First I should probably clear up a minor misconception: I’m hardly a more experienced aikidoka. I’ve been training for approximately ten months and will be testing for gokyu on Saturday. My instructor is of the opinion that one should be at the level above that for which you test, i.e. I am at yonkyu level so I may test for gokyu. It’s actually pretty nice in the sense that failing a test is incredibly difficult if you’ve already moved beyond the requirements.
Pertaining to aikido in the “real world”, I think that there are some minor details in your assertions about neutralizing an opponent that should be addressed. You’d never be able to disorient the average Joe with a throw. You’d never throw him. Taking a fall is an active choice. As aikidoka we elect to sacrifice a moment of balance to avoid injury. In many other martial arts the body is conditioned to sustain injuries and continue, but that is not the case with aikido as you know. The problem is, Joe schmo doesn’t know that. Throughout any given technique, an opponent who hasn’t been exposed to ukemi will not be able to adequately perform it and will therefore become open. Without the training, they won’t know when they’re open until they feel the strike. More importantly, the average attacker is actively listening. They won’t feel where the energy is going or the fluidity of the motion.
Without musubi, the opponent won’t be able to take ukemi and without the ukemi there is no way to get to the “throw.” As I said before, taking the fall is an active choice. Will the average attacker feel comfortable taking a breakfall from a kotai nikkyo or kote gaeshi? Will the average attacker even realize that the fall is the safe option? I doubt that they’d make that choice if it were presented to them, and that’s under the assumption that they’d make it through the waza to the point of the throw.
Don’t get me wrong, there are techniques which can be accomplished with minimal demands on the uke and there are those which won’t inflict pain, but I don’t think disorientation from a fall is how an opponent would be neutralized.
In regard to the implementation of sporadic jujitsu, it’s fun, isn’t it?
I’m going to be up in Minneapolis in August for a wedding. I’m hoping to escape the formal activities for a few hours. Can you recommend a good dojo in the area?
First I should probably clear up a minor misconception: I’m hardly a more experienced aikidoka. I’ve been training for approximately ten months and will be testing for gokyu on Saturday. My instructor is of the opinion that one should be at the level above that for which you test, i.e. I am at yonkyu level so I may test for gokyu. It’s actually pretty nice in the sense that failing a test is incredibly difficult if you’ve already moved beyond the requirements.
Pertaining to aikido in the “real world”, I think that there are some minor details in your assertions about neutralizing an opponent that should be addressed. You’d never be able to disorient the average Joe with a throw. You’d never throw him. Taking a fall is an active choice. As aikidoka we elect to sacrifice a moment of balance to avoid injury. In many other martial arts the body is conditioned to sustain injuries and continue, but that is not the case with aikido as you know. The problem is, Joe schmo doesn’t know that. Throughout any given technique, an opponent who hasn’t been exposed to ukemi will not be able to adequately perform it and will therefore become open. Without the training, they won’t know when they’re open until they feel the strike. More importantly, the average attacker is actively listening. They won’t feel where the energy is going or the fluidity of the motion.
Without musubi, the opponent won’t be able to take ukemi and without the ukemi there is no way to get to the “throw.” As I said before, taking the fall is an active choice. Will the average attacker feel comfortable taking a breakfall from a kotai nikkyo or kote gaeshi? Will the average attacker even realize that the fall is the safe option? I doubt that they’d make that choice if it were presented to them, and that’s under the assumption that they’d make it through the waza to the point of the throw.
Don’t get me wrong, there are techniques which can be accomplished with minimal demands on the uke and there are those which won’t inflict pain, but I don’t think disorientation from a fall is how an opponent would be neutralized.
In regard to the implementation of sporadic jujitsu, it’s fun, isn’t it?
I’m going to be up in Minneapolis in August for a wedding. I’m hoping to escape the formal activities for a few hours. Can you recommend a good dojo in the area?
First I should probably clear up a minor misconception: I’m hardly a more experienced aikidoka. I’ve been training for approximately ten months and will be testing for gokyu on Saturday. My instructor is of the opinion that one should be at the level above that for which you test, i.e. I am at yonkyu level so I may test for gokyu. It’s actually pretty nice in the sense that failing a test is incredibly difficult if you’ve already moved beyond the requirements.
