Books

[mam]

Am a beginning martial arts student of aikido. Had one class in aikido for beginners at a park board gymnasium, and it was enlightening. One day, i hope to find take a class for beginners at a Sensei Steven Seagal Tenshin dojo. So far, i read many books from public libraries about aikido, tai chi, hsing i, ba gua, and qi gong. I want to be as prepared as much as possible before i dedicate myself to any martial arts dojo

[disgruntled]

that is great. what books have you read? can you recommend any?

i really like the concept of Aikido, i like the concept of being able to control someone without hurting them. and i think that it is a great MA because it teaches all the basics of controlling an enemy that you find in every MA, but aikido goes much more indepth!

how many aikido classes have you had? do you enjoy it so far?

[mam]

Originally Posted by disgruntled

that is great. what books have you read? can you recommend any?

i really like the concept of Aikido, i like the concept of being able to control someone without hurting them. and i think that it is a great MA because it teaches all the basics of controlling an enemy that you find in every MA, but aikido goes much more indepth!

how many aikido classes have you had? do you enjoy it so far?

i've read a book titled "Aikido For Beginner's" authored by Sensei Larry Reynosa, and i highly recommend this book for beginning aikido students.

i've had only one aikido class and i enjoyed it. it is hard remaining with books about aikido, but i figure it's got to help in the long run with just scholastic studies, even if i can't train in aikido at the moment.

yes, aikido goes into the esocteric realm with 'ki' or flowing energy, which enhances one's practice with aikido. basically, ki helps the aikido practitioner to rely on universal energy rather than using physical strength to repel various attackers from all sides and all angles

[disgruntled]

have you used any videos? you are right, there is only so much you can learn from a book on aikido. aikido, more than most, is really dependent upon touch and feel. it is right up there with BJJ in that sense.

i have taken Hapkido for many years and there is enough cross over between hapkido and aikido that i know a fair bit of aikido. i have read up on aikido, and i find that when you have a physical understanding of aikido, the books are invaluable to strengthen that knowledge and make it more indepth. so you are ahead of the game that way!

[sirdarksol]

Aikido is an interesting art. I hope to learn from it eventually, though I just don't have time right now.

[Hatori]

I thoroughly enjoyed my aikido days and was gutted when I had to change disciplines as the "knee-walking" was crippling me but I learnt a huge amount. I can highly recommend it as a martial art!

[disgruntled]

Originally Posted by sirdarksol

Aikido is an interesting art. I hope to learn from it eventually, though I just don't have time right now.

have you considered buying a book and adding in some of the aspects? i too do not have time to learn aikido so that was my solution.... granted not the best, but the best for now.

Originally Posted by Hatori

I thoroughly enjoyed my aikido days and was gutted when I had to change disciplines as the "knee-walking" was crippling me but I learnt a huge amount. I can highly recommend it as a martial art!

what is "knee-walking"?

[sirdarksol]

I have thought about that, and may do so after I understand some of the concepts of Reiki and shiatsu (partly because they're on my plate first, and partly because understanding them will help with understanding aikido).

I'm guessing that knee-walking is similar to a kenjutsu/iaido technique for quickly crossing a room without having to waste time standing up. You start in a typical seiza (kneeling, sitting on heels) position. When you have to move, you raise up slightly, bringing your right leg up so that your right foot is on the ground, and both knees are at right angles. You then drop the right knee down while raising the left so that the left foot is on the ground, and both knees, again, are at right angles.
As far as I know, the only reason to step with the right foot first is simply because it makes drawing the sword (which is seated on the left hip) possible.

[disgruntled]

I have thought about that, and may do so after I understand some of the concepts of Reiki and shiatsu

how have you incorpoated this into your MA?

as far as knee walking goes... we have something like that in Hapkido but we hop. i think it was called rabbit hop or bunny hop....