Sensei Sargeant is the head of Takemusu Iwama Aikido in Great Britain, Greece and Russia.
He delivers seminars worldwide and is the author of "Takemusu Aikido: A Martial Artist's Journey of Discovery in Aikido". His second book will help those who seek a more spiritual path in life. Keeping The Mind of a Child which is also available via Amazon, in hardback or Kindle format.
Many thanks for sharing this experience and your honest reflections on it. After watching the video, I wondered whether regular aikido training in the dojo is sufficiently comprehensive to deal with all the forms of conflict we experience in life. I mean we don't really practice being verbally scolded, bullied, teased etc to the point of breaking in the dojo. Do you feel that a different way/method of training could have produced a better result for you, or is it just too difficult with our genes? From what I have read, O sensei could also explode in anger. We are all imperfect humans, trying to do the best we can. In Christianity, I am happy that there is grace to supplement my shortcomings.
I truly think that what one learns from 'Many years' of doing Aikido is that it forges us as better people and we look at each situation with clearer eyes. "But" and there is always that BUT. In my case my human self took over and the fuze was light and that was from deep within myself and it was at that point I realised that we are all just who we are, and that does not change even if we think and fool ourself we have. Thanks for your thoughts on it and taking the time to watch, all four or just this one.
Thank you for sharing your story so openly and I could really understand how you felt for this bloke asking for £150 with no proof and you being an excellent client for the work you gave him. I don't know if I would have lost the plot, but I think my blood would have boiled too at this point. This person has caused the situation and you were in a way victim of his deceit. To me, he was the bully guy who financially tried to steal from you. I am guessing he would have stopped acting like this afterward. But you know, you are human with emotional and rational mindset and you lost the balance (I would have too if I am honest with you). Hard to be calm. I think Aikido still gave you control over the situation as you stopped after having pushed him. Had you not done Aikido, you probably would have gone much further, hard to tell though. But essentially, you hit the nail on the head when you said we need to be realistic and step out of our comfort zone in the world of Aikido. We need to be working on our behaviour how we interact with one another when things escalate and it is a challenge for many. Thanks to Aikido, we learnt to hold and control our own behaviour and to look after our partner during practice, which help us subconsciously to uphold positive mindset and be less engaged with emotions. Sometimes, we fail and when we do, we simply see that we still have a lot more to learn...
The movement at 18:25 struck me as being unclear in purpose. I have been taught to withdraw the jo through the front hand to within around 6" of the end and then to push the rear out and either swing it or push it towards the opponent to strike or ward off. I show this movement in this video ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Mc92ns1N4aQ.html, which is part of a series I developed during lockdown with the intention of looking at the jo or hiking stick as a practical means of self-defence in an emergency, probably not against an attacker similarly armed, while following Aikido principles and developing the Aikido body and movement. I was trying to encourage curiosity and understanding in a way that people might want to try Aikido when the psychosis was over. I see some of my own errors in your video and will strive to improve.
Thanks for your comments and as it is almost at the end 18.25 I am not sure what part U are specifying for me to re-look at. Sadly looking at my own work I think I look a little 'Sloppy doing it' and it makes me want to do it again, so I may revisit this suburi. Hopefully I cover the Hasso better elsewhere. Thank you again for taking the trouble to look. and comment. We must all keep training as a beginner and hope we can gain from each others pointers.
I love your comment about the glass as it never entered my head due to Saito Shihan teaching me to have Zanshin all the time and not just do a 'Dance with the. Jo."
I really appreciate the clarity of your teaching Sensei and the historical context you transmit the information. Your movements are natural, relaxed and yet obviously powerful. So many versions exist on the internet/RU-vid some good and some not so good (in my humble opinion) but your videos are the closest to those of Saito Shihan's Bukiwaza as can be validated by a quick search and comparison with his videos. Thank you again for maintaining his Iwama Aikido traditions 🙏🏻
Wow, thank you, I have always try to show. what Saito sensei taught me as each year seeing him over twenty year around the world he like everyone changes but his basics never did;. He was adamant that O-Sensei would scold him from the grave if he altered what he had been taught. If I can go some way to keeping this style alive I shall do my best and thank all those who are trying to do the same located around the world that had the pleasure of being taught directly by himself.
