You think this is an opinion worth considering? This is utter nonsense or deliberate misdirection.
These things can be discussed without prejudice, or emotion. And more advanced work is already being done, by men in short time periods
None of the examples offered are advanced stuff, Nathan. No speculation is needed.
There are men doing all sorts of these demonstrations. Your teacher does the head push standing up- which is harder, and he can't be pushed over and he can off balance people with his head. Since you know of high ranked and deeply initiated people- ask them. Offering such nonsensical replies as Tomiki’s seems disingenuous. I have a guy who has trained here part time for two years who’s body is changing and who demonstrates these effects, not to mention so many others who have trained here. So, please don't support this isometric muscular contraction nonsense as an explanation, it doesn't look good to even need to be specualting about it in front of so many readers who are low level and can already do these things.
The Sigman test is basic and is a good example of a test it’s simple, and the fellow in the article has been long since debunked by many. Really, Nathan...welcome to the 90’s. And trying to discredit Mike is going to end up with you even further discrediting yourself. What concerns me is that – that ability? Is really basic stuff, and it is clearly displayed in the head push -- they are related.
No one who understands Aiki is ever going to talk about muscular contractions to do these things, or even let it stand as a suggestion or support that counter to Mike's test.
In a related point about discussing Daito ryu Aiki
Why are you so defensive of something that should not and does not require defending?
Example:
We have visitors who are students of current teachers in Daito ryu.
1. We continue to demonstrate what we do openly. I tell everyone I am a low level former student, of no importance whatsover.
2. Then we continue to strongly…even insistently suggest that people go train with top Daito ryu teachers, Aikido teachers and master in the ICMA. And compare. I have sent people to feel certain DR teachers directly
So, by pointing to the masters…the masters of these arts are able to put their expertise on display in comparison. Isn't that a good thing? Doesn’t it support your contention of superior and deeper skills? Shouldn't you be assuming that the Daito Ryu teachers and their “deeply initiated students” you keep brought up yet again and keep pointing too are going to be superior to what I and others are doing? I mean, it’s a no-brainer right?
Why aren't you delighted to give the superior teaching methodology a chance to stand on it's own feet yet again.
Your readership
Among your readership here are people who have come to test and train with just three of us teaching this way. These people who have come include students of Sagawa, Kiyama, Goldberg, Okomoto, Popkin, and those who have trained in seminars with Kondo, aikido teachers in Saotome's Line, Shioda's line, Aikikai, several teachers in Chiba's line, Shirata's line, Menkyos in Koryu, and many students from ICMA. And some of them….have not been nice or always gracious in their testing. Yet what these people are feeling and experiencing is so worthwhile that 100% of them opt to train this way.
Try not to be so over the top and out of it, that you end up suggesting that these men, most of whom have decades of training with exposure to various combinations of the above are not able to make sound judgments about feeling something that is quite beyond them. As I said many are teachers of substance who are more than capable of discerning and sniffing out propaganda, just who is telling them the truth, who never really even knew and is just posturing and being defensive and protective and who is really willing…and able…to help.
Your attempts to discount the very real power these many men are experiencing from us isn't working. Not even close. It is compounded and made worse when and if you will finally realize these men have their own experiences in comparing us to top Japanese teachers and their methods; and then their decisions to train this way. Your continuous cautions and warnings are starting to sound a little empty.
Training is training and truth will out. These men have their hands on your teachers and others. You need to let your teachers and their five, ten, and twenty year students demonstrate their stuff and make their own case in physical skills for themselves in what they can do...and what they have supposedly -openly- taught others.
Let them stand for themselves.
Dan