Judo for the whole world

Paul Campbell3 said:And what's the problem with that? You have to start somewhere 🙂

You’re missing the forest for the trees again. It’s not about how you start; it’s about how you land. 😉

Jesse Allen2 said:You’re missing the forest for the trees again. It’s not about how you start; it’s about how you land. 😉

Start or finish? Doesn't matter. There isn't any difference because there is no beginning and no end—just MU! 🙂

Jesse Allen2 said:"Some"? I think you mean most. So many people start acting loving when there isn't a shred of actual emotion behind it. Most of them! 😢

My first time? Honestly, it was pretty underwhelming. Total dud.
Of course, things didn't keep going like that. Not even close.

Look, you’re an aikidoka—you should probably have a bit more tolerance for the fact that everyone's walking a different path, right?

Jesse Allen2 said:"Some"? I think you mean most. So many people start acting loving when there isn't a shred of actual emotion behind it. Most of them! 😢

🤣🤣

Nathan Walker16 said:

Every single martial art is essentially just the unification of mind and body. Honestly, even slicing vegetables for dinner falls under that umbrella. Even sweeping a floor can be an act involving Ki, because when you're alive, there's really no escaping that connection.

I mean, have you ever actually heard someone bring up the whole "unification of mind and body" concept during a standard Karate class, or maybe while training in Kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, or Judo? It’s rarely discussed in those circles.

And look, sweeping a floor *can* be done with a massive amount of Ki, sure, but it can also be done with almost none at all; people with barely any Ki to speak of can still sweep a floor just fine.

Morihei Ueshiba once said, "Get to know your breath, and you will know yourself."
Breath is the fundamental bridge between our physical form and our spirit; by focusing on your breathing—not just through formal exercise—you eventually achieve that true union of body and mind.

Yes, that is exactly what people who aren't trying too hard to sound "cool" call Psychoactive. Nothing fancy, nothing out of the ordinary.

Nathan Walker16 said:

Every single martial art is essentially just the unification of mind and body. Honestly, even slicing vegetables for dinner falls under that umbrella. Even sweeping a floor can be an act involving Ki, because when you're alive, there's really no escaping that connection.

I mean, have you ever actually heard someone bring up the whole "unification of mind and body" concept during a standard Karate class, or maybe while training in Kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, or Judo? It’s rarely discussed in those circles.

And look, sweeping a floor *can* be done with a massive amount of Ki, sure, but it can also be done with almost none at all; people with barely any Ki to speak of can still sweep a floor just fine.

Morihei Ueshiba once said, "Get to know your breath, and you will know yourself."
Breath is the fundamental bridge between our physical form and our spirit; by focusing on your breathing—not just through formal exercise—you eventually achieve that true union of body and mind.

There is no such thing as strong or weak Aikido. There is only Aikido. You can see how this rhetoric is designed solely to divide people—creating an artificial hierarchy between those with "more" and those with "less"—rather than fostering unity. That isn't the spirit of the art, and it's transparently disingenuous.

Nathan Walker16 said:

Every single martial art is essentially just the unification of mind and body. Honestly, even slicing vegetables for dinner falls under that umbrella. Even sweeping a floor can be an act involving Ki, because when you're alive, there's really no escaping that connection.

I mean, have you ever actually heard someone bring up the whole "unification of mind and body" concept during a standard Karate class, or maybe while training in Kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, or Judo? It’s rarely discussed in those circles.

And look, sweeping a floor *can* be done with a massive amount of Ki, sure, but it can also be done with almost none at all; people with barely any Ki to speak of can still sweep a floor just fine.

Morihei Ueshiba once said, "Get to know your breath, and you will know yourself."
Breath is the fundamental bridge between our physical form and our spirit; by focusing on your breathing—not just through formal exercise—you eventually achieve that true union of body and mind.

Did someone forget to teach you how to breathe? I assume you mastered that spontaneous reflex with your very first breath. There are endless theories regarding processes that are entirely instinctive simply because they *can* be voluntary. Your cells know exactly how much oxygen they need for oxidation; try not to overthink it. 😉

Paul Campbell3 said:That's why I asked who mixed up the pots... I hadn't said anything else until then.

