This is not Serguei Ozereliev. This gentleman is named Oleg. I was practicing in Moscou when this video was shot. I can recognize all of them, including the teacher of this class, Vladimir Zhinkowsky, as well as the Japanese gentleman on the left who is filming (he was there from August to November 2013). This is NOT removing any value to the other comments, all correct: You cannot judge what Mikhail does until you actually FELT it yourself. I did. And I have been teaching Aikido for 20 years.
The issue with people watching and commenting on this vid is that they don't understand. You cannot understand how water feels if you have never been in it. I have recently been at the Moscow school. I am quite strong and have a background in freestyle wrestling. While at the Moscow school I have wrestled with Sergey Ozhireljev (the gentleman with the camouflage pants). I can assure you that he is very strong: I saw him do pushups, and you can also judge that from the amount of times he goes down and how easily he comes up. I have not have a chance to feel his strength though. The way that Mikhail plays with Sergey - that is how Sergey played with me. There was no point where I could affect him without him being ahead of me and provoking more tension in my body and unbalancing me. For people that worry about this being slow work and that this will not work for faster situations or if the person strikes. I have tested that theory too and I can relate that the incoming was far greater than the outgoing. Like Mike Tyson said: "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face!". There's a difference between reading that quote on a computer screen and actually experiencing it. If you don't believe it it's pretty easy to find out. I recommend you all to take a trip to Moscow and experience this. These people are really nice. Also note the person in black next to the wall is Vladimir Zaikovsky an extremely good teacher and very strong fighter. You have to experience the caliber of the people that Mikhail works with - then you can have a better idea about his level. It's like saying about an NHL player that he is not the greatest - trying getting on the ice with him and seeing where you are.
Excellent comment. "I can relate that the incoming was far greater than the outgoing." Yup. I agree completely, and I can't wait till my next trip to Moscow. Beautiful people. Cheers!