Pertaining to aikido in the “real world”, I think that there are some minor details in your assertions about neutralizing an opponent that should be addressed. You’d never be able to disorient the average Joe with a throw. You’d never throw him. Taking a fall is an active choice. As aikidoka we elect to sacrifice a moment of balance to avoid injury. In many other martial arts the body is conditioned to sustain injuries and continue, but that is not the case with aikido as you know. The problem is, Joe schmo doesn’t know that. Throughout any given technique, an opponent who hasn’t been exposed to ukemi will not be able to adequately perform it and will therefore become open. Without the training, they won’t know when they’re open until they feel the strike. More importantly, the average attacker is actively listening. They won’t feel where the energy is going or the fluidity of the motion.
Without musubi, the opponent won’t be able to take ukemi and without the ukemi there is no way to get to the “throw.” As I said before, taking the fall is an active choice. Will the average attacker feel comfortable taking a breakfall from a kotai nikkyo or kote gaeshi? Will the average attacker even realize that the fall is the safe option? I doubt that they’d make that choice if it were presented to them, and that’s under the assumption that they’d make it through the waza to the point of the throw.
Don’t get me wrong, there are techniques which can be accomplished with minimal demands on the uke and there are those which won’t inflict pain, but I don’t think disorientation from a fall is how an opponent would be neutralized.
In regard to the implementation of sporadic jujitsu, it’s fun, isn’t it?
I’m going to be up in Minneapolis in August for a wedding. I’m hoping to escape the formal activities for a few hours. Can you recommend a good dojo in the area?
First I should probably clear up a minor misconception: I’m hardly a more experienced aikidoka. I’ve been training for approximately ten months and will be testing for gokyu on Saturday. My instructor is of the opinion that one should be at the level above that for which you test, i.e. I am at yonkyu level so I may test for gokyu. It’s actually pretty nice in the sense that failing a test is incredibly difficult if you’ve already moved beyond the requirements.
Pertaining to aikido in the “real world”, I think that there are some minor details in your assertions about neutralizing an opponent that should be addressed. You’d never be able to disorient the average Joe with a throw. You’d never throw him. Taking a fall is an active choice. As aikidoka we elect to sacrifice a moment of balance to avoid injury. In many other martial arts the body is conditioned to sustain injuries and continue, but that is not the case with aikido as you know. The problem is, Joe schmo doesn’t know that. Throughout any given technique, an opponent who hasn’t been exposed to ukemi will not be able to adequately perform it and will therefore become open. Without the training, they won’t know when they’re open until they feel the strike. More importantly, the average attacker is actively listening. They won’t feel where the energy is going or the fluidity of the motion.
Without musubi, the opponent won’t be able to take ukemi and without the ukemi there is no way to get to the “throw.” As I said before, taking the fall is an active choice. Will the average attacker feel comfortable taking a breakfall from a kotai nikkyo or kote gaeshi? Will the average attacker even realize that the fall is the safe option? I doubt that they’d make that choice if it were presented to them, and that’s under the assumption that they’d make it through the waza to the point of the throw.
Don’t get me wrong, there are techniques which can be accomplished with minimal demands on the uke and there are those which won’t inflict pain, but I don’t think disorientation from a fall is how an opponent would be neutralized.
In regard to the implementation of sporadic jujitsu, it’s fun, isn’t it?
I’m going to be up in Minneapolis in August for a wedding. I’m hoping to escape the formal activities for a few hours. Can you recommend a good dojo in the area?
Once you click on submit reply you need never hit it again. Sometimes when the board goes yonkers you’ll get an error, but your message almost always gets through. Don’t feel bad (David B is almost sure to chastize you :)), it happens to well, just about everybody.
So, trust the CGI.
