. I miss the katana training in the Aikido school tho

[@BFGalbraith74]

The reason WHY the attacker holds on so long is the MAIN purpose of that throw was to break grips, so you can get out of grappling range and back into wakizashi range. See also Heinkido (or whatever you want to call Christopher's practical applications.)

[@siddharthqaz]

That throw you were calling the Steven Segal technique is called Osoto Gari in Judo.

[@angelsjoker8190]

It's similar, but not quite the same. O soto gari would additionally use your leg to sweep your opponent (it's translated as "big outside reap" as your leg acts like a scythe to reap the opponent). This is also something I would suggest to make the Aikido technique work. Put your own leg behind the opponent's legs so he can't make a step back to gain balance again.

[@DB-xz1sb]

its a Clothesline from HELL!

[@gam3rfr3ak13]

It looks more like osoto otoshi

[@rubenrelvamoniz]

In o soto gari the power of the reap comes from the leg.in imiri nage comes from the upper body

[@angelsjoker8190]

@@rubenrelvamoniz It's kind of both in O soto gari. You unbalance the opponent with the upper body and make him fall with the reap of the leg.

[@chadthundercock5641]

People rag on Aikido, and rightly so. It's laughably useless for a fight. But jokes aside, the reason Aikido doesn't work, but Jiu Jitsu does, is because every single aspect of Aikido is based on the premise that your opponent is compliant, and will let you perform techniques on them. Whereas in Jiu Jitsu, everything is based on the premise that your opponent will not let you do these things to them, and you have to force it. Whether that's with superior technique or just with brute force, it doesn't matter. The point is, you have to make it happen. Love these functional aikido videos

[@njosborne5540]

Rokas - do you feel that your Aikido background gave you an edge / advantage in learning BJJ or MMA in general (body awareness, knowing how to fall, cut angles, gauging distance and timing, etc.)? How long did it take you to progress from white belt to blue belt in BJJ? Your videos are very informative and I enjoy watching them.

[@WestonSimonis]

I know a lot of what you are talking about because I did Aikido for 4 years after I got my Black Belt in an MMA art called KaJuKenBo. When I trained the art Aikido I only went into Aikido to get sword fighting training because it was the only school in town teaching it. I had to as well adjust many of the techniques to really work and throw out the crap. I believe some of it was trained that way because it was based on your opponent having a large bladed in their hands. As for them holding on to your wrist, I do agree that was crap until I taught okay maybe they are holding on to my hand because I have a sword or some kind of bladed in my hand. Do some of those large movement throws with a knife or sword in your hand why they are holding on to your wrist while in that large movement see if it cuts your opponent. You might not get the throw but as the person with the blade, you might just cut the crap out of your opponent. I to study the arts of Jujitsu, including BJJ, JJJ, and Aikido the history of Jujitsu root came from the samurai's so in my studies the Aiki Jitsu seemed to me an approach of Jujitsu with a weapon in hand. Take the weapon out of your hand and it is lost. Many have watered down the art making it friendly with no real sparring. No Live = practices of crap master or crap.

[@jasonharris644]

Awesome video!🙏

[@michaeldelaney1058]

To the point that many systems can effectively be utilized with a few techniques, despite whole curricula full of options, my sensei often says that basics are the highest techniques one can learn, and everything else is just a rendition or combination of basics. Personally, when I used to be an assistant instructor in a previous dojo, I felt it was more important to teach newcomers something simple but effective they could pull off if they got attacked that very night or the next day, rather than making them wait months or years to get good at complicated structures which would only serve in a very specific circumstance. Yes, push yourself in learning and adapting, but don't ignore the simple blocks, locks, strikes, foot work, etc., that will far more likely be the key to survival.

[@hectrol2937]

I think I have an answer to the question "Why do aikido atackers keep holding the hand?". Aikido was developed in a time were people used to carry knifes and swords. In that time, if you released your oponent hand, he could cut you with his knife. Probably many aikido technices were developed to release from a grab while you are holding a kinfe or a sword (think of Shiho Nage, Kaiten Nage or even Irimi Nage)

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Why would it be still trained like this today though?