Alright, fine. Maybe I wasn't being explicit enough and people are misinterpreting me—probably because I like leaving things a little vague when it comes to my favorite topics. 😍

I’ll only disagree with you on that first paragraph: you don't need to understand Aikido to start practicing it. Think about how many people just show up to a class, like they're walking into a local YMCA, enjoy the vibe, and decide to stick with it because they wanted to try a martial art. You don't need total comprehension to start something new, just like TincH said. That understanding comes (or doesn't) with time and practice.

Then again, there are those rare individuals who walk into an Aikido dojo and just *get* the essence immediately, even if they've never trained before. They just live it.

Anyway. A hundred people, a hundred different temperaments, five hundred different motives. 🙂

You have to be articulate if you want to be understood. But let’s be clear: being articulate isn't about how many words you can cram into a sentence.

Paul Campbell3 said:That's why I asked who mixed up the pots... I hadn't said anything else until then.

Alright, fine. Maybe I wasn't being explicit enough and people are misinterpreting me—probably because I like leaving things a little vague when it comes to my favorite topics. 😍

I’ll only disagree with you on that first paragraph: you don't need to understand Aikido to start practicing it. Think about how many people just show up to a class, like they're walking into a local YMCA, enjoy the vibe, and decide to stick with it because they wanted to try a martial art. You don't need total comprehension to start something new, just like TincH said. That understanding comes (or doesn't) with time and practice.

Then again, there are those rare individuals who walk into an Aikido dojo and just *get* the essence immediately, even if they've never trained before. They just live it.

Anyway. A hundred people, a hundred different temperaments, five hundred different motives. 🙂

That’s just not true. Starting down a path you don't even begin to grasp is a total dead end. It’s exactly why you see people hitting their mid-life crisis at forty, realizing they spent decades chasing the wrong dream, only to suddenly pivot and open a boutique coffee shop or a local jazz club. They finally wake up to what they actually wanted. 😢

Jesse Allen2 said:Just tell us: which specific school produced legends like Jergović, Tolstoy, or Joyce? Seriously, if you know, please share. You'd be doing everyone a huge favor!

I honestly have no clue. I’m not particularly fond of those writers, and I haven't spent enough time digging into their biographies to know where they went to school. Someone definitely taught them how to read and write, though.🤣

Once you've mastered reading and writing, you can pretty much develop your own style independently. But with BJJ, you really need partners and a coach. It isn't just an intellectual pursuit; it's highly physical, and you have to master it through practice. Because of that, formal training probably takes longer... in reality, most people have coaches and instructors for their entire careers.🤷

Paul Campbell3 said:Start or finish? Doesn't matter. There isn't any difference because there is no beginning and no end—just MU! 🙂

It looks like you're finally starting to catch the thread. 👍 But mind you, if there's truly no distinction between start and finish, you still have to reach the end.

quietpilot87 said:My first time? Honestly, it was pretty underwhelming. Total dud.
Of course, things didn't keep going like that. Not even close.

Look, you’re an aikidoka—you should probably have a bit more tolerance for the fact that everyone's walking a different path, right?

That’s exactly what I meant when I said it’s usually the case for most people.

quietpilot87 said:My first time? Honestly, it was pretty underwhelming. Total dud.
Of course, things didn't keep going like that. Not even close.

Look, you’re an aikidoka—you should probably have a bit more tolerance for the fact that everyone's walking a different path, right?

Honestly, tolerance isn't really my thing, nor is "different paths."
Feel free to think whatever you want, keep writing, and follow whatever road you choose—that’s about all I have to say on the matter. 🤷👍

bluemason3 said:I honestly have no clue. I’m not particularly fond of those writers, and I haven't spent enough time digging into their biographies to know where they went to school. Someone definitely taught them how to read and write, though.🤣

Once you've mastered reading and writing, you can pretty much develop your own style independently. But with BJJ, you really need partners and a coach. It isn't just an intellectual pursuit; it's highly physical, and you have to master it through practice. Because of that, formal training probably takes longer... in reality, most people have coaches and instructors for their entire careers.🤷

Someone definitely taught them how to do that, but honestly, who they learned it from doesn't even matter. 😉

bluemason3 said:I honestly have no clue. I’m not particularly fond of those writers, and I haven't spent enough time digging into their biographies to know where they went to school. Someone definitely taught them how to read and write, though.🤣

