Customer Reviews

Aikido and Bokata

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Mr. Tegner obviously knows little to nothing about Aikido. This is probably one of the worst examples I've ever seen of a book dealing with the subject. A small number of the techniques do have some value but I would be hard pressed to call any of it authentic Aikido. In addition, the "bo kata" bears little resemblance to the stick techniques traditionally taught in Aikido schools. Mr Tegner has written books worthy of consideration (his book SELF-DEFENSE NERVE CENTERS AND PRESSURE POINTS comes to mind) but this certainly isn't one of them. My advice? If you're looking for a good introduction to Aikido, your money would be better spent elsewhere

This is not his best book but a lot of the other reviewers who are villifying him are way off base. Aikido IS very difficult to learn and use for self defense. Once a person attains an advanced level they can make it work very effectively. It is clearly Tegner's intent to merely display some of Aikido to the public and make Aikidoka out of everyone.

Although Bruce Tegner has lots of good things to show people regarding juijutsu and karate, on aikido he has nothing of any real consequence to contribute. He starts the book off by saying that Aikido doesn't really work for self-defense and should be approached solely for art and exercise. Anybody who has seen Steven Seagal in a movie recently knows that aikido can be very effective; what Tegner should say is that it can be awesomely effective, but to get to that level you have to practice for 4 or 5 years.

In this book, Bruce states that Aikido should not be used for self defence and only observed as an "art" and for "excercise." In this, I believe that the source of Bruce's studies have perverted the art to something other than what it was intended to be. Aikido is not meant for anything other than self defence. As any "martial art" it should remain pragmatic in it's approach to instruction. If this is not done, then the "martial" is taken out of the art. For any support of this, I offer Ueshiba's track record in combat, or failing this, the very dead would-be killer of a young and innocent Aikidoka in O.K.C. who killed his attacker in self defense while under the instruction of the Windsong Aikido dojo which teaches Fugakukai Aikido. The killer did not die of too much excercise or art, but rather the natural reaction the body has to suddenly and forcefully impacting against pavement in a manner that ruptures the frontal lobe of the brain pan.

This is not meant as an advertisement or as saying it is easy be a killer in 12 easy lessons. What I am saying, is that if an instructor tells you that this can't be used as self defense, then go somewhere were the Aikido is. If you are looking for a passtime, you will find a passtime; if you are looking to learn a martial discipline, then, by all means, learn a martial discipline.

This guy knows NOTHING about the effectiveness of the martial art of Aikido, he says in this book that Aikido doesn't work as self defense, i've been practising Aikido for about 2 years and i know very well that Aikido is a VERY effective art for self-defense and NOT for show. If you want to know about Aikido DO NOT buy this book i recomend Total Aikido by Gozo Shioda.

I first bought this book long before I learned any Aikido, and it made little to no sense what so ever. Now I am an Aikido-ka and I find this book a very good study aid. In short this book is not a self-contained guide to Aikido merely a study guide for student. If you're looking to learn Aikido from a book...this is not the book.

i am the guy on the cover of this book, striking a pose with the bo. i did this book for bruce tegner in the early 1980s at ventura college in ventura, california, where mr.tegner was a staff teacher.i was never a student of bruce tegners at any time, i was a friend of another subject in the book, tom. i was asked to do the book as a favor because one of the others was injured at the last minute. i was at the time in the tracy and parker kenpo karate system as well as joo bang lee and michael d. echanis taught hwarang-do.i also studied southern shaolin 5 animal style with master howard lee of santa paula california.i have known and trained off and on for several decades with mr. steven seagal and can attest to his effectiveness in aikido. however, at the time of this particular shoot i knew absolutely nothing about aikido. at the time of the shoot mr. tegner had mysteriously misplaced his "script". the techniques i perform are in fact hwarang-do techniques, perfectly effective, valid but no, not authentic aikido.i am greatly embarassed by this book im sorry to say and i apologize for any misrepresentations.i hope this clears up any misunderstandings.

Tegner misrepresents how to perform basic techniques. Let us consider for example how he presents the basic throw known as kote-gaeshi (outward wrist twist). Instead of disturbing uke's balance so that uke loses control and the throw can be effective, Tegner takes a questionable approach. He shows the throw being done when uke is standing upright, fully balanced, and with his elbow deeply bent. To have the throw happen under these circumstances means one of two things: (a) Uke is doing his part badly, throwing himself at the floor when an ineffective technique is being applied. --or-- (b) You are applying excessive force and will damage uke's wrist and elbow joints to get the technique to work.

In aikido, the nage is the one who throws and uke is the one who is thrown. Being the uke is challenging. When nage tries to throw you, your responses help show nage what works and what doesn't. But Tegner dismisses the uke's responsibilities. Instead, he has uke just follow along with whatever nage is doing. However, if nage is repeatedly doing the techniques ineffectively, then uke does nage a disservice by just following along.