Helpful handful: 5 things aikidoka could learn from judo

I thought I'd throw out a few suggestions for things that aikido folks could probably learn from judo folks to make themselves more well-rounded. Fear not - tomorrow I'll give you a few suggestions for ways judo guys could lean from aikido guys.

• pressure makes diamonds - add in some form of resistive or competitive training and you'll get a lot less of that "aikido sux" nonsense from the MMA knuckleheads.
• koshinage - what you call one throw (admittedly, with several variations), judo calls many different throws (each with several variations). Judo has simply made a more detailed study of hip throws than has aikido and judoka cut koshinage into many distinct slices, each worth studying.
• ashiwaza - just like with koshinage, judo makes a detailed study of ashiwaza (leg techniques or footsweeps) that are mostly ignored in aikido. This is unfortunate because footsweeps teach you an immense amount about balance and timing and footwork.
• sutemiwaza - a third class of techniques that is mostly ignored in aikido is the sacrifice technique. You can think of these as sort of a last-ditch backup plan in case an aggressive opponent overwhelms your ma-ai and your taisabaki.
• newaza as another backup plan. You're already practicing suwariwaza - you can just think of newaza as an extension of that practice.

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Patrick Parker is a Christian, husband, father, martial arts teacher, Program Director for a Cardiac Rehab, and a Ph.D. Contact: mokurendojo@gmail.com or phone 601.248.7282 木蓮

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