Tuesday 12 June 2012

Aiki arts with Geoff Aisbitt and Peter Seth...


What are the aiki arts?

Both aiki-jutsu and aikido have their roots in jujitsu, specifically Daito-ryu jujitsu, originally known as Daito-ryu-aiki-ju-jutsu. The original Daito-ryu-aiki-jujutsu is ascribed to a famous samurai called Shinra Suburo Yoshimitsu who devised the art from a wrestling style of jujitsu around 1100 A.D. The art was kept secret and only taught to the Minamoto family of Japan of which Yoshimitsu was a general.

In the early 20th century the art of Daito-ryu jujutsu was revised by Takeda Sokaku. Students of Takeda went on to develop the main styles of aiki-jutsu and his most famous student, Morihei Ueshiba went on to develop aikido.

What is aiki-jutsu?

Aiki-jutsu is sometimes described as ‘subtle jujitsu’. It is distinguished from jujitsu by the application of mental training and the use of a person’s inner energy, called ki. Aiki-jutsu is designed to use the other man’s strength with your own knowledge of how he is employing it. It emphasizes an early neutralization of an attack.  Like other forms of jujutsu, it emphasizes throwing techniques and joint manipulations to effectively control, subdue, or injure an attacker. Of particular importance is the timing of a defensive technique to either blend or neutralize an incoming attack's effectiveness and use the force of the attacker's movement against them.

What is aikido?

Aikido also emphasisis the application of the aiki principle. In Takedo’s words aiki means “….to overpower the opponent mentally at a glance and to win without fighting.” He expands on this to say “Aiki is to pull when you are pushed, and to push when you are pulled. It is the spirit of slowness and speed, of harmonizing your movement with your opponent's ki. Its opposite,kiai, is to push to the limit, while aiki never resists

Uesheba developed aikido as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying (with) life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to defend themselves while also protecting their attacker from injury.
In aikido emphasis is upon joining with the rhythm and intent of the opponent in order to find the optimal position and timing with which to apply the technique. The techniques of aikido can, when applied judiciously, divert or immobilize rather than damage or kill. As a result, some consider aikido to be a practical symbol of meeting aggression (physical, verbal, etc.) with an effective but merciful response, and finding harmony in conflict.

The Arts founder Morehei Ueshiba declared,
"To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace."

Who is Geoff Aisbitt?

Geoff Aisbitt has been the head of the Kogusoku Aikido Association http://www.kogusoku.org.uk/ since April 2007. Sensei Aisbittt has been involved with Martial arts and Self Defence since the mid 1970's, teaching and training in various locations around the world.

Geoff holds a 4th Dan Aikido and 3rd Dan Aiki-Jitsu. He is also a Conflict Resolution Trainer and an Army Restraint & Arrest Instructor as well as a First Aid Trainer & Assessor and a registered Sports Coach with the British Aikido Board (Sports UK Recognised).

Geoff has taught Restraint and Arrest techniques since 1992, Aikido and Aiki-Jitsu Since 1994 and since 2001 he has taught conflict resolution training.

Who is Peter Seth?

Peter Seth is the founder and senior instructor of the Zanshin Aikido club http://www.zanshinaikido.co.uk/ at Sunderland University.  He hold the rank of 4th Dan in Aikido.


Peter has over 49 years martial arts experience (Over 30 Aikido).  He has experience in a variety of other martial arts, both mainstream and eclectic, including karate, judo, ninjutsu and ju-jitsu . Peter is an Accredited Senior Coach and Examiner - (British Aikido Board  Sports Council Affiliated) and a Conflict management/resolution trainer as well as a Student Streetsafe trainer.


Of course Peter is also the founder/organiser of ‘The Great Northern International Festival of Martial Arts’ – Marfest.

At the Marfest….

Geoff Aisbitt will be demonstrating the art of aiki-jutsu whilst Peter Seth will be leading an aikido demonstration. Both will also be on the come and try it mats for you to have a go… 

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