A Simple Aikido Guide

One of the most unique martial arts in existence is Aikido. Aikido focuses on the combination of the powers of the mind and body as well as the forces of nature. The art respects the energies of life and nature and directs these energies physically by channeling them harmoniously. Aikido was founded by Morihei Ueshiba of Japan sometime around the earlier parts of the 20th century. The art is based on circular movements as well as the talents of Morihei Ueshiba who was an extraordinary swordsman and a skilled practitioner of the martial art of Daitoryu Aiki-Jujitsu.

Aikido isn't just a form of physical defense but rather a way of life. By defining your life through this martial art you gain better skill, dexterity, concentration and a long lasting sense of peace of mind. The art of Aikido makes the physical use of body movements as well as an internal energy known as Ki rather than focusing on the use of energy and brute strength to protect yourself from your attacker. Aikido is often seen as a form of defense since its primary aims are created in order to protect you from harm and keep you free from trouble. However the techniques of this art are quite powerful and efficient at the same time.

Primarily four basic techniques exist in the practice of Aikido. The first of these techniques is the katai technique, this one focuses on your basic body movements and breathing patterns, the second is the Yawarakai which teaches the defendant how to properly deflect attacks and how to use the power of the attacker in order to control the events that occur. The third technique is the ki-no-nagare which places an emphasis on teaching the defendant on how to protect themselves and align properly with the movements of an attacker before the attacker makes contact. Ki is the final Aikido technique and it focuses on linking the ki or spirit of the defender and the attacker.

Anyone who is training for Aikido requires a sparring partner. The practice and training in Aikido takes two people and these are the Uke and the Nage. The Uke is seen as the initiator of the attacks while the Nage is the person who defends from any incoming attacks.

Some of the basic Aikido techniques that are included in training include the Ikky which is carried out by putting one hand on the elbow and the other by the wrist. By doing this you give the defender the opportunity to wrest the attacker towards the ground. The next move is the niky and this move provides the Nage with the ability to grip the Uke by using a wristlock and drawing in. Sanky makes use of a rotating technique in order to manipulate the entire arm including the elbow and shoulder region. The Yonky is a technique for controlling the shoulders by making use of both hands in order to grip the forearm region. One other technique is the Goky which is the variant of Ikky technique.

Martial Arts Training - 10 Things That You Can't Get From Solo Training

Are you frustrated with the lack of a good teacher or martial arts school where you live? Are tired of running into those who only want to focus on sport martial arts, or who focus on kids programs?

Are you trying to learn Ninjutsu - the art of the Ninja, but can't find anything more than groups limited to teaching Budo-taijutsu - the armed and unarmed self defense method.

Well, I feel your pain. It seems that, if you want to just learn some martial arts moves, you can go just about anywhere. But, if you're looking for more - if you're looking for strategy, or the life lessons that give meaning and purpose to your self defense skills, then the reality is that options are few and far in between.

The lack of good quality teachers, or the presence of a school nearby - regardless of whether we're talking about my own art of Ninjutsu, or any system of real-world self defense - has forced more than a few well-intentioned students to attempt to learn martial arts and self defense on their own. I know, because that's the road that I took!

But, before we go running out to jump into whatever actual training topics we might find being described in books or found on the countless YouTube clips available, I want to take just a minute to make sure that you are clear about what you "CANNOT" get from solo training - even if you, or others that you've spoken to, think otherwise.

No matter how hard you try, the truth is that, there are just certain things that you cannot get from trying to make sense out of this very deep topic called martial arts - on your own. Well, almost.

That is, unless your idea of martial arts training is just learning the step-by-step "forms" or kata that many systems are founded on. But, if your focus is on real-world self protection and/or personal development training...

...you cannot do this entirely on your own.

Here is a list of things to consider that cannot be done "on your own," in a solo-training fashion. In fact, teacher or no teacher, if your focus is on real-world self protection, some of these things simply cannot be learned or developed without the help of a few "sympathetic" training partners - people who want to help and to see you do well.

Skills, insights, proficiency development, and training benefits that you typically cannot get from training entirely on your own:

1) Real-time, direct feedback from your teacher

2) Interaction, support, and feedback from fellow students - both peers and seniors

3) A "sense of belonging" to the tradition, lineage, and past masters of the art

4) New perspectives from those who have been in situations that you have not

5) Motivation during tough times, or while trying to learn challenging techniques

6) Accountability to someone other than yourself to insure that you are actually practicing and doing what you need to be doing

7) Shorter lapses in contact time with your teacher and seniors - less of a chance to practice incorrectly and waste time with having to re-learn correctly

8) A feeling of connection and knowing that "you are not alone"

9) Answers when you need them

10) Actually being a part of the lineage - an unbroken chain of teacher to student

I know how negative this list makes the solo training experience sound, but you should know what you are up against and what is real when choosing this Path to Mastery. And, while these are all concerns that you should be aware of - regardless of whether you will have to personally deal with each and every one of them - the internet offers the opportunity to be a long distance student and STILL get regular, ongoing, and often "real-time" feedback from your teacher. If you search, and know what you're looking for, you will be able to find an online ninja training, or other martial arts program that will provide many, if not all, of the missing benefits that I listed above.

So, again, the question is...

