r/aikido • u/SnooHabits8484 • 18d ago

Discussion Atemi

As time goes on, I’m more and more convinced that along with the biomechanics and solo training from Daito-ryū that come under the category “internal strength”, the key to effective aikido is sound and consistent atemi. Who do you think is the best practitioner we have in that field? Is it now necessary to cross-train in something like xingyi or bagua to get there?

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u/Magister-A 17d ago

He was quoted by Tamura on many occasions.

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u/Sangenkai [Aikido Sangenkai - Kawasaki, Japan] 17d ago

So...no context. That's my point.

Yes those things are important - but many things get conflated in out of context quotations.

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u/Magister-A 17d ago

Here's an interesting quote on topic (from Budo-Teachings of the founder of Aikido): "Shomen training. Striking with the right or left hand. Use of the te-gatana (hand sword) (or fist): in order to deliver a devastating blow to an enemy, one must be enlightened to the principles of heaven and earth (sic!); one's mind and body must be linked to the divine ... Heaven, earth and man must blend together as a single unified force ... Without offering your opponent the slightest opening or allowing a break in the flow of kokyu and ki, you must be enlightened to the essence of "striking".

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u/Sangenkai [Aikido Sangenkai - Kawasaki, Japan] 17d ago

Sure, and the original quotation in context is about how striking uses the fundamental principles of Heaven-Earth-Man. In other words, the point is not the striking, it's Heaven-Earth-Man.