General Chat & Info Board

Brandon Hayes73 said:With Aikido, you could grind away for ten years before you finally realize if it was the right move for you, but with BJJ? You'll know exactly where you stand after that very first session...

😕Is Aikido really that much worse?

Michelle Edwards5 said:😕Is Aikido really that much worse?

Please, don't listen to them...
You can find good discussions on this forum occasionally, but most of it just boils down to "my grandpa was tougher than your dad," or some nonsense along those lines.

I realize it's probably the most annoying advice out there: "Just try everything and stay where you feel at home."
But I suppose it’s true. You don't really know until you've actually tried it.
Almost everyone seems to rave about BJJ, for instance.
It sounded interesting to me, so I went to check it out.
After about a semester of training, I decided to move on.
It wasn't because the workouts were too grueling, or the sport itself was bad, or the crew was lousy. It was simply that it didn't click with me.


"Thanks. I'll go watch a class or two of both, then decide."

Don't bother watching the classes. That won't help you. You'll likely just get the wrong impression. You have to experience it firsthand... (or whatever)...
Back in my old gym in suburban Chicago, there was a group of people who would sit there for two hours during a session just watching. I never quite understood them, and I rarely saw them again afterward. At least, not most of them.
Just go. Do a few sessions and see. Most places are friendly enough, and someone will likely be eager to show you the ropes and help you stick around. If they aren't—well, goodbye, and maybe try another club.

Keep in mind that standard sports tend to have a faster learning curve where you see tangible results quickly. With martial arts, it takes years before you can say you're actually worth anything (in a self-defense context, obviously). It all depends on the training style and whoever happens to be coaching you.

If I had to choose something else to train, I might give Aikido a shot. I've always liked that relaxed vibe they have...

Michelle Edwards5 said:😕Is Aikido really that much worse?

There’s really only one major difference here: you pick up BJJ fast, and you see actual results pretty quickly—maybe within two or three years. With Aikido, you won't see any real progress until you've put in eight to ten years. But you can't exactly compare the two disciplines like that. That's all there is to it. 😁

Jerry Thompson said:There’s really only one major difference here: you pick up BJJ fast, and you see actual results pretty quickly—maybe within two or three years. With Aikido, you won't see any real progress until you've put in eight to ten years. But you can't exactly compare the two disciplines like that. That's all there is to it. 😁

Exactly... that's just how it goes! Honestly, you can totally train for both at the same time—it's like trying to master both a heavy deadlift and a delicate yoga flow; you just gotta find that sweet spot where they balance out!

Brandon Hayes73 said:Exactly... that's just how it goes! Honestly, you can totally train for both at the same time—it's like trying to master both a heavy deadlift and a delicate yoga flow; you just gotta find that sweet spot where they balance out!

Actually, I think it would be beneficial to train both.

You can't train both at the same time... they are contradictory skill sets. Aikido just isn't going to click for you. 😢 It’s unfortunate, but that’s the reality. Pick one and commit to it! 😁

Jerry Thompson said:You can't train both at the same time... they are contradictory skill sets. Aikido just isn't going to click for you. 😢 It’s unfortunate, but that’s the reality. Pick one and commit to it! 😁

Why?
When you’re at Aikido, be in that movie. When you’re doing BJJ, forget Aikido exists and focus on the ground game. It’s actually less confusing than training something like Karate alongside Muay Thai; even though they're both striking arts, the mechanics are different enough that you can end up second-guessing your technique.
A lot of people successfully cross-train exactly what they enjoy. Don't let someone like Toco1980 distract you with their side hustles; anyone chasing two rabbits at once ends up catching neither. 😁

Not quite. I think grappling is only useful for conditioning if you’re training Aikido. Grappling builds a level of strength that I honestly don't want to carry over into my Aikido practice—I need to stay sharp, not just brute force my way through techniques. It feels counterproductive to train both at high intensity. I may be wrong... 😢
I don't actually train grappling; I stick to Aikido. I might roll with some friends here and there just to break a sweat, but that's about it.

Does strength actually get in your way when you're doing Aikido?? 😕
Are you guys even bothering with any strength training at all?

It’s not about being a nuisance; it’s about the fact that you might be oversimplifying things. If you’re training purely for raw strength instead of developing a feel for the movement, then all those fancy techniques won't mean a thing when someone stronger comes along. And just because we’re running through some drills...

