Henry Kono Sensei - Aikido Secrets Revealed to the Irish

[@alf3597]

Hallow I've lllstend to many instructors on akido andi have enjoyed doing akido many years ago I am 76years of age now and because of some health set backs I had too give my instruction up I found this very hard and still miss the the harmony between me andy cless mates. All working together and helping each other too improve along the way this video I have really enjoyed by senci Henry Kano is the best explained I have ever watched for he shows and explains every movement too the class of what we are trying to achieve true harmony not the opposite for akido is not an agressive art like karate or many other martial art forms I practised shukokoi karate for many years a very fast style and then decided too try akido I still go throu the mpvements at home I don't half miss the practise in my club with my club mates and instructor those were the days I have watched Henry's videos over and over againe a very good instructor with lots knowledged Alf

[@JustMe-vz3wd]

What an excellent video, not only of historical value but also because Kono sensei is only one of few westerners (Kono has a Japanese background but still must be considered a westerner, or outsider of Japanese society.) including Andre Noquet, that fully grasped Aikido and we can learn a lot from them. As for me, after two decades of training, i finally start to grasp a little bit what they actually really are saying, and its very very helpful, and rarely said by the many other western aikido "sensei's". THANKS FOR POSTING.

[@guillaumeerard]

Thank you Robert for putting those videos out for everyone to enjoy. Wonderful memories and very happy to be a part of it (it's me at 1:51:15 :) )

[@Kakushitoride]

Lucky you to have been a part of this! I am afraid that I only learned about Kono Sensei's teaching from his students who felt my methods share some features with Sensei's, unfortunately so close to his death that I was never able to have the pleasure of getting his wisdom directly. Are you still practicing?

[@KuldipSinghChiheru]

Henry was the Einstein of Aikido. Truly incredible.

[@JustMe-vz3wd]

One of the few westerners who grasped the true n nature of Aikido. A true Einstein indeed.

[@johnvem949]

In simplest terms, do you think that if I take Aikido lessons that can ever help me defend myself in a real street fight?

[@AikidoPortal]

Yes it "can ever" help you defend yourself "in a real street fight". But it's up to you to figure that you in time. The day to day practice of Aikido is for personal development.

[@johnvem949]

@@AikidoPortal Personal development? Please enlighten me.

[@alf3597]

Yes it will help you Given time if you practice for it wil with the flow of the lmovement in a. A relaxed state of mind extending ki moving your body in a circular movement out of the way of the person attacking you With his intent too hurt you so please give it a fair try and you won't look there instructere like Henry who show and demonstrate this and one can see it works alido has helped me and my confidencer Alfred feansp don't think too long try it in our friendly clubs I prayoved in longsight Catholic club many years ago I'm mow seventy six and still go throu the movements one never forgets good luck alf

[@andrewrodriguez7310]

@@johnvem949 It teaches the importance of releasing ego as it restricts energy flow.

[@jeremymanson1781]

Aikido is not focused on 'self-defence' or 'combat'. My aikido instructor advised that the fastest way to acquire some basic fighting skills was to take up boxing. Aikido takes years to achieve a good standard. Many people who take up aikido have already trained in other martial arts.

[@gregparagele6892]

I love aikido as my exercise

[@larkhallman]

If you think these physics principles don’t work then one should watch Fujitsu Sensei

[@DaveCISpanish-xz8sk]

At 1:33 Henry explains what to do when nage is being held hard. I do not understand what he said to do. Something about nage tightening or extending slightly just before uke clamps down hard on his arm. Could someone explain exactly what he is doing at this point? (I have been doing aikido for a while) Thank you!

[@shingitai5882]

I trained with this instructor when he came to the Isle of Man after Alan Ruddock kept saying how good he was. He told us how Henry was a sort of favourite of O’Sensei and since he hadn’t be brought up in Japan but could speak fluent Japanese and came from a Japanese family he got away with asking direct questions, which the other students wouldn’t dare ask because of the culture. I think his approach was different although I dispute he was doing anything different from the basic principles. I think the truth is people just don’t want to apply the principles when they practice. Sorry but I have to say this although I think he had a unique approach. I found him to be bitter, rude and disrespectful and a little inappropriate at times. I also found that when you put pressure on him to apply a technique he couldn’t do them as he was so use to students being very cooperative. I have never trained with a senior Aikikai instructor who couldn’t apply techniques. It is a shame he always seemed to practice with independent groups which didn’t have a high standard of students. Maybe there was reason for this.

[@kingofaikido]

I think you will find that most so called 'masters' had this problem. If only they were honest about it.

[@AikidoPortal]

Hmmm, should I try to address this comment? sigh... maybe not.

