I have been excommunicated from several martial arts cults. They absolutely HATE it when you ask questions! I just finished teaching a new group of MMA enthusiasts, after the class I asked them “Do you have any questions?” “No!” They all replied confidently. “Come with questions next time!” I told them.

@grimsbybrazilianjiu-jitsu7423

3 жыл бұрын

You are the man Ramsey, hope to visit you in SH.

@henrys3138

3 жыл бұрын

I hope you also told them to chew 20 times per mouth full.

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

Hey Ramsey! I'm starting to think that being excommunicated from martial arts schools (in most cases) is a sign of a good person 😂 I also loved it ever since I started MMA that I wasn't told: "This is the only way to do this technique!" and instead I was told - this is what we suggest. And there was always space for questions. Was such a relief 😊

@camfer9616

3 жыл бұрын

@@MartialArtsJourney I think it's more of a sign of them having bad qualities. I don't think that being victim of evil makes you good. But it happens more to people on the good path.

@paweandonisgawralidisdobrz2522

3 жыл бұрын

I have a question for you Ramsey: Is your training effective?

Yo this guys is basically a shonen protagonist

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

Nice! That's probably one of the coolest compliment I've heard in my life 😁

@michelb8976

3 жыл бұрын

@@MartialArtsJourney "Rokas no Aikido" ? I'd pay for that ! Oh wait, You are giving it out for free!

@camfer9616

3 жыл бұрын

Someone should get on that ASAP.

@SiavashJaredAndinoBernhard

3 жыл бұрын

@@camfer9616 Maybe Narmak?

@Rakytrelomaneh

3 жыл бұрын

Duuude. This comment.

“Questioning is a superpower.” That’s an excellent quote, more people should get into that mindset.

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

Nice Steve! 🙏👊

@keepmoving1185

3 жыл бұрын

Amen!!!

@MzuMzu-nx1em

3 жыл бұрын

Don't sleep during an aikido lesson is another super power

"The one who avoids the conflict to keep the peace, starts a war inside himself." -- unknown

@Vitorruy1

3 жыл бұрын

This guy has all the best quotes

@littlefishbigmountain

3 жыл бұрын

@@Vitorruy1 He and that Anonymous guy. Sometimes they seem to contradict themselves tho

My Aikido instructor encouraged us to take up BJJ. In fact, he ended up letting a BJJ instructor use his dojo to teach classes.

@jellevanbreugel325

3 жыл бұрын

That's actually an interesting strategy.... Can you share his reasoning for that?

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

That's great :)

@jaimcgee4566

3 жыл бұрын

That's how it should be. Everything has it place. We all should learn from one another. Not one marital art has all the answers.

@robinduckin3693

3 жыл бұрын

Jelle, I know my instructor always told us to respect other martial art forms. I think he simply thought BJJ would provide us with useful skills.

@MooneShadow

3 жыл бұрын

BJJ and Akido some how all root back to the same martial arts family. I feel it's a martial arts that was broken up into pieces and aikido just taught you how to use your center. Learning aikido and then going to tae Kwon Do and Hapkido really assisted me even though I learned BBJ and a little Maui Tai Kickboxing it kind of all fit. In real life situations I only once used an aikido move and it was because the attacker was clumsy and came strait forward. After punches and kicks followed.

That experience was weirdly cult like not gonna lie. Glad you found your own refined path!

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

I made a number of videos later where I come to the conclusion that it was a cult too

