The Expansive Power of Aikido

Video Transcript

"Contrary to many other martial arts where they get real tight and secluded and very sympathetic in nature that is kind of fight or flight Aikido is really expansive. We try to generate power from the hips from the center and we like expand that out throughout space throughout the Dojo, throughout the floor. Also in Aikido, size has nothing to do with it. As you can see Shedaki Sensa here is going to demonstrate a technique that if you looked at her you probably wouldn't think that she would be able to pick me up and throw me across the room. We are just going to see how she does that. She is going to take everything to her center and then generate some force and then allow me to kind of flow. So why don't we do that. Again as you see size really doesn't matter. She drew everything to center, created it here, created that power, created that energy and then was able to expand it and extend it throughout the technique. As you saw when we came through here she brings everything right to her center and then keeps me in front of her center as she goes through the rest of the throw. This is one of the true benefits of Aikido. It doesn't matter about size, it doesn't matter about age, flexibility. There is always a style that will fit each individual and you just have to work through the techniques and then find out what works exactly for you."