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In the Search of Aiki - Rob John & Björn Friedrich about IMA & BJJ. Episode 2: What is Aiki

EffortlessJiuJitsu

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In the Search of Aiki is a conversation between Aunkais Robert John and Third Degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blackbelt Björn Friedrich. In different episodes they are discussing not only their own path and experiences but also a lot of Background stories, history and the different ideas of Aiki or Internal Power.

In the second Episode, both guys talk about their understanding of Aiki. It's history and the effects that it has on martial arts training.

Content in this Video:
00:00 Intro
00:41 The historical roots of Aiki
02:15 Aiki takes away the strength of your opponent (according to Sagawa Yukiyoshi)
04:00 The main Focus of classical Aiki was it's use in Grappling range
04:40 Traditionally, Aiki was used for weapon retention
05:30 Was Aiki a martial art or a body skill that was added to certain martial arts?
07:00 Can you implement Aiki into every martial art?
08:40 Björns observation of similarities in all good internal martial arts masters
09:45 What are other effects of Aiki?
13:00 The different flavors of Aiki
16:20 Aiki doesn't work for everyone. What it takes to make it work.
20:40 How inner pictures can help to create Aiki
22:55 Why Aiki is harder to teach than techniques
26:18 Why Ark is exceptional good?
30:20 What injuries can teach you
31:00 What is the first step to learn Aiki for an absolute beginner

Study on the effects of mental imagery in sports:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science...

If you are interested in Rob Johns work or Aunkai in general, you should check out the following websites:

Robs personal website:
https://en.zerotohero.jp/

Aunkai Headquarter Tokio:
https://www.aunkai-tokyo.jp/en/

Aunkai USA YouTube Channel:
@aunkai1012

If you like Björns videos, be sure to subscribe to our channel and check out his BJJ video instructional series.

You can buy all of Björns instructional video series here:
https://effortlessjiujitsu.gumroad.com/
You will get 40% off your order by using the Coupon Code "SPRING2023"

If you are looking for awesome BJJ & MMA Clothing, Rashguards, etc. check out:
https://www.xmartial.com/?ref=BJORNFR...
You will get 10% off your order by using the Code "BJORNFRIEDRICH"

If you are looking fore DVDs, you can find his DVDs here:
https://www.budovideos.com/search?q=B...

If you want to learn more about Björn and his approach to BJJ check out his website:
https://www.EffortlessJiuJitsu.com

9 Comments

@justinmo 3 years ago

Very cool discussion. I’m a BJJ black belt and I also trained with a lot of Kung Fu teachers and Japanese Jujutsu teachers. About 30 years ago I was with a Japanese master and I saw him doing a common wrist lock on someone that wasn’t cooperative and he ended up knocking the guy out with KI. I feel dumb saying that but I saw it and there was no reason for anyone to fake it. It was very strange and probably the craziest thing I have seen in the martial arts.

@BlueyFromMelbShuffle 3 years ago

Thank you for continuing with the series - very interesting!

@SAARPURI 3 years ago

Shotput analogy very illuminating

@geraldfabrot9961 3 years ago

Nice discussion! I’ve trained with Rob and Akuzawa-sensei in the early 2000’s and pursued BJJ after. I’d say I’ve got entry-level internal skills and some of it can definitely apply to the ground game. Looking forward to meeting you Bjorn some time when I visit Europe (I have family in Neighboring countries Belgium, France and Switzerland ^^). Merging those skills for constant Kuzushi while seeking positional and mechanical dominance is my current goal.

@EffortlessJiuJitsu Creator 3 years ago

Even so, my body movement is pretty bad in these days (don't worry it will change again;-) I played around with some Aiki stuff. In this video DON'T show you a takedown but the effects on Aiki when you want to take someone down. What you see in this video is that I am manipulating my own body in order to manipulate the reaction of my opponent. He falls because I dissolve the tension in my own body, so he has nothing to hold on to. This principle can be used with many different classical takedowns, but of course needs time to practice.
https://youtu.be/gedNq_ZBM1o

@violentfox 3 years ago

Great talk! Rob mentioned something about messing with the opponent’s perception in ep. 1. It would be great to follow up on this next time, sounds like a really exciting topic!

@Aiki_and_Jiu 3 years ago

Great discussion on this controversial topic. I appreciate you reviewing other principles outside of BJJ that are actually very valuable. Many BJJ practitioners neglect to look outside their art and are missing a ton of ancient details.

@adarshvazhakandy6734 3 years ago

Hi Bjorn, very interesting video.... can u tell us the names of aiki/internal guys who have really impressed you with their skills? Thanks

@mekugi 3 years ago (edited)

The word you want is "ki" 気 and not Aiki, and that it was not 150 years ago.
The aiki is being used in "aikijutsu" in place of terms like "yawara" and "wa".
Takeda Sokaku did NOT grow up in an era where dueling was legal. He was born in 1859, when he was a young man it was the MEIJI era. That is a complete load of BS.
There is so much wrong with this video I could write a book. This is a bed of half truths and fundamental misunderstandings being expounded upon in an ignorant way.
I am not talking about opinion, I am talking about BASIC understanding.
I digress....
武田惣角から合気柔術を学んだ堀川幸道彼は憤慨して言った:
"合気という意味、技の精神的、根本的な意味を知らないでなぜ合気という言葉を使うのか?"