[bamboo]

How long have you trained Aikido?

I have trained aikido for roughly 7 years, on and off for the first 3, 5 days a week since 1999.

Have you ever trained anything else? How does Aikido compare to other arts you've trained?

I started my martial arts training originally in Karate while living in Germany on an American Airbase, I went on to practice Judo as a teenager in Canada on Canadian forces Bases.

I found Karate as a child to be a bit of a turnoff as we focussed so much on tournaments (which I never participated in) that the hard work I expected never materialized, although, looking back I am thankful because I learned solid punching and kicking which I can continue to this day, I do prefer to keep my feet on the ground though!

Judo was amazing because it was soldiers teaching it and they emphasized effective take downs and finishes. I still use judo to this day when I get stuck in the clinch and my uke is a little too rooted and not giving me energy, or I can?t find a small joint to manipulate.

Once I started aikido I was hooked, it only became a matter of finding the right dojo and teacher. To me its all the power of judo without the effort. The falls are easier on the body since the philosophy is not to ?finish? your attacker but rather to throw them away from you. Aikido taught me an awareness that just was not there before, true budo.

What art would complement Aikido very well for cross-training?

I would recommend not crosstraining when you start aikido. Take a striking art and some ne waza before starting aikido then begin. Aikido is damned hard and takes years to learn, average black belt time is 5-8 years in north America. Blending and controlling using small joints and not hurting your attacker is very hard to do, I?m not afraid to admit that most of my waza still uses pain as a manipulator, one day I hope to get it. It really is a life time art.

What are some of the biggest misconceptions about Aikido, and why are they false?

That we cooperate. We do at the beginning to learn, as time passes active resistance is used. The better you are, the less effort you use and the faker it often looks.

That we do no touch throws- Uke moves not to get hit, if he/she takes a dive, well that?s garbage.

That it is all soft- It looks very soft and is at a higher level, but you need to work darned hard to get to that level. Our sensei says start like a rock, turn into wood, one day flow like water.

Hope this answered your questions

bamboo