I was in the Bujinkan for eight years. I was the one student who was there the most, practised at home every day, and after 4-5 years I was asked to hold classes in my sensei's stead when he couldn't, I helped him move, I drove him to class when he had an accident and couldn't drive himself, and he was very thankful that I was there. Being in my twenties, I felt really proud and happy that someone appreciated what I did and I felt I was on the right track. One evening I was at a home party with some friends, and one person there was a shaolin practitioner with twice as many years trained as me. We had never really spoken much before, and he suggested we compared hands a little. I think I was third or first kyuu at this point. He was happily surprised with how good I was, but he asked me a single question: "Why are you at this level if you've trained for so long? You should've evolved a long time ago." I think we stood in my poor friend's hallway and played around for 2 hours, and when I went to bed, I kept playing everything back in my head, thinking how I could've done things better, and I felt so happy; it was the first time I had ever sparred. In fact, I was so happy that I wrote to my sensei about it the day after. He scolded me, told me that Bujinkan was not for fun, and should under no circumstances be screwed around with at parties. I immediately panicked and told him it would never happen again. When I got a shodan around 6 years into my training, I started to develop this playful feeling of wanting to move and react to things when we did kata. I wanted to do counters, I wanted to learn how to "break" the techniques. I was again scolded; kata is not something you play around with. We started doing those things when he wasn't around, because several of us felt like we were being held back. The last two years I was in that dojo, we were still doing kihon. We close to never did weapons, and if we did, it was the same things we'd been taught before. I wanted more, I wanted to go forth, and I felt like I was walking in place. The last summer before I stopped, I was unable to attend training for about two weeks, and I told my teacher that I had no good way to get home from training (I lived about 20km away and had to commute by train). He found a buss that would leave 2 hours after training had finished, meaning I'd be home around midnight, on a workday, but if there was a will to train, there was a way, according to him. I felt a bit fed up, and told him that I guess I didn't have the motivation then. Those weeks passed, I came back, nothing seemed different. Shortly after the summer season, he made up a system of "senpai", which meant people you should look up to and listen to, sort of like a shihandai. Out of the six included, three had not trained regularly for over a year, one only came once a week, and the other two were below me in rank, time in the dojo, and time in the Bujinkan. I was not on that list. I wasn't even allowed to enter the dojo if the door was open and no one was there anymore. I felt sad and betrayed. I asked him for his motivation, and he told me he had based his decision on these values that our grandmaster considered good, such as dedication, honestly, and humility. In other words, he didn't think I had that. I was angry for over a week, but decided "OK, fuck it, I'm not going to care anymore". Over the last year I was there, my sensei would keep finding flaws with my character: I didn't do as he was showing, I wasn't happy when I was training, he had received complaints from the others (he couldn't say what the complaints where or from whom). One evening, he just took me out before training begun and told me that I couldn't train there anymore. I respected his decision, and politely bowed, and left. About half a year later, I sent him an email in which I apologised (even though I had done nothing wrong) and asked as politely as possible in my language if I could receive a second chance. I didn't even get a reply. Since then, I've done my own training, trying to find what I've been lacking, and transforming my kihon into bunkai. I still think the Bujinkan is great and has a lot of great stuff in it, but the vast majority of the practitioners never go past the shu stage of shu-ha-ri, and only focus on basics and kihon. I've recently gone into HEMA to enhance my understanding of weapons, and it's been great fun. Sorry for the super long read, but I've been wanting to get this off of my chest for soon three years.

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing. Life is short and if we are not having fun then what's the point of it? F**k your sensei. He clearly lives in a samurai fantasy far from reality. You shouldn't feel bad at all.

@dimasakbar7668

3 жыл бұрын

Very interesting, personally i like the rant and would like to hear more about your story learning HEMA as former Bujinkai disciple tbh, what were the differences and comparison

@kodain

3 жыл бұрын

@@dimasakbar7668 I actually went through most of the day thinking about this, because I didn't want to give a hasty reply. Just to make things clear: I am only doing solo training. I do not attend a club or train with anyone, as there is no such thing where I live. I base my training on my previous training, treatises, and videos from for example Rawlings, Rüther, and Warzecha. Bujinkan is an amalgam of battlefield arts. Close to everything is based around wearing armour, and weapons is a huge part of it. The idea is that we should be able to pick up about anything to use as a weapon. In my old dojo, this mostly meant on super rare occasions training with hanbo and katana, with some rokushakubou during summers. I've also done some ninjato, which all potential validity aside is essentially fighting using a shorter sword against a longer one. I practised quite often with weapons on my own, especially during summers when I would spend months on the rokushakubou/yari/naginata. With this background in mind, picking up European weapons was honestly not that different: Everything I learnt was still applicable. We can only move so many ways, after all. I started with Fiore's stances and a longsword, and then I'd play around with what possible scenarios I could do from each stance. Apart from that, I did basic cuts and thrusts, just like I would do with a katana. If I had to mention any differences, they would be four: Length of the weapon, weight of the weapon, the false edge, and the cross-guard. A longsword is roughly ten centimetres longer, which meant I had to adjust my stance to avoid striking the ground when doing steep kiri ages/unterhaus. The false edge means I now have additional ways to attack, such as with a Schielhau, Krumphau, Stürzhau, or an upward rise from Dente di Zenghiaro. The cross-guard (and in my case with a ring guard) means I can't rotate the blade as close to the body as I was accustomed to, as the guard is much bigger compared to a disc guard like the tsuba. This lead to hitting my forearms with the cross-guard a few times (and in the case of my newly-acquired Zweihänder, even my head). Lastly, the weight was the biggest difference: I had only used wooden weapons before (cheaper, easier to get, safer to train with), so the actual weight of the weapon took some time getting used to. I do like that very much, however, since it truly shows if you got poor technique. Moving on to one-handed weapons. This was a new experience, since there aren't really any one-handed weapons in the Bujinkan except the tantou, ninjatou, and tsurugi, and neither of these are trained that much. For the arming sword and Polish sabre, it honestly felt like using two-handed techniques but with one hand, and wasn't that hard technique-wise, but it was heavy to use in the beginning and put a strain on the hand and the shoulder. The biggest challenge has without a doubt been sword and buckler, since I'm not used to holding one weapon in each hand, nor holding them out so far from my body. The stance for it is also very unique (at least in I.33), since you're trying to pull your torso as far away as possible, in contrast to Bujinkan which just assumed you're wearing armour. The main difference I would say is a positive for me is the footwork: From what I've seen and experienced, the footwork in HEMA is in need of development. In the Bujinkan the sakabi or movement is one of the most important aspects and is trained every single training session. This is the downside of HEMA having a broken lineage, in comparison to Japanese arts. What I like about HEMA is that it doesn't have the same power structure as an established (particularly Asian) art. It feels more like a gang of nerds who try to explore and learn together, rather than everyone bowing down to someone up top. The atmosphere is open to questions, new ideas, argumentation. It also is very straight to the point, without any of the esoteric elements to it. Sure, they can be a nice aspect, but it feels more focused on training and practising rather than custom and tradition. It also doesn't gatekeep you in any way, like Asian arts do. I hope this answered your question. Feel free to ask if you got any more questions.