Once you've mastered reading and writing, you can pretty much develop your own style independently. But with BJJ, you really need partners and a coach. It isn't just an intellectual pursuit; it's highly physical, and you have to master it through practice. Because of that, formal training probably takes longer... in reality, most people have coaches and instructors for their entire careers.🤷

Look, I’m not saying there isn't a need for a teacher or a solid methodology. I really don't. But you're missing the mark on one thing: you have to develop yourself independently, too. If you don't take that initiative, you'll never actually reach that level of mastery everyone's always chasing—that elusive Dragonflayin style. It’s over.! 😁

Paul Campbell3 said:I told the guys over at the MMA gym this ages ago: there isn't a damn bit of difference between those people and the religious crowd😁 😉

What do you mean there isn't? There absolutely is—those religious types are way more aggressive! 😁

Jesse Allen2 said:You have to be articulate if you want to be understood. But let’s be clear: being articulate isn't about how many words you can cram into a sentence.

That’s just not true. Starting down a path you don't even begin to grasp is a total dead end. It’s exactly why you see people hitting their mid-life crisis at forty, realizing they spent decades chasing the wrong dream, only to suddenly pivot and open a boutique coffee shop or a local jazz club. They finally wake up to what they actually wanted. 😢

Look, since we're talking about spirituality here, I don't need to be.
In fact, over-explaining is actually counterproductive in this context.
If someone gets it, they get it—regardless of how much I leave unsaid.
🙂

That's just wrong. Diving headfirst into something you have zero clue about, something you don't even grasp, is a total dead end. That’s exactly why you see people after, say, ten years of training, finally realizing it wasn't what they wanted, and then they go out and open their own gyms or whatever.😢

People stumble into things not because they choose to, but because something bigger than them pushes them there. They don't necessarily need to understand the "why" right away. They just get tossed into a situation, and eventually, they figure out if it fits or not. If it doesn't, they move on. Or they don't.

If you want to talk about why people start opening their own gyms, just look at the martial arts scene.

Jesse Allen2 said:Someone definitely taught them how to do that, but honestly, who they learned it from doesn't even matter. 😉

Look, I’m not saying there isn't a need for a teacher or a solid methodology. I really don't. But you're missing the mark on one thing: you have to develop yourself independently, too. If you don't take that initiative, you'll never actually reach that level of mastery everyone's always chasing—that elusive Dragonflayin style. It’s over.! 😁

I don't know much about these hippie types. Honestly, you've reached the end once you start acting like Fedor. Usually, people who can't perform in practice tend to pivot toward philosophy and "spirituality." 😁

That’s basically how modern martial arts came to be. After the war eras ended and people lost their old-school status through modernization—and they still needed to eat and maintain a family reputation—they started spinning these grand philosophies out of pure fluff. 😁

Especially those guys who spend more time punching air than actually landing a real strike. 😁

Jesse Allen2 said:What do you mean there isn't? There absolutely is—those religious types are way more aggressive! 😁

Oh honey, just look at how things were going down at the local YMCA maybe two or three years ago. 😉
The worst part? Like 90% of those guys at the YMCA don't even practice anything. They just scream and fight in their heads—they haven't stepped foot on a mat in forever, if ever.

Those religious folks might actually show up to their dojo once in a while. 😁

Paul Campbell3 said:Oh honey, just look at how things were going down at the local YMCA maybe two or three years ago. 😉
The worst part? Like 90% of those guys at the YMCA don't even practice anything. They just scream and fight in their heads—they haven't stepped foot on a mat in forever, if ever.

Those religious folks might actually show up to their dojo once in a while. 😁

No way she’d talk like that if she had actually met Lukica 🧐

Paul Campbell3 said:Look, since we're talking about spirituality here, I don't need to be.
In fact, over-explaining is actually counterproductive in this context.
If someone gets it, they get it—regardless of how much I leave unsaid.
🙂

That's just wrong. Diving headfirst into something you have zero clue about, something you don't even grasp, is a total dead end. That’s exactly why you see people after, say, ten years of training, finally realizing it wasn't what they wanted, and then they go out and open their own gyms or whatever.😢

People stumble into things not because they choose to, but because something bigger than them pushes them there. They don't necessarily need to understand the "why" right away. They just get tossed into a situation, and eventually, they figure out if it fits or not. If it doesn't, they move on. Or they don't.

