Aikido vs. Daitoryu Aikijujitsu
Hello All,
Isoyama wrote: I tend to agree with you Gary except that there are a few aikido styles that retain much of the influence of the kicks and strikes from the Daito-ryu schools. Two that stand out to me are Yoshinkan and Iwama-ryu. I would also throw in the Tenshin aikido of Seagal Sensei.
Gary Responds: Hello Isoyama. I am not aware of those two schools. Must say, I'd tend to favor such Aikido training ;-) Glad to hear of them. My Karate teacher, John Roseberry-Hanshi, studied Aikido under Robert Tan. That school also retained much, if not most of the Daitoryu. I was told by my teacher that many of Ueshiba O-Sensei's students FIRST learned Daitoryu from him. When he created Aikido while at the Naval War College in 1942, many of his students did not make the full transition. Hence, you find some "Old Style" Aikido out there with punches, kicks and controls.
Isoyama Wrote: Tend to agree here too except for the schools named above. Don't know if you have ever seen Isoyama Sensei in action but his movement is very sharp and he uses very small circular movements. I would also throw in that Daito-ryu tends to emphasize throwing uke straight down or close to the body so that controlling techniques can be used while aikido emphasizes more outward projections.
Gary Responds: Agree all the way--especially about planting the uke rather than sailing him/her. Personally, due much to my karate training (Goju Ryu is a very in-close fighting system) as well as the ease of exerting the control techniques of Daitoryu, I want 'em down close.
Isoyama Wrote: I tend to agree with this in most if not all aikido schools. Aikido tends to emphasize throwing the opponent outward. I think Ueshiba developed this idea from Randori and taking on multiple attackers. It isn't a good idea to throw opponents at your feet if there are many attackers. I would want them projected outward and away from me because you are not going to be able to control many attackers.
Gary Responds: Interesting thought Isoyaman--makes sense, too. In all of the old randori videos I've seen of Ueshiba O-Sensei (transferred from old film), he does seem to lean toward demonstrating defense from multiple opponents.
Hey Daitoryu Fighter, thanks for the kind words. As to Aiki...kind of difficult to talk/write about. Regardless, I find Aiki most evident in defense of wrist grabs and especially when attacked and grabbed by multiple opponents. Of course, there is the Aiki used to plant a body down hard, barely touching them--same Aiki--different channel. ;-) Again, easier to train and "do" since it's hard to write about.
As to comparing Seagal-Sensei's style of Aikido to my Daitoryu . . . I've always thought Seagal-Sensei's Aikido was very Daitoryu'esque--very.
Again, thanks for the kind words Daitoryu Fighter and thank you Isoyama for your interesting discussion and for offering your insights on Daitoryu and Aikido.
Best Regards,
Gary Gabelhouse