thaddeus

Maybe i'm seeing things..i read 'fail' not fall..so i was wondering what you were really trying to say...my apologies..I had to get up way too early today.. T

There's a lot of ways to answer this. In a class probably not. But I've definately seen the better aikidoists playing with boxers and kickboxers after class to improve their skills. If someone trains in aikido as a technique based art, then yeah, this is what would happen. But if it's approached as a principle based art then it's a matter of who is a better fighter, not who has the better art. Aikidoists are trained to move as if the opponent had a weapon that could cut them. On the other hand, some teachers are so caught up in the flow and artsy side that they completely forget the martial side and do stupid things that would get them killed. A good aikidoist is always positioning him/herself behind the opponent and constantly manipulating their weak angles in order to protect themselves. If an aikidoist starts to trade punches with a jeet kune do guy or stands around trying to dodge jabs, then he just doesn't understand. He also made the mistake of playing the other person's game. It's like saying the boxer couldn't defend against my kicks or i punched the crap out of that judo black belt. I think whenever you become a prisoner of your style, you can't work outside that those parameters. The basic ideas of listening and manipulating the opponent's 'ki' for lack of an all encompassing word meaning center, force, direction, balance, intention, etc. are in all principle based arts but particulary in good aikido. The style of aikido is to throw or immobolize and occasionally strike. So I'm kinda surprised the jeet kune do didn't find himself punching air and finding himself on his back..but whatever.. lol so in short, yeah, alot of schools do train realistically.. T

For the record, I know you know all this already--since you study both, I'm just throwing tidbits out as if we chatting over a beer. Since you say 'martial path', I voted aikido. BJJ is alot of fun, excellent conditioning, and arguably a great lifestyle addition. It's not going to make you a complete fighter or martial artist. It's missing alot of elements. For example, going to the ground is often not desirable. Also the focus on going for locks and chokes is not always practical. The chinese have a saying 'do not start or end a fight with chinna'. As we pointed out in other threads, there is no weapon component which is important for body training. Mixed martial arts is probably different in that it does train the standing component and looks to borrow techniques that work in a variety of situations. But I think these 'technique based styles' miss the common unifying principles that give it the flavor of a martial art with some traditions and some history. Aikido, which is an abstraction of aikijutsu has the benefits of hundreds, if not thousands of years of proving. Same with Chen Style Taichi (which i'll probably never stop saying I love). With Aikido, you can train your dantian, your ki flow, and train fighting techniques that will work in real live situations that you will likely encounter. For example, the drunk family member or friend, a crazy guy on the subway, a mugger with a knife, etc. The technical aspects of throwing an uke and taking ukemi is very rewarding practice. You can certainly add alot of ideas of softness, chi/ki, breathing, center to BJJ, but it's not taught and will only come from you, whereas there are tons of aikidoists who work with these ideas and you can learn from. Anyway, this could go on for hours...not sure if I hit the right points..but I'm stuck working today and gotta go check on something.. T

I was really liking what you were saying up until this point and then I had to say to myself..WTF. The single reason why Hitler 'failed'???? Do you need 11+ million reasons why? C'mon. T

You should..you're very talented!

okayyyy now..how 'bout them mets? T

Here's another idea that I'm developing..today we have advantage of the internet to view video and read information that is unprecedented. My first love is chen taichi. I do have a teacher, but realize the limitations. He can certainly teach me the core curriculum, but after that it's really up to me. Being able to watch videos of masters in action does two things--first, you can actually sense the master's movements and try to match it to what you are experiencing..second, you actually see people doing stuff such as going down really low or punching with a slightly different mechanic, that can both challenge you and inspire you. So, basically what i'm saying that at least for Taichi, I can learn beyond my 'teacher'. Ultimately, I have to be my own teacher, but having so many resources at my disposal really helps. T

T

I understand. Had to LOL on the 'muddled thinking'. I think people have a tendency to just repeat things they hear without really thinking about what that means. It does sound stupid, and I've heard that so often. Differences in aiki and ninjutsu and aikijutsu..i know a little bit. I studied aikijutsu and aikido. Aikijutsu is like karate and jiujitsu mixed together..lots of striking and emphasis on breaking joints etc. Could say lots of linear movement. Aikido, as you know is more flowing, two dimensional circles--plus all the extra 'stuff' because no one could figure out what o-sensei was talking about or doing. I worked with a guy who claimed to be in a secret ninjutsu family. No one liked him and he never talked shop. All the ninjutsu stuff I've seen screams 'scam' or BS. Though I did see something on a documentary that seemed to indicate interesting spiritual aspects..this guy was communicating with spirits and drawing symbols in the air with his hand. Me personally, i'm not drawn to want to be part of a secret cult. Which is one reason why I like NY aikikai, it's big enough that you don't have to bow down to one person and despite all the bs, I can interact with and meet some interesting people as well. The fact that it is just a big club negates some of the odd interpersonal dynamics that goes on in martial art schools--if that makes sense or not.. T

I would like to know--just out of interest..not to try to talk you into it..i had a bunch of reasons to quit for awhile myself. One was some of the issues that come out of existing in a group context with hierachy's and some of the posing that goes on.. T