If you want to talk about why people start opening their own gyms, just look at the martial arts scene.

I’d argue the exact opposite. Spirituality isn't some vague abstraction or a collection of someone's personal trinkets, despite how many people try to frame it that way to serve their own agendas or hide their own incompetence. That's why you see so much "spiritual" smoke and mirrors being sold off, even in certain martial arts circles that hide behind a veneer of mysticism. On the contrary, spirituality is the most straightforward thing in the universe.

Paul Campbell3 said:Look, since we're talking about spirituality here, I don't need to be.
In fact, over-explaining is actually counterproductive in this context.
If someone gets it, they get it—regardless of how much I leave unsaid.
🙂

That's just wrong. Diving headfirst into something you have zero clue about, something you don't even grasp, is a total dead end. That’s exactly why you see people after, say, ten years of training, finally realizing it wasn't what they wanted, and then they go out and open their own gyms or whatever.😢

People stumble into things not because they choose to, but because something bigger than them pushes them there. They don't necessarily need to understand the "why" right away. They just get tossed into a situation, and eventually, they figure out if it fits or not. If it doesn't, they move on. Or they don't.

If you want to talk about why people start opening their own gyms, just look at the martial arts scene.

Well, I wasn't saying that isn't true, but I think that's a bad thing.

Paul Campbell3 said:Look, since we're talking about spirituality here, I don't need to be.
In fact, over-explaining is actually counterproductive in this context.
If someone gets it, they get it—regardless of how much I leave unsaid.
🙂

That's just wrong. Diving headfirst into something you have zero clue about, something you don't even grasp, is a total dead end. That’s exactly why you see people after, say, ten years of training, finally realizing it wasn't what they wanted, and then they go out and open their own gyms or whatever.😢

People stumble into things not because they choose to, but because something bigger than them pushes them there. They don't necessarily need to understand the "why" right away. They just get tossed into a situation, and eventually, they figure out if it fits or not. If it doesn't, they move on. Or they don't.

If you want to talk about why people start opening their own gyms, just look at the martial arts scene.

We could, but I won't.

Jesse Allen2 said:I’d argue the exact opposite. Spirituality isn't some vague abstraction or a collection of someone's personal trinkets, despite how many people try to frame it that way to serve their own agendas or hide their own incompetence. That's why you see so much "spiritual" smoke and mirrors being sold off, even in certain martial arts circles that hide behind a veneer of mysticism. On the contrary, spirituality is the most straightforward thing in the universe.

Well, I wasn't saying that isn't true, but I think that's a bad thing.

We could, but I won't.

Spot on—right up until the moment we try to put it into words.
😁 😉

Jesse Allen2 said:That’s exactly what I meant when I said it’s usually the case for most people.

Honestly, tolerance isn't really my thing, nor is "different paths."
Feel free to think whatever you want, keep writing, and follow whatever road you choose—that’s about all I have to say on the matter. 🤷👍

The point is—having some emotionless first encounter doesn't mean things won't turn into something incredible later on, or that you won't eventually get swept up in it.

Then you've got the other side—someone where the connection is there from the jump. And they end up enjoying it just as much. So, honestly... what's the real difference?

Paul Campbell3 said:Spot on—right up until the moment we try to put it into words.
😁 😉

Hey now, don't go making generalizations!

quietpilot87 said:The point is—having some emotionless first encounter doesn't mean things won't turn into something incredible later on, or that you won't eventually get swept up in it.

Then you've got the other side—someone where the connection is there from the jump. And they end up enjoying it just as much. So, honestly... what's the real difference?

I disagree. To me, it is a guarantee. If something is going to reach its absolute peak, you usually see the potential for that right from the start.

quietpilot87 said:The point is—having some emotionless first encounter doesn't mean things won't turn into something incredible later on, or that you won't eventually get swept up in it.

Then you've got the other side—someone where the connection is there from the jump. And they end up enjoying it just as much. So, honestly... what's the real difference?

That scenario doesn't exist. That’s exactly where the difference lies.