[@odudog]

@@MartialArtsJourney Rokas, since you're so into thinking. You need to think more deeply. Here is the modern day scenario that I use to help explain this when I teach. "You're cooking dinner. You're holding a knife because you're cutting vegetables. The bad guy does a home invasion. So you are now trying to stab him with the knife that you were already holding. The bad guy grabs your wrist and continues to hold on to prevent you stabbing him. Now, do the Aikido techniques that are available: irimi nage, sankyo, kokyu nage, koshi nage, sumi otoshi, kaiten nage, nikyo, kata guruma, shiho nage, kotegaeshi, ago ate, hiji anime, kamate.

[@hectrol2937]

@@MartialArtsJourney That's the point. In the past it could make sense, but not nowadays. Nevertheless, people keep practising aikido without questioning

[@robertmcdowell8367]

Over the years, I've added the circular motion of Aikido to my American Kenpo and added the strikes. Sifu

[@Artahe]

One argument I've heard about aikido having such long winded techniques is that it's simply a set up. In other words, it's made to remind the practitioner that they could be forced to transition to another technique depending on the actions of the opponents in retaliation. For example, you could start kote gaeshi, but the opponent reacts in a certain way that forces you to switch to another technique, such as irimi nage, but then another reaction happens, and you're dealing with, say, koshi nage, and so, the long winded moment between the agression and the actual throw is just a reminder of that, with the actual throw itself being actually much more direct and to the point. Another argument, this time by Léo Tamaki, is that Aikido, or rather its ancestor Daito Ryu, was created at a time when people who would train in the discipline would always be armed, first with lances (yari), then swords (katana, wakizashi), so the likelyhood of them being completely unarmed was really low, but if that was to happen, they'd still have their tanto, or knife, and, in that aspect, aikido techniques make a bit more sense, as a "throw" would simply be a way to "open up" the opponent and be able to use your tanto. For example, kote gaeshi opens up the side opposed to the hand being wrist-locked. Irimi nage could simply be a way to charge an opponent an knife him in the throat. So, those techniques might work the way they're practiced BECAUSE they're used with weapons in mind, but if we're actually wrestling, or fighting hand to hand, those techniques HAVE to evolve. If kote gaeshi wasn't supposed to be a throw, but just an unbalancing to open up the opponent's side and be able to stab him, then it will be completely useless in a setting without weapon, and without the possibility to actually maim or kill your opponent, which means they HAVE to evolve, and a kote gaeshi from a samurai will completely differ from a kote gaeshi from a MMA practitioner, if that makes sense. That's at least how I see it :)

[@rubenrelvamoniz]

Thats how you do an effective imiri nage. No overly flowery movements.

[@ThingsIdRatherBeDoing]

I always heard that you keep holding on as a means of controlling the hand/s, and the weapon, and that if you let go the technique immediately becomes different, for instance you'll just get hit with that hand. This wasn't often practiced, which is the issue, but it sounds good in theory, that the akido techniques are in response to that style of attack. It's the other what ifs that are the problem. I also never bought into the attack response with a fast punch or kick, sorry but those arts are just too fast, and I never saw that trained against. I like these videos, but I would really like to see the same type of perspectives from someone that is indeed a die hard akidoist. Across the board I always found they really enjoyed discussing all the issues I would bring up, from my striking background.

[@brunomenezes1410]

I follow ur journey for like more than an year Even tho i live in brazil and good bjj gyms are everywhere u made me love aikido instead When this virus goes out i will probally try some aikido with a friend Cause in the gym i pretend to go the teachers do some multiclass (with boxing and other arts) sparring And than i will try to incentivise this even more Ur point of not having the enemy showing resistance and than u not adapt the techniques may be the real goal

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Sounds great Bruno!

[@shishbarko6910]

Orange belted ( supposed to be green/blue belted after a soon to come test hopefully ) here, from what I was taught about the iriminage is that when you grab the hand and stick it to your waist is for when the attacker is holding a knife ( idk if it works on swords tho ) , and from my perspective I think that it's to help in unbalancing the opponent , my sensei teaches it with telling us to show resistance when he applies it on us and it seems to work fine! , but seeing that the aikido is just about peace and defense in a way with a few possible flaws , my sensei teaches us a hybrid resulting from aikido mainly , with some moves from kickboxing and kung fu and the defensive attack martial art , a good combination I must say and I applied some in real life ( even tho beginner moves but still they work! [ so far ] ).