Thank you for the video. Are you using foam mats? I thought they were too hard to throw someone on them. How does it feel compared with the rubber mats or the tatami?
Yes they are. But they are also vERY old now but still. good. They R better on wooden floors but, no one complains they R too hard to. take Ukemi on. The new Tatami also comes in different thicknesses and depending on what the floor covering is then it will depend on what Tatami one buys. Well. thats what we did when we bought them 30 years ago. It was for my Dojo with wooden floor. Hope this helps.
So in a nutshell. You're saying the more veteran practitioner/player will beat the less experienced person? I don't disagree with that. But are you also trying to say, you don't know what you don't know? And so go out and look for things? Like you thought you we're a decent 2dan. But didn't know the partner practice for 31 Jo kata. But you didn't know about it, and the people around you probably didn't know about it. With the tennis ball part. Aren't you just theorising what the players seem to be doing? But what you could do is find an expert and ask why they are selecting certain balls, and how? It's similar to someone who sees a technique from a sensei, maybe in a video, and perhaps try to replicate it but totally not understanding the mechanics or minor details that goes into it. I've been there. This will be my 23rd year in Aikido. And I think I've had to relearn everything 3 times because of a new discovery that would make my Aikido better.
I love reading your theory on it all, but my quick answer is "One never knows how one will act until the situation they are ut in, so my words are from memory of the happenings and its more a story than what other should do" Unless I am reading. your comments incorrectly? Answering the time of how long one has trained I personally think we learn to 'Not fight'. and that what time in Aikido. gives us, but who knows art what level one will. panic? In 1982/3 the UK had very few who knew the 31 Jo Kata or. any weapons apart from books and film from Saito sensei, so it was mostly do it hoping one was correct, and. as for. the 'Anti-kata' well never knew it then. Like I say it was all exciting and also humbling to think I knew nothing when I thought I did. Hope. this covers at least some of your questions? Thanks for taking the time to write and watch.
You are very kind for saying these words. I know that we must "All help O-SEnsei" the best way we can to make the world a better place. To me we speak different languages but we all hope and dream for the same rewards. To become better people.
Thank you for sharing this discussion from your heart why Aikido is a sacred Art. I 100% agree with you and every time, I get on the mat, I feel I am in my own zone away from anything else in the world fully focused and motivated to do more and better with Aikido techniques... It is a sacred Art for so many reasons, and one of them to me is how this Art goes deep into our spirit how we must improve ourself first before we can help others...
Well said! I cannot add more words as between us we have been touched by the founders art in such a way we will never need to search to find our goal. All we have to do is keep training as ;A Student"
Glad you think so! My belief is that we should give and try to make those who are truly searching for O-Sensei's Aikido to understand that not enough time is given to the detail.
Wonderful! I only wish others would not make excuses and do more to keep the fitness at a level that one requires to be their best at all martial arts, as well as the health benefits it brings with doing it.
Good advice to film yourself. As you say, nobody likes to watch / hear himself or herself, but it can be very diagnostic indeed. As for the tennis players you watched, I have lots of experience in tennis under my belt, both training and playing matches. What always struck me how different it was to just train, with nothing at stake, compared to a match, especially finals or when more was at stake. It was sooo much more difficult to perform under pressure of a match, especially a tie breaker or final of the match. There a striking examples of professionals not being able to handle the pressure, e.g. Jana Novotna in her Wimbledon final many years ago. If I draw an analogy to aikido: it is different to be able to do techniques in a relaxed training setting, than in a real situation on the street on which you recently posted some videos. Sometimes this worries me, is there enough 'pressure testing' in aikido training? The closest thing / substitute is an exam or demo. But is it enough?
To answer in reverse. No I do not believe one can ever be ready for what springs out at any given moment until it does. "Why." How is one feeling that time and did one see or sense it coming? The only answer I can offer as the years roll by is: either act fast and crush such treat or talk your way out of fighting. I have done both and to date each one was the correct one to keep myself safe. Perhaps a question that can never be answered only by the one who survives. To me aikido has so mnay gems to offer one in life; the question of defeat is one not now days in my thinking. Thank you for sharing your personal findings. It has inspired me to read it.
