What are /r/aikido's favorite Products & Services?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

I train at this dojo. There is less of a philosophical / spiritual aspect than some other places. The main instructor is Japanese and teaches in the Japanese style. That is he demonstrates a technique four times without much explanation and then allows the students to try it. If he sees all the students perform it correctly at least once, he will move onto the next technique.

The only instructor I know who focuses on Ki and the spirituality more than the other schools I've been too is Curtis Busby, located in downtown Salt Lake City. His Aikido is pretty good and he has a more refined understanding of the applications of Ki than anyone else I'm aware of in the area.

Utah Valley Aikido's website maintains a directory of all Aikido Dojos currently in Utah and Idaho.

He was raised and educated in Shingon, which Sokaku Takeda also had close ties to (more about that at some point, I think). Both Ueshiba and Takeda made frequent references to Shingon.

Anyway, here's a little bit about it from Bill Gleason: https://books.google.com/books?id=S4JRDf6C4iMC&pg=PA13&lpg=PA13&dq=ueshiba+zen+disliked&source=bl&ots=AKe-IaJ3Y0&sig=7LMHRtRVFBd9Ei_qIiDbeTZCTfU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=SayIVOjyLIjsoATigIK4Cw&ved=0CCAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage...

Yeap! That is, unless you want to do as Billy Connolly suggested and just get yourself a sexy raincoat!

(https://quotefancy.com/quote/1142225/Billy-Connolly-I-hate-all-those-weathermen-too-who-tell-you-that-rain-is-bad-weather)

The one I have on my smartphone is called "Aikido's Attack Forms" and is not in the search on the memrise web site. :-(

https://www.memrise.com/course/395097/aikidos-attack-forms/ is the direct link. It's really nice, including images and whatnot.

EDIT: doh, it is Aikido<=>German. No wonder you didn't find it. Forget about it, unless you speak German. :-) But maybe someone can convince the original author to add an english version; or try to contribute the translations. There went a lot of work into the images and overall, extensive, structure, after all.

>but the idea that aikido is inherently non-competitive is a core part of it, right? The very concept of aiki.

Yes it is. Some books I might recommend:

Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere, Westbrook and Ratti

(great illustrations and discourse on the "sphere" in aikido)

Journey to the Heart of Aikido, L. Holiday

(Good Q&A with Anno Ss, one of O Sensei's students)

I know a little about it. It was invented by Tom Read Ss. I only know a little about it (took maybe two classes). It's very focused on a wide variety of strikes and katas. To acquire a BB in it, you have to invent your own kata. He also wrote a book on it (this one, I believe), which he described as "written like a textbook." Read Ss is a very linear guy, lol.

From my limited memory of the classes it was fairly hard, but as I said I only took two (unconnected) classes. YMMV.

Daito-ryu aikijujutsu was one of the martial arts styles that originated in a certain Samurai dynasty (as far as I understand every dynasty had it's on style). They were handed down within the family and in deed stayed only there, "kept secret" if you will.

After the end of the Samurai class ordered by the emporor around 1850, many former samurai opened there styles to the public, took in students and made money from teaching. The Takeda family got quite sucessfull with their style (daito ryu). Only a few styles though became more or less sucessfull, one of them daito-ryu aikijujutsu Morihei Ueshiba was, like you know, a student who studied this style in particular. It is teached up and until today.

Since the techniques were openly teached to many students I guess they just survived that way.

I personally can recomend The hidden roots of aikido. daito ryu aikijujutsu.. It gives a nice overview over the main techniques of that art. You definately can see a strong resemblence to aikido techniques of course. But you can see that it was once created for hand to hand combat of samurai in their armour.

Two things have improved my joint health immensely: collagen and citric acid. You can get the same amino acids in collagen from gelatin, and it's fairly cheap. You can also get citric acid pretty cheaply as well.

Gelatin is more for long term repair. It contains the amino acids that are directly used to repair tendons and ligaments. (as it's sourced from animal connective tissue in the first place) There have been control group studies showing it's benefits.