Mat2 NJ Jiu Jitsu Championships The Good Fight

Sept 12, 2009 The Good Fight: North Jersey Jiu Jitsu Championships in Edison, NJ, held at the Holiday Inn.

Deadliest Style of Martial Art

Here's a different way of looking at the whole what is the deadliest style of martial art debate.

Who cares!?

Seriously. I don't buy into the whole debate and here's why.

If you did a poll of thousands of martial artists you might get a list like this

Brazilian Jiu-jutsu and ground fighting

Krav Maga and reality based self defense systems

Boxing, Muay Thai and cage fighting

Ninjutsu, Kung Fu, Aikido and other Eastern based martial arts

Modern Hybrid Fighting Styles blending multiple arts

Traditional arts like Karate and Tae Kwon Do

In fact you can find forum posts all over the net from people asking "What is the deadliest style of martial art?" Or "What is the best style when learning how to street fight?" Then a bunch of forum users respond with the "best martial art" which is usually some form of cage fighting or combat sport.

There are some great martial arts in this list. Many masters of these arts can demolish an attacker without thinking.

Ask yourself though, is it your art or you as the martial artist that makes up your fighting ability.

I would say it's you and not your fighting style. About every martial art out there has turned out some deadly fighters.

Of course let's be real here. This is only partially true because there are some fruity martial arts out there as well. There are also some fruity martial artists out there that can help you to get stomped in a street fight. With the Internet it seems like the number of these guys has tripled each year.

There's a huge trap in the martial arts that some will fail to avoid. Putting too much faith in your style or technique and not enough in yourself as a fighter.

So how do we sort through the BS when selecting a martial art? Here are some things to focus on that have less to do with your art and more to do with your ability.

Attributes Training- This is completely separate from your martial art style and technique. This will include things like speed, agility, toughness, flexibility, endurance, reflexes etc. No matter what martial art you study all of these need to be improved. You can either improve them individually or train an art that improves them naturally. For example boxing and cage fighting might help you to develop toughness and speed while an art like Wing Chun or Aikido can improve your sensitivity and flow. Select a martial art that develops some of these attributes along with technique.

Common Sense- Find a balance between open mindedness and common sense. Use your best judgment. If your instructor is telling you to do some ridiculous fancy technique that seems impossible to pull off in a fight, there is a good chance your instincts are right. You might want to find a new school or martial art.

Here is the best advice I can give you about selecting a martial art. Decide before hand how much time you are willing to train in the art. One year? Five? Ten? Then make your decision based on that. Some arts take forever to be able to use. While some of these arts can be very effective, not everyone has three hours a day to devote to training.

Then you have the simple fighting styles out there that can get you combat ready in a hurry. While no art can make you indestructible in a month, some styles are better for making a fighter quickly.

Make sure that if you are only spending a little time each day that you choose a simple, functional system that doesn't take ten years to use.

Van Damme: Kickboxer Training (1989)

Jean-Claude Van Damme in Kickboxer, one of the best Martial Arts movie of all time! Great inspiration! tags: fedor emelianenko bloodsport final fight training lyoto machida mma ufc pride fc karate ufc martial arts mirko cro cop chuck liddell mauricio shogun muay thai kickboxing boxing minotauro rocky balboa anderson spider silva bj penn gracie jiu jitsu k-1 andrei arlovski universal soldier official trailer regeneration

Why is Ninjutsu, the Art of the Ninja, Better Than Other Martial Arts?

Why, even after the initial "ninja craze" of the 1980's, when the art of ninjutsu became widely known in the Western-world, are the Ninja considered to be on top of the martial arts "food chain?" Why do even trained martial artists revere the Ninja as super martial artists, not to be messed with, and capable of single-handedly taking on any enemy?

Perhaps it has something to do with the way we are wired on a subconscious level. Perhaps the Ninja feeds some kind of need for a super-hero figure who can, in this case, swoop in from out of the darkness to save the day.

Each person has his or her own reasoning, but I think that, for practitioners of authentic Japanese Ninjutsu - as opposed to other martial arts programs being called "Ninja training" - ninjutsu is seen as best for several reasons. And the reason that these modern-day ninja have chosen this martial art id related directly to what they are looking for as a means to gain the confidence, power, and control to produce real results in the Today's turbulent world.

Why is Ninjutsu better than other martial arts? Perhaps it has something to so with the fact that ninjutsu...

Is Not Just A Martial Art!

The goal of ninjutsu is not to produce black belts. The goal of ninjutsu is to produce a "no-limits person." The art of the ninja is one of "completeness." This is not just about the training being holistic and allowing the practitioner to attain a sense of oneness of body, mind & spirit.

This completeness also refers to the make-up of the art of ninjutsu.

On a smaller scale, the Ninja focuses not on self-defense, but on self-protection. And, while those two terms may sound similar, they are actually quite different. As I define it for my students, "self-defense" is typically limited to the concepts and skills for protecting oneself against another human being who is trying to hurt you.

Self-protection, on the other hand, is much grander in scope. It involves, not only self-defense, but also the protection of the whole person from anything that might threat to harm you.

There are many more dangers, threats, and problems which face us in the world than just physical attacks from human assailants. Lessons from the art of ninjutsu teach us how to overcome the effects of stress, deception and manipulation, and even our own laziness and tendencies at self-sabotage.