What are you, some kind of Shaolin monk?

Aikido definitely is not about kicking ass… and that is why O Sensei (a.k.a. Morihei Ueshiba), the founder of Aikido, is so great and revered. Aikido is all about being one with the universe, and taking advantage of it’s natural flow. In his own words;

”“The Way of the Warrior has been misunderstood. It is not a means to kill and destroy others. Those who seek to compete and better one another are making a terrible mistake. To smash, injure, or destroy is the worst thing a human being can do. The real Way of a Warrior is to prevent such slaughter – it is the Art of Peace, the power of love.”

Don’t mistake that to mean that Aikido is a gentle art though. Sure, an Aikidoka may not break your arm off, but try taking a swing at them and they may grab it, hold it, and let you snap your arm off yourself. It’s all about circles, both physical and metaphysical.

Tae Kwon Do is a bit more physical and a bit less spiritual, but TKD is still about more than just booting people in the head.

Many martial arts consider a black belt to signify that you are ready to begin learning; you have mastered teh physical aspects, now it’s time to get into what the martial art is all about. Also note that Samurais were often great artists as well as warriors; they spent as much time with calligraphy, painting, poetry, or something creative as they did with destructive things like the proper way to kill an enemy.

@jerv Also note that Samurais were often great artists as well as warriors; they spent as much time with calligraphy, painting, poetry, or something creative as they did with destructive things like the proper way to kill an enemy.

Yeah, my dad explained this to me about samurai before. One thing they had going was doing some art or another before and after combat, as it helped to clear their nerves and make them chill out. Thanks for the info, I knew I could count on you for this as soon as I saw you were typing an answer. :)

I’ve read about Aikido before, and how most of the moves it has can never cause permanent damage due to the philosophy that spawned it. Or according to your answer, not directly anyways. Although you can still put someone out of order with it. I believe that it’s derived from Karate, or Karate has derived from it? Do you know? I’m not sure which anymore, but I think Karate was mentioned. (I’ll gladly stand corrected)

@Symbeline Aikido was developed from judo (the “gentle way”) which in turn has roots in jiu-jitsu.

What exactly is jiu-jitsu?

No, I am the chosen one…The Golden Child does funny Eddie Murphy laugh :)

Different martial arts have different origins, but many of them were developed by the poor who could not afford weapons, to defend themselves. Even some martial arts weapons, were never weapons to start with. For example nunchucks were originally a tool for picking rice.

There is even great variation within one kind of martial art. For example, karate comes in several styles. You have shoto khan karate, with every hit designed to absolutely destroy the enemy in one blow. Then you have hanko ryu karate, that while very similar in style, is softer and more fluid, as well as many other kinds of karate, such as kempo karate.

Some martial arts are just about kicking ass, but for the most part they are more modern styles. For example, while others would disagree, I would describe Bruce Lee’s jeet kunne do, as the “scientifically” most efficient way of kicking ass. As it basically concentrates on intercepting, and ending a fight as fast as possible, in the most efficient way, using the minimum energy.

For the most part, martial arts are about defense.

It’s Clobberin’ Time!

I tried Karate but it was just too fucking hard on the flippers!

Students of king fu have explained to me that a true martial artist knows when to exude an attitude of power, so that no one wants to challenge or threaten him/her. In order to be able to exude that aura, it has to be reality based; the artist must train extensively to have the martial ability and skill that becomes evident in his being. It isn’t about “kicking ass”, but about knowing that you can should the need arise, and carrying that confidence with you in all areas of life. That ability to transfer the skills to your education, family life, career and personal growth is what make a martial art an “art”. It elevates a skill set to a way of life, a way of looking at oneself and at the world.

@Symbeline Jiu-jitsu is a traditional Japanese martial arts which concentrates on grappling, throws and locks. It’s old (from the feudal era at least) and was intended for use in combat, unlike its variant, judo, which is intended as a sport.

@lynfromnm That is how Osensei worked. Many who fought him described his presence as “massive”, and more than one has compared him to Mount Fuji. Osensei had different ideas though; he considered himself the Universe.

“The secret of Aikido is to harmonize ourselves with the movement of the universe and bring ourselves into accord with the universe itself. He who has gained the secret of Aikido has the universe in himself and can say, ‘I am the universe.’ I am never defeated, however fast the enemy may attack. It is not because my technique is faster than that of the enemy. It is not a question of speed. The fight is finished before it is begun.”

All I can say is…Do you think that’s air you’re breathing-? ( sneers ) Now, again…hit me.” :)

@jerv Exactly, “The fight is finished before it is begun.” Another pearl from my Kung fu friends is that momentum is the key to martial art, that you use your enemy’s momentum against him.