Pointe de seconde: Although entirely up to you, I offer this for your consideration. Use english terms instead of Japanese terms. I know, I used to do it to (they just sound so … well, cool). But then I realized that when I was talking to laymen the message was lost in all the gobblty-gook. So, the bulk of the people on this board won’t get anything out of your message because they simply won’t be able to understand the terms themselves. Anyway, not a slam, flame or anything like that, just some advice in the spirit of friendship.
Great thread! I don’t think there’s any way I can add to the martial arts part of the discussion.
I will add an additional clarification. There were a couple references to “crime scene two” without explanation.
Crime Scene 1 is the spot where you are first attacked. This means in cases of rape, where the woman is grabbed and forced toward a vehicle or has a weapon pulled on her to convince her to drive somewhere. This is usually somewhat public - like a parking lot or street. It may not be crowded, but there is the possibility of a witness, or someone to hear screams or gunshots or such and respond, even only calling 911.
Crime Scene 2 is the location the kidnapper/rapist/killer wants to take you to do his dirty work. That is some secluded place like the woods or an abandoned building. There is not likely to be any witnesses or anyone to even hear your screams or gunshots. Crime Scene 2 is a location chosen by the assailant specifically for his purpose - quiet, secluded, nowhere for you to go to get away.
DO NOT GO TO CRIME SCENE 2!
If an attacker pulls a gun on you and tries to force you into a vehicle, you have two options. Go with him to crime scene two, or resist. If he is the type willing to kill you at crime scene 1, what is he going to do to you at crime scene 2? If he does not really want to kill you, but just wants your wallet or car, then drop those where he can take them and run away, screaming. You will attract attention (hopefully), and he will then have to decide how he will respond. Most likely he will take the wallet/keys and split. But if he does try to shoot you, at least there is the possibility someone will see or hear, and he will probably leave quickly.
Most people who are attacked on the street or drunk/high/stoned/combo. Defense tip #1–stay sober, especially in bad areas.
A Chicago cop who does seminars on street crime actually suggests that you carry some money in a heavy money clip with a $20 or moew on the outside–show the money to the mugger, and THROW the clip in the oppositie direction of where you’re going to run.
Most criminals (and non-criminals) are afraid of the insane–I suggest talking loudly to yourself in multiple voices and accents. Argue. Lose the argument. Start to cry, threaten to tell mommy, etc.
If all else fails, I use my heat vision on them. Kal-El can have his code of protecting human life, but I say “screw it!”
A good tip, but most? I find that unlikely. You wouldn’t happen to know where you saw that would you? Did the stat include bar fights, because I recall several years ago hearing that a large number (I think it was in the 30%-40% range) of assaults dealt with people who were on drugs/alcohol.
I wish that this were true; however, it isn’t consistent with violent criminals.
First, it clearly fails against a criminal who has stalked you or cased you out. This applies to the VAST majority of crimes. Random attacks where the attackers springs with watching their victim first are exceptionally rare. Criminals want prey, and the only way they can do that is:
Conduct an interview (no seriously, that’s what it is called)
Rely on their instincts (and possibly training/experience) to tell them whether the person they are looking at is a good victim (i.e. whitebread).
Second, they don’t care, and this is increasingly true. Violent criminals do not have changes of heart unless presented with real danger, and you cannot really predict how the criminal will react to any presentation of danger. For example, I recall this because I just finished looking it up about the Diallo incident. 50% of all armed suspects turn and attack the police. This stat was not affected by whether the police had the superior position, numbers or element of surprise. This is why if you are going to present a threat of danger and it must be explosive and direct. Pretending to be insane, as the presentation of a threat, is neither of these.
Third, it fails because it is an attempt to drive the criminal away. This is not your objective. Your objective is to get away, and escape. If no other means present themselves and the only means for you to get away from the criminal is to make him go away then that is when it is time to fight and uses techniques that drive the criminal away. Under any other circumstance your best bet is almost always to use the best possible immediate means of escape.
My info on this is really sketchy–an article and then a TV show by a fomrer Chicago street cop. Of course, he was making money of off his course, so it could be that he was slanting things to fit what he wanted people to believe.
I still find that the heat vision works well for me, but non-Kryptonians don’t usually have that option.
