Good middle schools in Manhattan: Martial arts comparison series
Good middle schools in Manhattan : Karate is exceptionally recognizable, but what about Aiki-jiujitsu? Firstly we take a look at what Aiki-jiujitsu is, and secondly, we compare it to karate.
Formerly Daito-Ryu Jiujustsu, Aiki-jiujitsu, means hard/soft. Understanding Aiki is critical to understanding the principals of this martial art. Aiki means to push when pulled and to pull when pushed.
Aiki-jiujitsu is a Japanese sub-genre of JiuJutsu and dates back to the 11th Century. At this time, Aiki-jiujitsu is the martial art for members of the royal court and their elite military.
The focus is to turn an opponent’s motion and strength against them. However, techniques include moving joint locks and throwing techniques.
“The secret of Aiki is to overpower the opponent mentally at a glance and to win without fighting.” – Takeda Sokaku
The knees, neck, and wrists of the opponent give leverage. In particular, pinning someone down with the knees is a tactic to leave the hands free. The hands can then hold weapons or defend against multiple attackers.
Aiki-jiujitsu stresses non-resistance and the redirection of throws, counters, attacks, and sweeps. To master this, defensive timing is crucial, enabling the defender to blend or neutralize the attacker.
Furthermore, weapons training with the Bokken and the Katana form part of the study. Zen Buddhism, Zazen meditation, and calligraphy also feature in this martial art.
Aiki-jiujitsu or karate?
Due to the strength of karate, many of its techniques form part of Aiki-jiujitsu. Also, because both originate from Japan, karate uses some of the methods in Aiki-jiujitsu. You may find it hard to find an Aiki-jiujitsu class near you, so karate is probably the better option. Good middle schools in Manhattan