[@m5a1stuart83]

I really like that Irimi Nage, I always take the arm drag first and few techniques that your master show in the video.

[@anatanonamaeto]

I think the attacker doesn't let go of the hand, because the original intention (in lots of Koryu) is to stop someone from drawing their knife. In Aikido, this assumption is missing, so a lot of the slow motion tactics are missing the intent of stab or be stabbed within the grapple, thus turned into nonsense dance.

[@jamesfrankiewicz5768]

It's missing in some dojos, but not all. My instructor will frequently grab a training knife or short sword when he wants to make a point about how the technique works.

[@anatanonamaeto]

@@jamesfrankiewicz5768 not the same to be explained as to practice with the understanding that either person can and likely does have a knife that they will go for if they feel they are losing etc. Just showing the reason is not the same as training.

[@doubleb222able]

Have you ever watched an elite level wrestler? Or an elite level judoka? When you've combined a very gifted individual with dedication and devotion to the perfection of their technique, they look amazing with a level of elegance that cannot be put into words. But to get to that level, they have had to learn how to deal with physicality of aggressive confrontations. I do believe aikido was once very effective, but only in the hands of Morihei Ueshiba. Aikido was his personal expression of martial arts and a lifetime of knowledge and training how to deal with aggressive environments. I have speculated for decades that this was the case and too many tried to merely imulate emulate and duplicate the movements of Ueshiba without the level of experience he attained. A judoka who can execute a 1 handed Tai Otoshi in the Olympics, or a freestyle wrestler who hits a knee tap off of a Russian tie in the Olympics, looks effortless and "aikido like". I think your quest for the functionality of aikido rest with less bjj, and more judo and wrestling.

[@canadafree2087]

Your coach looks like my Yoshin Ryu jujutsu, in that things are kept closer/tighter and we don't expect the attacker to go along with it.

[@dmandy7968]

To be Devil's advocate... HEMA guy here Maintain wrist control to stop your opponent from drawing their sidearm?(Pistol/Knife)Although, I wouldn't risk using only one hand to do so. Do some of these techniques work better/only armed/armored? Not saying this is the case here but I think it is something you should consider in future videos when examining historical martial arts. Fun videos as always

[@andriygolovnya]

Aikido comes from Takeda Daito Ryu. This is mostly an adaptation of sword technics for unarmed use. And this technics a perfectly worked/working in their environment. I have successfully used Aikido Yoshinkan (earlier form) technics against Karate practitioners, who train a lot more street-ready way. Aikido Aikikai (late form) is pure dancing on green mates. So he is correct with many stuff he says a bout martial arts training.

[@daviddupont517]

Totally agreed the problem is how is it teach and learn. I learned irimi more in a "Steven seagal" way. For me aikido technique have to be short and simple. And about not let the hand go. I was told that if the opponent did then change immediately the technique and do something else because condition is not there anymore. And it's true for all technique. You will not try to hit where he was 5 second early? Aikido need the opportunity and that what is the most difficult. Nobody can "force" the technique on someone. Back to the hand, some technique come from people with knife or sword. So you better not letting that hand get the knife or it will be harder 😅

[@raphael.borbon]

This guys is the reason why Aikido will be back

[@MrMattias87]

Well to simply put it and using the term from Iain Abernethy Aikido is not designed for "consensual fighting". it is basically compliant training to learn techniques and principles through a two man kata. That is the structure and also curriculum. I would say if one were to make aikido more practical then you would have to leave your Aikido organisation and build your own Aikido club based on self defense. The training curriculum of Aikido organisations won't give you self defense. However if one were to learn the combative roots of Aikido then you would have to find yourself a traditional jujutsu school. I would also say that the turning movements in Aikido would probably work in a clinch scenario....watch muay thai guys do it as they do it all the time when they're clinching they lead the opponent and then turn & throw.