[@alf3597]

@@AikidoPortal I trained in akido for a few years in MC the trouble is these days some people or students of akido like too over power the attacker in destructive way hand yes it works put surely we are all trying too get away from using too mush force. to stop the attacker and controling him or her this is going against all the pricinles of the founder ushebe senso are we really learning what sen ushiba exspesed throu out is life for us all too follow I did many style of karate I am 76of age and still go throu what the movements at home every day only for having my bowel removed some years back and having too wear a bag was difficult for me so I had to give akido up before that I trained in shukokoi and before that shoto khan forgive any spelling mistakes so it depends what a person wants from there instructor sense the correct instruction or not that is in harmony and not with all the pricinles that makes akido different than most other martial arts I have watched Henry on video and I would follow.his instruction that's if a person wants too really get better it's up to the every person or akidoist too do what the want to do for Henry explains and shows to the class how akido should be done after many years watching and learning from the master ushiba sence Alfred dean just my opinoin

[@orangetabby4170]

I never met or trained with Mr. Kono. However, I believe that his impressions and interpretations of O'Sensei's art are of tremendous value and merit consideration and reflection. Kono himself wrote (in an excellent article on the guillaume erard website): "...I am forcing no one, not even my own students, to do it like this, nor do I say that it is the only way to do it. I am just proposing another way to perform the techniques that you all know, a way that corresponds more to how the founder was performing them. I am eighty years old, I am well past the style quarrels and I just want to pass on what I have understood to whoever wishes to learn." As with all teachers, it is up to the student to take what you find of value and leave the rest.

[@shingitai5882]

@@orangetabby4170 I did train under him and my criticism is with his personal attitude to students and his overall behaviour not of his technical approach to Aikido. I never said his approach was bad but rather I strongly disagree with what a lot of others who think he is the best instructor and was the only one who understands what O’Sensei was teaching! This is in my opinion really a reflection on the fact that what I know of his teaching he mostly taught to independent groups who weren’t exposed to many high level instructors and from again in my opinion weren’t of a high standard due to their insular political attitude. His approach was unique and very open about trying to verbally explain what he was doing but he got very mad with students when they couldn’t replicate his technique, yet when he himself was put under pressure to demonstrate on a student who wasn’t a hundred percent cooperative such as a beginner who didn’t know what he was trying to do his ability failed unlike when he was demonstrating on a senior, yet I have never seen that happen with a senior Aikikai instructor and that is again from my own personal experience. I may not be very diplomatic but I feel my observation and experience gives a more honest view from those that have a reason to blindly revere Sensei Kono.

[@zenshinacademy4096]

Very much enjoyed watching your channel.

[@alf3597]

Alfred sorry about spelling mistakes I've mis placed my classes alf

[@pauldorman1355]

Right

[@Pawel-pq7dk]

to dalej nie umiecie Języka Polskiego?*?

[@kingofaikido]

How frustrating..! His explanations are clear as mud..!!

[@AikidoPortal]

It's because he is trying to explain something that cannot be explained. Words alone only scratch the surface. Ultimately you have to figure it out for yourself at a very deep level after many years of practice.

[@kingofaikido]

@@AikidoPortal Not really. It can be explained but there are personal, social, technical, cultural, ethical, epistemological, professional and financial reasons why it is prudent not to. Then, there are personal failings, mixed motives, compromises made with an audience that is fickle, competitive, ignorant in the Eastern spiritual sense. It's surprising, to be honest, that, as a Nikkei, he can sound so confident, with such an inability to teach what he knows and yet demonstrate what he knows quite well. Apart from, then, an inability to be clear, he is also what we might say in our culture 'unintegrated' (as in Ken Weber's integral theory of spiritual wholeness) because, judging by his inability to teach, or deliberate 'not-teaching', his mind is split off from his body and vice versa (the famous mind-body split Tohei made a mint from). But there are multiple holisms, as you may know, East-West, North-South, and other more novel and particular cultural imbrications Irish-Japanese-Indian-English, for example. But is there such a thing as a holism of speechlessness..? Teachlessness..? But then this is a teaching that cannot be taught. But is it a teaching that can be learned though..? That's the rhetorical question I wish to pursue for my PhD. FYI, I was a professional aikidoka for 14 years, six hours a day. Sundays off. Born into an aikido family. Spent most of my fifty years of life contemplating it with both my body and my mind, processing stuff through my emotions too, and imagination. It is not a martial art but a means of self-inquiry and a way to understand what humanity may mean in its deepest and broadest sense.

[@carduchi5881]

@New Zealand Aikido. As a newbeginner with interest in aikido (Taoism in general) I have to admit had alittle difficulty following or more accurately understanding what he was aiming at. A pitty if u ask me since he is a master one wish could learn from. Wished if it was possible since you are bread and buttered in the art you could explain what he didnt to your ability. Will appropriate it. :)

[@kingofaikido]

@@carduchi5881 Aikido is due for a massive self-reflection.

[@carduchi5881]

@New Zealand Aikido. Do you mean the whole art due to self reflection? Meaning the philosophy, principles and the method? Could you elaborate on your statement please. Thank u.