I love to hear when others use their skills to use whatever it takes to improve their Aikido mastery. Well done and the path only gets better by doing so.
yes I can understand why you would say that. But after many years of training I do believe that what my Master said to me was true. "Tony the technique is strong you do not have to be." How many years one must train is what no one knows before this can happen. Thanks for your thoughts.
Wonderful people, great learners, courageous and spirited. I am pleased to have met them. I'm sorry that it is so unlikely in the future. I have some great memories of those days ... I don't remember you being that fast though ... must be getting old. So many great memories of the people and events, thank you for helping me revisit them. So much to say, but that's enough.
Yes I love them and miss them all. Such dedicated students and now sadly being forced in a downward direction that seems to have put all our trips there on hold for many years. They will keep training and this we can be grateful to have met and part of their journey.
Thank you for sharing this story. So you effectively used 'verbal aikido' to de-escalate the situation with the boxing champion, first making him feel good about his martial skills (looking in same direction as Saito sensei would say) and then talking about martial arts etiquette... thereby redirecting his energy… fortunately it didn't end up in an actual fight this way. As for the other dan grades that didn't come to help you: apparently their survival reaction was flight rather than fight. Just like you, I think it is good not to judge people. I just hope that long time training in aikido does build some confidence and courage for when the moment comes... perhaps this leads us to a discussion to whether aikido is sufficiently all round to meet all challenges /challengers.
Like you say it takes time to acquire this calmness, But as I always try to speak truly, I am not sure if it can be gained by training or if it is in-built within our character and we put it down to Aikido training. I cannot answer the question, all I know is it worked when required and that is what is important I think we all agree on that. As for the others who hid, they may never change?
interesting video Tony Shihan, it reminds me of my own experience as Door Supervisor when once a fight erupted with a dozen of guys fighting me and another Bouncer we were the only ones defending ourselves and the other 2 bouncers were hiding. It just shows that when we are faced with an extreme situation, our adrenaline kicks in to fight or flight (flee). We did very well myself and the other bouncer defending ourselves and the other guys were injured and fled the night clubs. After this ordeal, my body was shaking due to Adrenaline but at the time, I felt immensely strong… We had to remove the other 2 Bouncers from premises as we could not rely on them… They were useless.
Thankfully, only a few of us will ever need to experience this. But perhaps it is in-built and not just the Aikido that keeps us sane and understands that anyone can fight, but to survive is better without damage. Thank you for sharing
@@Tony_Sargeant Absolutely! I have seen the huge differences from changing school whilst I was working as Door Supervisor and Iwama Aikido to me, is the strongest and most able to cope under such duress. I have tried it and tested it a few times, and it saved me. Had I not been practicing Iwama Aikido, I would probably have given up on Aikido... As you know, I had practiced Aikikai, Yoshinkan and I was not satisfied with how I was handling physical situation then as Bouncer that I was at a crossing point to really question Aikido as a whole and I remember vividly going to a book shop in Oxford Street, and I spent hours checking various Martial Arts books, and truly wanted Aikido to work as I had a gut feeling that there must be a way to make it effective (I owe this to my passion because, if I did not love Aikido the way I do, I would have given it up) and stumbled into a whole set of books with Morihiro Saito Sensei who was showing lots of weapons practice in images and I was mesmerised as to why I had not seen this before. So I sat down and was reading the pages and came across this line where Morihiro Saito Sensei wrote: If you want to really study Aikido, one must learn Bukiwaza to understand its deep connection with Taijutsu. Your Aikido will become much stronger... It hit me like a strong light bulb moment and knew that it was what I needed to do. The rest became history until now. I have never looked back since and never doubted it, as when I embarked on this new journey, my Aikido became much stronger when I was working as Bouncer...
Thanks for sharing this story. Quite interesting how your Nikyo pin neutralised the man and got him passed out. You have strong hands and hips, and it must have been so focused at this moment and I am not surprised that what happened to him had taken place. You definitely have the power connected with whole body from Hips. I can feel this when I am Uke with you!
Thank for you Presentation. I Practics Ani Tme 13 Kata. but in these Momente I evalue and i dont take all movimentes in mi mind. and a take a deccion. practic 2 x2 secions and in conciencious of proof. Abrazos desde Colombia.
