Freeman Longhunter yes, I produced a film mostly for those who do not practice Aikido as an invitation. Evidently, what transpires from the film is experience...life long experience from those who do practice it.

Micky, sorry for the late reply, I just realized I had comments here. Thank you for your words, have you had a chance to see the entire film? This here is only a first segment from it. And yes, a lot has gone into making it.

Bahaa Elkadri I am glad you do. Aikido has a lot to offer if we understand its principles.

Bentley's Backwoods Bushcraft all that being said, what do you think about the film? Also, just as a side note, a good number of the people shown here work or have worked and trained the military or the police...what would you expect to see - broken arms and legs to show effectiveness? It is a documentary about an art, an approach to life. Not a film about how to effectively beat someone.

Anno Sensei, her teacher, was a student and colleague of Hikitsuchi Sensei, 10th dan awarded by O Sensei. Her style is a lot like that of Hikitsuchi Sensei, who was one of O Sensei's closest students. Like O Sensei, HS was trained in various styles of harder Budo and was no joke. The reason it looks (and is) soft is because the timing and positioning and use of energy are perfect. The trainings can be a real workout, as you are moving constantly. A lot of times "harder " styles are just using an unnecessary amount of force. As O Sensei found out, force is not necessary. Being in you best shape is. I was lucky enough (because of moving a LOT for work) to train a bunch of different styles and liked them all. To me the Hikitsuchi Sensei style (as taught by Gerard Blaize, but also HS in two 5-day seminars) has been the most fascinating and challenging to me. The subtlety is incredible. But, you have to experience it first-hand. As it does look like nothing is happening. When done right, the nage completely steals your balance. However, learning some more traditional styles was not only fun but made it a lot easier to train in any seminar or dojo, learning while not getting hurt.

@@lopezb Thanks much for the conversation, I agree less force is generally better. I have trained the softer style as well and leaned many good things which I have incorporated with my more mean version. I would guess you would consider it using too much force but I am a lazy fat guy who has found a great and effective way of doing these techniques that work for me. I think that I have, for me, found a great balance of both.

Tony, no need to apologize at all. The purpose of this film and project is not to teach technical aspects of Aikido, therefore the age-hard/soft aspect has very little relevance. People can take from it whatever they find useful, if anything. I created this project with a clear purpose in mind, to invite people to one possible way of learning. There are many ways, all valid in their own right, and hopefully this film offers some insight to some people. That's all there is to it.

FYI: I looked up Kevin Choate Sensei after seeing this vid, since his technique reminds me of Yamaguchi Sensei. Then I was shocked to see he passed away in 2012. Here is a comment another sensei posted on hearing of his death: "I think Kevin Choate had more integrity in his Budo than almost anyone I know. His approach to training was uniquely his own... he had his path and wasn't going to alter it for anyone. I once told him how much I respected his courage in being willing to go to the cutting edge of our art. I said I thought he could be in danger of getting so far out ahead of his audience that they couldn't go there with him (dangerous for a professional teacher). He replied, "I think about that all the time." But he never compromised. He never changed his path to try to "get ahead". He would fall all over himself to show you what he was doing but if you didn't lke what he was doing, well, tough, he wasn't doing it for you... it wasn't a show, it wasn't designed to make him famous. It was his Path and no one else's. Yet, he'd generously share it with you. I can't calculate the ways in which this is a loss for all of us. When I heard the news I felt like someone had punched me in the gut and I could barely breath. It will be a long time before folks have digested this one. Kevin was one of the most thoughtful people I have ever met. Scary smart and possessed of a unique perception on anything you might name. Sharing ones thoughts with this man was always a paradigm shifting event. He never had the predictable point of view. This is not a loss that will go unnoticed nor will the hole he leaves be replaced. Kevin was a "one of" and this is just a devastating piece of news. George S. Ledyard Aikido Eastside Bellevue, WA Aikido Eastside"

You are probably right. I work with many families however who were thrilled to discover a Martial Art practice for their kids that is based on what Aikido has to offer. And the kids are developing quite amazingly, as many teachers around the world can attest to when they have kids programs. As per this film offering a "wow" factor, no it does not. It was not intended for that purpose at all. Thank you for your feedback.

Hi yah, sorry to read that. I have went to great lengths to keep all mystical stuff out of this film. There is absolutely NOTHING mystical or religious about it and I regret if your comment may misled audiences. See my comment below addressed to Tony Wagstaffe. As I said, this film might not be for you, but certainly it has ZERO religion in it.

lol it does feel like a Christian film about Jesus's love... I don't know if Aikido has been watered down, it looks better today then it did when O'SENSEI was filmed doing it. Check out Christian Tissier... times are different, people are alot bigger, stronger faster and in general more competent in fighting then perhaps they were back then... Bottom line take 2 twins, one person trains Aikido for a year with whoever you want, and the other trains BJJ, Muay Thai, or even wrestling for the same period.. then they spar, who wins 9 out of 10 times? I love aikido and I think it has its value, but to say it has martial value (in most cases)is irresponsible. It is a major violator of instilling false sense of security...

Living Aikido Life well it comes off as religious. I fast-forward to the end and yes it closes with some life changing experience.

Hi yah I am curious as to what aspects in THIS film come off as religious. I am a documentary filmmaker, trying to stay objective to the topics I work with - in this case what Aikido has to offer as a practice, not as a cage fighting style. I am also an atheist. So if you can specifically find ANY religious message in this film, please point it out. If the "love" and "respect" aspects come off as religious, then it is worth saying that these are universal human values, not trademarked by Christianity or any other religion. Much appreciate your feedback; as much as I hope people will even find out about this project and its goals (see our website), I also wish that they are not mislead from the get go. This film does not invite to a religious or even spiritual practice; it invites to learning and respecting one another.

Living Aikido Life OK well I am a bit jaded as in I have trained in Aikido and Aikijujitsu . Through my years in the art I came to question it and it's practitioners . Like many religions I feel like Aikido makes claims to improve peoples lives but does not deliver. The deeper philosophies that Aikido claims to bring into people's lives is just not true. I have found more arrogant snobby egotistical people in Aikido then for sure any other art that I have train. I don't believe in the deeper philosophies of Aikido at least as it is presented. If anything true compassion and empathy is learned through the study and discipline of training oneself to be able to defeat most men in a physical confrontation. Aikido teaches this but does not deliver on the physical side and therefore it is disconnected and cannot realize true yin and yang or empathy or destruction. Through live Arts these things can be realize and connected not through Japanese Tai Chi and learning to say some Japanese words and acting like the physical practice and something special Beyond just a type of Tai Chi or yoga. Aikido claims to be connected to physical and psychological movement but yet for sure fails in the physical part and therefore the psychological cannot stand.For that matter Aikido claims to use another person's energy against them and while this is good in theory Aikido has yet to prove itself when this round of physical contact while live Arts Foster this kind of Exchange between energy of two people.