Oh..there are! The whole art is based on the sword--meaning the movements (getting behind the opponent, the distancing, sword cuts, etc.) , the postures and the actual techniques are all based on sword. So there is alot of actual sword with and staff too. If you like weapons, you might take a special interest in seeing how the hand technique came from the sword techique. T

Really agree about the rolling. I've learned alot from rolling and appreciating how much is really involved. Your core muscles really work and any tense parts of your body reveal themselves quickly. Maybe you should reconsider aikido based on what you listed, there is lots of 'sparring' (randori) and work based on strikes, but yeah, it's not like boxing.. T

Well, there's judo..and Suai Jiao (sp?).. I think there are flavors..in my aikido dojo, not making a sound and soft rolling is emphasized. In many judo circles they make a big sound..bigger the better..IMO, not very practical on concrete or wood. But that's also due in part to judo having more explosive throws where you have to break fall quickly..aikido you can plan better and work with managing the energy and thus cultivate more elaborate rolling..I like the soft rolling because you need to really relax your body and have a strong core to do it properly. I think in many chen style taichi, break falling is not taught because you just can't, you just have to relax and let your body take it (at least that's what was explained to me by a high level teacher). The spirals are so strong, you just fall straight down--maybe collapse is a better word. Can i ask why your asking or is it just curiousity.. T

I got an underactive root and and overactive third eye... I think the interesting thing to try is if the chakra meditations would change our answers... What do y'all think? T

Actually, based on the above, 'to become less slothful' is not really a good goal. It fails to meet any of the criteria of what makes up a goal. So a goal like this is likely to produce frustration. The goal could be reworked a bit to say, Make 3 sales calls before I take a coffee break at 10am. This one is specific, it's measurable, certainly attainable and realistic and has a time factor. T

One interesting observation is that the chakras are located at each place the spine changes direction. So if you think of energy traveling through fascial matrix, which the bones are a particulary thick highway, when energy changes direction it can cause a swirl or vortex of sorts.. just throwing that in to the mix.. T

Hi Affenbrot, of course artists have goals. I'm sure everyone has heard that goals are SMART..meaning specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and have a time component (i.e. 'in 2 months'). Of course if you dream up a goal that is not achievable or realistic, you will feel bad. But another thing you mentioned..about feeling tension..tension is necessary. We need tension. Being spiritual is not about wandering around. I think someone mentioned something about being slothful. I'm reading an interesting book about Genes right now that I should go run up and get the title. But basically this scientist is saying that our Gene expression is not so determined and can change based on our environment..meaning environmental stressors (including our mind and emotions) can bring out talents. But it's very interesting to hear general agreement between the lines that there is some kind of conflict between being spiritual or artistic and being business like. I don't see the conflict. THere are ample opportunities for personal growth and spirituality in the workplace. T

Interesting thoughts about comeing from fantasy versus present moment awareness. I think it's very astute to observe that most are probably deriving it from fantasy as opposed to what is really going on. I never actually thought about the energetic effects of doing that..of being lost in your own space while doing such a powerful act...very cool! Also, I'm not 100% sold on the 70% idea..maybe only 70% it certainly applies to certain circumstances. Thanks!! T

at the risk of yet another retention thread, i feel the body operates on feedback mechanisms, so if you retain too much, the body stops producing essential hormones. I think it can bring on early andropause. I would be willing to wager that complete retention eventually castrates a man. First of all, it only makes logical sense, and second, after a lengthy retention period, i took a blood test and my hormone levels were out of whack. Intuitively feeling thats what caused it, I retook the test after doing the act, and everything was normal. T

I hear ya. However, I'm not convinced that the need to ejaculate is a good indication of jing. I'm watching guys 10+ years younger than me literally falling apart because they are unaware of the jing loss. Some guys do it alot out of an addiction or some other issue. My two cents..

Alternative therapy often gets maligned by western medicine. However if a patient exhibits high cholesterol, for example, almost every single physician will prescribe a drug to lower that number. It's like turning off the fire alarm extinguishes the fire in the house. T

excellent point. also regarding breath training another huge factor is simply releasing restrictions..a 'taoist' approach of daily decrease rather than increase.. T

ok cool..well definately read up on how to keep your endothelium healthy. Once that goes all kinds of things are affected adversely. You are right to look at diet, exercise and other activities. I think Herbert Benson is worth a read another book called NO more Heart Disease to learn about nitric oxide. The Benson research will show that any relaxation will lower the BP, so if you pick any good chigung routine it will help. But run, don't walk, to educate yourself on your arteries, it will pay off in big and unexpected ways. Just out of curiousity, and you don't have to share, did your doctor explain why you have it or did he just put you on meds right away? T

Interesting..can you explain more?

I think trying to 'coordinate' breathing with something is always a bad idea. It's contrived. I think the key is find a way to 'use' the breath to enhance the movement--for example in Taichi, you use the breath in the cycles of store/release, same with yoga, you use the breath to enhance the movement. You never want to force an inhale and exhale to match a movement. I think that's the idea behind many of the 'breathe naturally' instructions.. anyway, my two cents.. T