Simple answer. He was not teaching the same as his father at the same time as they were both teaching and i did not like his style with lifting the leg like starting an old motorbike trying to kickstart it. You may know what I mean? It happens with family where the children clash and they certainly. had their moments and I wonder if H done it just because he did not like his father and wanted his own take on it. But perhaps I am being unkind. Basically he never done it for me.
@@Tony_Sargeant yes I do understand what you mean about the kick start particularly with the Ken. My instructor and senpai both had similar experiences with H, and described his technique as being quite different from his dads. Thanks for your honesty.
I understand that everyone has to make a living, but the cost of annual fees combined with the amount of money required for dan grading certification is one of the main reasons I left Aikido. I worked out early in my martial arts interest was that seeking dan grades was pointless because my ability couldnt be judged on how many black belts I had but rather the commitment I put into the artform, it was also driven by the fact I was raising a small family and I had no extra income for martial arts training. So I left. I did a bit of Yang style Tai Chi for a couple of years where they had no interest in grades and emphasised friendship, then I ended back in a random, small Aikido dojo where the feeling was the same, then moved around a little and joined another dojo when I moved suburb. This was perfect for me, I had no affiliation to one style and no expectation to grade, I was just there to learn. I still yearn to go back to my original iwama style dojo to train, but many years have passed now and I have found my niche as a mixed martial artist.
I think you have had a similar experience as most. It is costly and it seems to be part of the package sadly. I now run my own organisation and charge half if not less for dan ranks that the Aikikai. I realised towards the end that when they charge $900 for a 5th dan the organisation keeps half an dthe Aikikai get half. I made the suggestion to not take all that for the organisation I. wa sin at the time and they told me to but out. Sad as like you many just can't afford to do Aikido. I think what you are doing is good. I always say 'If U enjoy it then its ok'
@@Tony_Sargeant is great to see that you have broken away from the Aikikai in regards to the financial concern. At the end of the day a black belt is a black belt to the lay person, who gave it to you only matters to those inside Aikido and even then nobody can really say one is better than the other. I think black belts shouldn’t be determined by skill and ability alone if at all. Dedication, friendship and contribution to the Aikido community top that I feel. Otherwise practitioners who have disabilities either physical or learning have a disadvantage whereas everyone should be of equal footing. Sorry for my rant.
Sounds like we are talking from the same page. It's sad but it takes us so many years before we realise it is all about paying out for ranks rather than what it should be for. I was awarded my 7th and did not want it as I felt that over the last 20 -30 years it's like giving away nothing of worth. I look at who gets them and same old story, it's those who creap the closest to the sensei and if in favore they get it. I was pushed by saying "Sensei if U do not go up how can those below U." When I think of those gone before me I am just a small boy compaird to what they done in aikiod and the way they trained so harshly. I am talking about the. Saito era not the western aikidoka. We did train hard but not like they. Well thats my opinion and the way its going soomn it should be changed from 'Aikido' to the "Well-being shool of care" Now my rant. is over.
Thank you for your very kind words. I am still a student and I hope all those followingO-Sensei;s art would be as honest as they can. Thank you again for comments and taking the time to watch my films.
I read that Saito was apparently broken hearted over what happened with the man you mentioned as he had no choice but to totally turn his back on him. Very sad.
Thanks Tony, Im really enjoying your story. Im aware there was a sensei based Whangarei NZ that brought Saito over. My old Aikido instructor was a student of this sensei and then he went to Iwama for his uchi deshi period in the late eighties, I joined his dojo in the early nineties. He used to invite one particular senior down from Whangarei for seminars, she apparently was one of Saito's favourites. Lucky her. :)
I she was a small Maori and from that same area 'Whangarei' then I am sure it was. I think her name was Maria or I may just be trying to, as it was 1982/83
She was awesome back then and sharper than most men I trained with. I may have told a story of Saito sensei calling her up telling her to grab a plastic fork, we all laughed and he got cross as he was serious, so she jumped up to gabe the fork and he threw her several time without it braking. Have U seen this film yet? If U see her please remember me to her. If she still teaches that. is?
@@Tony_Sargeant Unfortunately Im out of the Aikido loop and have been for many years but I still pick up the jo and ken every so often for solo training. Having said that I do train on a random Sunday with my friend at a Bukikai Dojo unfortunately not Iwama style but Im learning new things all the time. Regaring Maria if I ever do see her again Ill be sure to mention you name, Im sure she'd remember you.