The science on citric acid and joint health is less clear, but I have found that when I take citric acid a couple of hours before practice my right knee does not click or crack at all. (That knee has been an issue for 20+ years.) Kind of hard to placebo away knee cracking, so I think there's something to it. :)

The original founder of our Dojo studied under Chiba in London before moving to USA and shifting to Yamada. We are USAF but I've seen more Chiba than YY in the techniques we learn. This book about Chiba's life is very interesting if anyone would like to know more.

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Giving-Sword-Kazuo-Chibas-Aikido/dp/1696063434

Actually, most Japanese and Chinese martial traditions have spiritual elements.

For example - The Buddhist Goddess Marishiten: A Study of the Evolution and Impact of Her Cult on the Japanese Warrior https://smile.amazon.com/dp/9004250107/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_WDCXA4BB65ZT3HJAM3XW

> That is true! There is even version done on forearm not on wrist.

Michael Hacker suggests that forearm turn-over is a correct, and perhaps even more accurate translation.

We explore the technique both with the wrist locked, and without.

I’m thinking about something like this: https://www.amazon.com/ProForce-Thunder-Padded-Combat-Guard/dp/B00FAJFQCS/ Looks like OK neck/head mobility and protection against incidental face strikes.

Available in Kindle format from Amazon.

It’s Kodokan Judo. I’ll take a pic of the passage tomorrow.

kodokan judo book

In the meantime, check out Donn Dreager’s thoughts on kata, courtesy of judoinfo.com

My pleasure. The True Believers was a great read, and I've recommended it to several people who were also involved in Seibukan Jujutsu. I've known Louis for some time and was actually there at the 25th anniversary celebration he discusses in the book.

There's no doubt that Seibukan Jujutsu founder Julio Toribio is a charismatic individual, and a masterful martial artist. I studied under him shortly after his break from Hakko Ryu Jujutsu, and founded the uchideshi program at the Hombu dojo in Monterey, California. I discuss this time in my first book, The Martial Apprentice:

https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Apprentice-Student-Japanese-Warriors-ebook/dp/B00BQNFKGE

Louis studied the art at a later timeframe, probably 2 generations of students later, and the art had gone through several changes. It was softer, the philosophy had expanded, there was new terminology, new katas, etc. Seibukan Jujutsu may not have the training method of BJJ, but it was closer to being a combat effective art because they encouraged strikes, unpredictable attacks, and improvisation. However, it gave ranks that did not always correlate to actual fighting skills, and I found this to be problematic, though this is hardly unique in the martial arts world.

Here's some supplement stuff, but since body chemistry is different in everyone, it may/may not work for you. Do a 30 day trial and treat it like a science experiment.

I did a magnesium trial as I realized I was deficient in it as are 40-50&#37; of the US population. It worked for me, so I dumped the liquid glucosamine I was taking.

Tim Ferris clued his followers in on Collagen Hydrolysate ::: https://www.amazon.com/Great-Lakes-Hydrolysate-Pasture-Raised-Frustration/dp/B01A1G47L0/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1528280208&amp;sr=8-1-spons&amp;keywords=collagen+hydrolysate&amp;psc=1

That stuff works wildly well for myself and the two others in the dojo. Outside the dojo, I recommended it to more folks and 3 of them took time to thank me for the immediate relief. One tablespoon a day is good for me.

I also do a low carb diet and that may be helping with less inflammation as well.

I am 56 years old ... did 3 hours of class yesterday. Got thrown all over the mat ... maybe 60 total falls. Feeling great this morning.

Get some dojo buddies to work together with you. People won't talk to each other about this unless you bring it up. Verify personal results with each other.

Nice intro for the annual "all martial artists and absolutely all YUDANSHA have to read this book" post. There is stuff on the web but this text is the standard.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0182WEMGA/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&amp;btkr=1

Since you said standard judo and relatively cheap, I like these: Fuji single-weave judo gi

The Kindle version is now available too.

Hello there. Aikido techniques are from ancient samurai "combatatives" used when they would lose their sword on a battlefield or need to retain their sword, hence all the wrist grabs and throws and such. The patterning of the empty hand techniques is not surprisingly like some of the sword kata.

This book is excellent https://www.amazon.com/Structure-Aikido-Kenjutsu-Open-Hand-Relationships/dp/1883319552

Rowing, interesting. That sounds more interesting. The physical therapists have been advocating a roman chair.