Jonathan Johnson67 said:Does strength actually get in your way when you're doing Aikido?? 😕
Are you guys even bothering with any strength training at all?

Forget the prices. It’s just bait for Westerners who still brag about practicing a martial art without breaking a sweat. In my dojo, we certainly incorporate strength training and conditioning drills. It's obvious why many Aikidoka skip it—they've convinced themselves that building muscle will somehow ruin their technique. Give me a break. 😵These are just pathological fixations by certain individuals.

IMNSHO, training any martial art without possessing enough strength to even handle your own body is absurd.

jademarlin26 said:Forget the prices. It’s just bait for Westerners who still brag about practicing a martial art without breaking a sweat. In my dojo, we certainly incorporate strength training and conditioning drills. It's obvious why many Aikidoka skip it—they've convinced themselves that building muscle will somehow ruin their technique. Give me a break. 😵These are just pathological fixations by certain individuals.

IMNSHO, training any martial art without possessing enough strength to even handle your own body is absurd.

I really dig this mindset—especially coming from the TMA crowd! If you actually want to be decent at any martial art, you have to work on your physical conditioning. You can't just train the spirit; you have to build the body to match.

jademarlin26 said:Forget the prices. It’s just bait for Westerners who still brag about practicing a martial art without breaking a sweat. In my dojo, we certainly incorporate strength training and conditioning drills. It's obvious why many Aikidoka skip it—they've convinced themselves that building muscle will somehow ruin their technique. Give me a break. 😵These are just pathological fixations by certain individuals.

IMNSHO, training any martial art without possessing enough strength to even handle your own body is absurd.

The thing is, certain techniques in some styles are impossible to pull off right if you rely solely on raw power—because muscle tension ends up blocking the full-body movement needed for the move. That's probably what they meant. Sure, you need strength and stamina, but the ratio of technique to brute force really depends on the specific style...

Of course strength matters. You can definitely build it if you follow a proper training program.
But personally, I think dedicating massive chunks of training time solely to strength exercises is overkill. It’s really up to each individual to take care of their physical conditioning on their own time.
To me, training sessions should be focused on technique, drills, and similar skill work.

placidbison20 said:Of course strength matters. You can definitely build it if you follow a proper training program.
But personally, I think dedicating massive chunks of training time solely to strength exercises is overkill. It’s really up to each individual to take care of their physical conditioning on their own time.
To me, training sessions should be focused on technique, drills, and similar skill work.

I'm totally with you there. It just sounded a bit weird when you said BJJ would "build strength" because of the nature of the sport.
Daniel Garcia - exactly. Most of the leverage comes down to speed and technical precision rather than raw power. Though, I do get the feeling that being stronger makes you faster... and makes executing those submissions feel a lot smoother. (Assuming you aren't just bodybuilding, but actually focusing on functional strength and mobility).

Daniel Garcia said:The thing is, certain techniques in some styles are impossible to pull off right if you rely solely on raw power—because muscle tension ends up blocking the full-body movement needed for the move. That's probably what they meant. Sure, you need strength and stamina, but the ratio of technique to brute force really depends on the specific style...

I clarified that later, but someone went ahead and deleted my post. ( AND BY SOMEONE, I MEAN placidbison20! 😠 )

I'm wondering if those Aikido and Krav Maga training sessions at the military base in Tuscany are actually "open to the public." I'd love to swing by to check things out (and maybe even test out the skills of the trainees myself). Is that doable?

I run training sessions up in the hills near San Francisco. Come check it out—we do Krav Maga and Aikido. Feel free to take a test if you think you're up for it; I’m sure you can handle it. You can find the schedule on the site: www.aikido.com
The grading exams should be this Tuesday—or sometime very soon—for the 1st and 2nd Kyu levels. 😁 (That's my second 😛) so just come by and see for yourself. Your first session is free, or at least that's what the flyer says. Just show up.
(Oh, and just so we're clear, using Kamehameha is strictly prohibited there! 😬)

You were actually asked that since I know you train there... BV is like a woman... once you find the right one, that's it, you fall in love and it's over... It doesn't even cross my mind to "cheat" on mine, so I don't think I'd ever try anything... but I wouldn't mind watching a bit. So, is it okay to just come by and watch a session? Is Krav Maga also open to the public?

Yeah, it’s wide open. 🙂
What exactly are you training these days?