Hi Tony, showing emotion means you are human no need to apologise, I am enjoying the journey you are presenting, you are a true gentleman. "The meek shall inherit the earth"
Hate and blame allows us to justify violence towards each other. If we can see that inside each of us and realise that this is not the right way, we can rid ourselves of it and live in peace and harmony with the world. Im still working on this within myself, perhaps this is the harmony O'Sensei is talking about also. Thanks Tony.
Looks great Tony. How long were you in Iwama for and from what period? Unfortunately I never got to go to Japan but the dojo I used to train in was iwama lineage. Thanks
Not long. 3 weeks in 1994, then a week in Italy with Saito sensei as we were going from Japan to Italy then on to England where I was hosting him. It was a great time being with him all those weeks and he gave us so much. Sadly the next time in Iwama was at his Wake. It was such a busy time and so many at the farewell but I am so glade I went. After all he was my sensei for 27 years in total.
Thanks for sharing, this is a difficult and intriguing subject. To me, the exercises in Tohei's book seem more about proper body structure, relaxation and a calm mind to effectively dissipate a force coming at you, or to 'defy angles' as you call it. Not sure whether telepathy is involved. The exercise of facing someone with a ken/sword is nice. I always feel it to be intimidating. I do not have enough experience to know whether and to what extent you can really train telepathy in such a situation. From my studies of the system of Human Design, I know that some people have consistent intuition and can act on it immediately for their survival. O sensei was such a person, I know this from his Design. To me, this sounds like the telepathy you talk about. However, most people cannot do this consistently, at least according to Human Design. It cannot really be trained, you either have it or you don't. Probably reflexes and 'reading' the opponent's moves can be trained, but I wonder whether one can do more. Perhaps one can also train a certain level of conciousness associated with alpha state brain waves, this is suggested by one of Terry Ezra's students. It would allow you to be calmer, observe better as if time goes slower. Perhaps too much info in this reaction, sorry!
I love the way you have gone into your thoughts,and to me "Everyone can do ti" it is like any other interest. If you like it enough you will study it for years and the more we learn the closer we get. Most are not interested in the slightest and that covers the majority of Aikidoka that i have met. But I make them for the few who are.
@@Tony_Sargeant Thank you! I also took the liberty of looking at your 'Human Design', based on the birth date I could find on Aikido Journal. From what I can see, you share O sensei's rare talent of intuitively knowing how to survive in the moment with your body, if you are born before 10:15 am. If you are born later on the day, you have a slightly different energy, but still consistent intuition which can be expressed into action. I thought it would be nice to share this with you. You don't have to believe it, but it might explain why you have been able to use aikido effectively and ‘do O sensei’s aikido’, rather than just being lucky...
This is very kind of you doing this. I was born at 19.10 on a Thursday 2nd Feb 1950 and I do psychic readings and stage work as another hobby of mine. So you may be picking up this side of me. But most do not want to go there or even talk about it, due to. not wishing to associate with weirdos.
@@Tony_Sargeant Thank you, with this date and time, to say it in a nutshell: HD predicts your life purpose is to be someone with individual direction whose unique way of remembering experiences brings a living, vibrant (aikido?) past into the future. I think you display this beautifully by all your teaching and videos in which you reflect on the rich past. You are also designed to combine intuitive depth with repetitive experimentation to achieve mastery, as you also demonstrate in your aikido career. You are good at survival in the now, 'thinking on your feet'. You impact your enviroment, leaving it healthier and more beautiful than it was, like an artist. So it looks like you are living your design very well!
Wow it looks like I am luckier than I think. Thank you very much this is a very nice read. I shall do my best in the years left to even better my footprint.
Thanks for sharing! It's remarkable that small differences can make such a difference in the power/effectiveness of aikido techniques. It takes time to discover all of these details, and your videos help discover the secrets faster!
Hi Tony, iwama style is alive and kicking in Auckland New Zealand. Alan Robert’s dojo teaches Saito weapons and Aikido to the T. His dojo was established around 1994 and has grown ever since with strong yudansha preserving Saitos lineage.
Yes I know and it is good to hear that it. is going strong. So many. have struggled over the years and with Covid it got even hit harder. But us dedicated few will keep going as long as we have those who wish to follow the iwama path. Thanks for replying.