>The idea is that the muscles work similar to a corset my physician said.

My Dr used the same analogy, replacing the word corset with cage.

All "traditions" start somewhere. In any case I'm not sure what the "tradition" has to do with the value of the training itself. FWIW, many so called traditions are somewhat more artificial than many folks like to think.

I don't mitigate. I practice in Texas and just lose 4-7lb of sweat each practice. :) I have considered getting some kind of wrist covering to help people hold on to me better and wick sweat away.

> donning of a shark fin hat

Ooh! Do tell more! Can I be an old-school badass at my aikido dojo by getting / wearing [https://www.amazon.com/elope-101800-Elope-Shark-Headband/dp/B002IRFV7U ](one of these babies) to practice?

https://www.amazon.com/Illustrated-Japanese-Classics-Kisshomaru-Ueshiba/dp/0870406299

https://www.amazon.com/Aikido-Tradition-Tomiki-Fighting-Method/dp/0865681449/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1473421136&amp;sr=1-5&amp;keywords=aikido+tomiki

I have two that I bought on Amazon. Not a judo style gi like is generally suggested for aikido but I'm also only about 7 months in to the art and just wanted light apparel for summer (no air conditioning in the dojo).

This is the second one I bought, very light weight and size 3 fit me well - I'm about 5'8" and 145 lbs.

ProForce 5oz. Ultra Lightweight Student Uniform, White, 3 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005E1BFF4/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_Sy5NxbXNDYND9

This was the first one I bought, also a size 3.

ProForce Gladiator 7.5 oz. Elastic Drawstring Medium Weight Uniform, White, 3 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005E1B18A/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_XB5NxbWNDCSF2

Both have held up perfectly so far - no stitching coming undone or tears or fraying. Not sure if they're available in the UK but very inexpensive (I paid less than $20 for each).

Pretty much. The post-war students, for the most part, actually had very little direct contact with him, and when they did they generally didn't have to background to understand the language that he used to explain things. Virtually all of them said that they had no idea what he was talking about - much of the time they couldn't understand him anyway, because of his Wakayama accent!

You might try Ellis' book for a more detailed discussion of this problem.

Check out Bill's book for more information.

Kototama was a big part of the framework that Morihei Ueshiba used to explain Aikido (yes, the technical part too), so for anybody who's interested in what he had to say about Aikido it's something that you can't omit.

I have a book I picked up while training that really helped me put Aikido teachings in perspective: http://www.amazon.com/Way-Aikido-Lessons-American-Sensei/dp/0452279720/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1455542225&amp;sr=1-6&amp;keywords=aikido

The purpose of weapons training in modern aikido practice is to teach you to judge maai or "interval" or "the distance between two partners"

By using weapons of various lengths in exercises you learn how to judge maai more accurately , a weapon extends your reach

This helps when applying aikido techniques to opponents of differing heights and arm lengths

Aikido techniques are grounded in kenjutsu Shio nage and shiho giri for example

http://www.amazon.com/The-Structure-Aikido-Open-Hand-Relationships/dp/1883319552

Aikido is an evolution of kenjutsu techniques and hence their study is complementary.

The Structure of Aikido: Volume 1: Kenjutsu and Taijutsu Sword and Open-Hand M... http://www.amazon.com/dp/1883319552/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_awdm_d.yBvb09QPTYQ via @amazon

Try something like

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenshin_Shōden_Katori_Shintō-ryū

I also recommend Best Aikido. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Aikido-Fundamentals-Kisshomaru-Ueshiba/dp/4770027621

It's written by Kisshomaru Ueshiba (son of O Sensei) and Moriteru Ueshiba (his son) so you won't find a better source. It's well illustrated and explained and covers everything clearly.

As above, you can't really learn techniques from a book, but it's a fantastic revision aid to help cement the names of everything and to check things out before a grading

Some of the names and movements differ from organization to organization.

However, the book &quot;Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere&quot; does a pretty good job, in my opinion. It's been a great reference and people from many styles have recommended it to me in the past, so that says something, I think.

Just pay attention to whatever your style says is the "correct" way to do something, because that varies. :P