r/aikido

https://kogenbudo.org/aikido-a-first-principles-examination-a-guest-blog-between-josh-gold-claude-ai/
Interesting blog post on my budo bud Ellis Amdur's site.
I apologize if this was posted earlier - but it doesn't show in the search function as I can use it

The essay identifies several common claims made about aikidō then addresses them:

• aikidō protects the attacker
• aikidō creates harmony out of conflict
• aikidō trains musubi, or connection with intent
• aikidō is a budō of peace
• aikidō is based on non-resistance
• aikidō uses ki as unified energy

"Preface

This is my thirty-fifth year of practicing aikidō. I’ve been Executive Editor of Aikido Journal for a number of years and have run Ikazuchi Dojo for over twenty. In that time I’ve fielded a lot of questions — from students, from people curious about the art, from people outside the martial arts world entirely — about what aikidō is actually about. And I’ve heard, just as often, people espouse principles that I find difficult to reconcile with what the technical system actually contains or what the history of the art actually shows.

I should say at the outset that none of what follows comes from disillusionment. Aikidō has been a foundational part of my adult life and it will remain so. I love the practice—the feel of it, the community it creates, the questions it asks of you on the mat and off. It is precisely because I take the art seriously that I think it deserves serious examination. Examining what we actually do, and whether the common claims made about it hold up, feels like one of the most respectful things I can offer the art.

There are questions worth asking. Are we communicating about aikidō in ways that are accurate? Are there assumptions or fallacies baked into how we talk about the art that aren’t doing us any favors?

This piece is an attempt to examine those questions honestly—starting from the technical system and the historical record rather than from tradition or reputation. First principles, not received wisdom.

My thinking partner for this exercise was Claude, Anthropic’s AI. I’ll admit I was genuinely surprised by how useful it turned out to be. Claude functions as a capable representative of the collective knowledge and opinions the internet holds about aikidō—which made it an effective sparring partner. I asked it to lay out the commonly articulated principles of the art, pushed back on most of them, and proposed alternatives grounded in the technical system. Claude synthesized the exchange. What follows is that summary, refined through several rounds of back and forth.

......"

Josh Gold

Chief Instructor, Ikazuchi Dojo Executive Editor, Aikido Journal CEO, Budo Accelerator

Hi, I’m a newbie struggling with my rolls. I can do forward rolls from static, but when I do them from lunging or standing their quality varies a lot. I haven’t hit my head so far, but I sometimes notice a pressure on the back of my head for a few minutes afterwards, so I think I’m not forming the proper shape to avoid my head touching the ground?

Back rolls are way harder. Practicing from sitting or kneeling and falling back I can do it on my right side relatively consistently, but I cannot do it on my left side at all, I always flop to my side once it hits my shoulder. Any advice or resources to learn from are appreciated!

I’ve been training in Yoshinkan Aikido for about three years, and I’m currently a 5th kyu green belt. Recently, for no apparent reason, I’ve developed an inability to do forward breakfalls on my right side. I’m fine on my left.

Logically, I know it’s all in my head, but it feels wrong every time I try to do a break fall on my right side. Because it feels wrong, I hesitate (a lot), and I end up caving my arm midway through the roll.

I don’t know what’s changed, but I feel terribly stupid for it, and I don’t know how to fix it. Any advice?

I am generally practicing with people of equal height or taller. This is causing me to lock the knees/forgetting bending the knees often since it feels more natural in that moment to equalize the heights and I guess my body is a bit lazy. Do you have a specific feeling or idea that helps you remember not locking your knees during the technique?

Howdy!
For those of you with Hakama, and those that got one with Indigo blue dye, is it something you just deal with until it stops bleeding out, or did you find a way to make it stop bleeding (crocking).

I'm looking to find out how common it is for Hakama wearers to deal with the blue dye from the Hakama that ends up all over the Gi and the hands.

Hello and thanx in advance,

I'm in Los Angeles, I heard today a term I've never heard before...survival aikido, is this a real thing and if so, where in Los Angeles is the dojo at?

The Master has the dojo is europe and the difference according to him is....aikido is ceremonial unlike survival aikido is for street and hand to hand combat, not traditional at all.

Hi!

I’ve been training BJJ for a while now and really enjoy it, but I’m also curious about trying something else to develop new movement patterns and broaden my experience.

A friend of mine who trains Aikido thinks it would suit me well and could be a useful complement to BJJ, so I’m considering giving it a try.

A bit about me: I’m a woman, 194 cm tall (about 6’4”) and around 95 kg . Since I’m quite tall, I’m wondering if certain movements in Aikido might be more difficult for me, or if my height could actually be an advantage in some situations.

For those of you who train Aikido and maybe also have experience with BJJ do you think Aikido can offer good complementary skills? Have you combined both? And would you recommend it for someone with my body type?

Thanks!

Hey friends! I will be traveling to Naples, Italy starting the week of June 7. I’m looking for a dojo that would be accepting of a foreigner and I would love to train in a style with which I’m unfamiliar. I found a dojo that’s just a block from where I’m staying but couldn’t find contact info. If anyone practices in the area or knows how to contact a dojo in Naples city center, please let me know. Thanks all!