Whilst there are still a few good dojos in the UK teaching traditional Aikido, I feel many abuse the word "traditional" and a lot of the Aikido bears very little resemblance to the early Aikido that I studied in the 1950's.
In those early days Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and Ken Williams Sensei both taught hard Aikido, often using a shinai to get a particular point across. Both Derek Eastman Sensei and I still on occasions use this method when necessary. In the early
days every student of Aikido would do press_ups on the back of their wrists, some with their hands turned inward and some turned outwards. This is a very hard excerise, it not only make the wrists strong, but supple. It would now appear that we, the E.S.T.A., are the only
traditional school still doing these excerises in Britain.
Teachers and students of Aikido often refer to "Ki" as if it were some form of mysterious magic. I believe that "Ki" is developed through hard training and building your strength of spirit.
I still teach the old "Traditional" style of Aikido, and have little time for fantasy style of "dancing aikido", which can only be practised by two students who know each other's moves, as a form of self-defence, it would only work if one was attacked by another student
from the same dojo.
I often read in martial arts magazines the question, is Aikido a martial art? In the 1950's & 60's this question was never raised as most of the converts to Aikido were from other martial arts as I was. I find this question offensive but I can see the reason for it being asked on a
ever increasing scale. The reason for the question is the fantasy Aikido that goes under many guises, I have seen these people under the name of Traditional Aikido now that is offensive. To me fantasy Aikido has no more to do with the martial arts than synchronised swimming has to do with
the Olympics.
