@ftgf
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Re: Contrasting Krav and Aikido
I trained in aikido for about ten years, mostly in the US, and have trained in KM for four years. Although it depends on the style of aikido, generally aikido helps in Krav Maga because it helps with balance. If you know how to direct your ki downward, it really makes it difficult for your partner to knock you off balance. Aikido training also helps a lot when any type of breakfall is necessary.
I can say, too, that Krav Maga training after aikido can be difficult. My KM instructors are still after me to be more offensive. Although I trained in Yoshokai Aikido which was known as the “hard way” the lectures were mostly about only using your techniques for defense, controlling your emotions, avoiding confrontation, etc. Lately I feel that KM has made me a bit too aggressive as it spills a bit over into daily life. I’m seriously thinking of going back to aikido to add a little more yin to the yang.
Re: Gender segregation in the studio
Sorry Taikei…I didn’t recognize your given name and the fact that you were posting from Tokyo. Good luck as one of the new trainers, and thanks for taking up the gender issue with Matsumoto-san. I will be gone in a few weeks, but I feel better knowing that my gal pals will be better looked after. Thanks so much.
Re: Gender segregation in the studio
Thanks. I look forward to meeting you. fyi Out of immense loyalty to a bunch of awesome instructors who I have come to deeply respect, I will be following their example very soon. I wish you the very best, though. Ftgf (Fight the good fight) Lori
Re: Gender segregation in the studio
I can appreciate your viewpoint. You mention that some men might be “wary” about accidental touching. I’m sure that this is the case in Japan. But instead of segregating by gender, I think the modest women and wary men can simply choose same-gender sparring partners. Segregation shouldn’t be the studio’s policy though. I would even wear a thicker dogi if that would help. Frankly speaking, I’ve trained with 100s of men over the years and never once had a problem – although my buddies would have had my back had there ever been one.
Re: Gender segregation in the studio
Many thanks. He’s built up an impressive organization in the Tokyo area. The senior instructors are awesome – they train the females as rigorously as the males. It is mostly the newer instructors that don’t seem to “get it.”
A case in point – Just last week I was the only female in a class of about 20 males. I was partnered with two males and was told that during the groundwork techniques I could only take the defensive role. When I told the instructor that I was okay doing both offensive and defensive, he told me to only do the defensive and that this “wasn’t America.” I found this quite ironic because I had just been to Hawaii a week or two prior and two drunk guys were harassing me on the 17th floor balcony of my hotel. It was a real tight spot with no place to run. Could have easily escalated. How is KM Japan adequately training me for such situations if I am not allowed to 1) train with males and 2) practice the full range of techniques.
Lastly, I observed an aikido class at the Aikikai honbu in Tokyo to see how a traditional Japanese dojo handles the pairing of partners with regard to gender. Females and males worked with each other seamlessly. There was no segregation, no difference at all in how the genders were treated.