@Vinicius.Passos.

3 жыл бұрын

@@kodain Thanks for your well-thought and thorough answer! And for taking the time to do it!

@fox2102

3 жыл бұрын

Sorry you ended up with a bad teacher with bunjinkan. Unfortunately, this is pretty common. I have trained in the bujinkan a bit in past years myself. That Playful feeling you got is what is SUPPOSE to happen in the bujinkan. The entire point of kihon is to learn the principles behind the movements. The art in the bujinkan is learning how your body moves with these principles in mind. My dojo's lineage is from nagesae and I've trained with some of his students before. A common thing we do when training is go through a technique or kihon a few times as taught but as we get comfortable we start to play and "see what we can find" in the movement. Also this "bujinkan is not for fun" is nonsense. That's just the teacher ego getting in the way. If you get the opportunity I'd highly recommend finding another bujinkan teacher that will let you explore your own art.

I had a similar experience when I joined a TKD association that claimed to be open to incorporating techniques from other arts. I also trained Muay Thai at the time. After questioning a few things we were being shown I was pulled aside and asked to either, "leave my Muay Thai at the door" or find a new place to train. I left and focused solely on Muay Thai. I think a lot of traditional martial arts instructors know deep down that their methods don't stack up, forcing them to get rid of anyone who could expose their shenanigans. In your case, you must have been a real headache for them as you were a well-established Aikido instructor and KZreadr with the potential to blow the lid off their whole operation! 😂

@jaketheasianguy3307

3 жыл бұрын

True, the amount of traditional martial artists who accepted the change and adapt to other modern arts are very low. People prioritizing their egos and stupid politics over the martial training, that's just sad and pathetic

@MrBilej

3 жыл бұрын

They didn't lie to you since TKD is "incorporation" Of karate to Korea 😅

@radicaledwards3449

3 жыл бұрын

Muay Thai is traditional, I even practise Ram Muay. Obviously it has been sporterized over the years but even then regionally there are things like lethwei

@jsplit9716

3 жыл бұрын

@@jaketheasianguy3307 The problem is that a lot of traditional martial arts selling point is self defense. We all now that that's bullshit in a lot of cases and in some cases it isn't even the martial arts fault, but the schools. If they said : We are a sort of sport that really isn't well tailored for fitness but barely does anything else. They wouldn't get new members.

@andycampbell85

3 жыл бұрын

@@radicaledwards3449 Yeah, I used 'traditional' for lack of a better term. Muay Thai, as I trained it, was most definitely a combat sport first and foremost. Doing a Ram Muay before a fight is different from spending 80+% of your training practicing dead patterns.

My college education was centered a great deal around cult studies and, being a martial artist myself, I did my final thesis on how martial arts very much mirrors cult mentality simply by the nature of how they are structured. Super interesting to hear your story.

@junichiroyamashita

Жыл бұрын

Ay,i was planning to make my thesis on the effective teaching methods of Judo outside of martial arts. What is your opinion on it?

@QoSBaszler

Жыл бұрын

@@junichiroyamashita I have no basis for thinking this other than my own experience in training various combat arts, but I believe the effectiveness of a martial art outside of the realm of the dojo directly relates to how safely one can practice and spar to full capacity. The reason BJJ (and effectively, Judo) are so effective is because you can truly train to fully apply a technique while someone is fully trying to resist. Of course there are rules and exceptions that can be exploited, I'm speaking in general. Where something like TKD as it's traditionally taught in the US is mainly point sparring (it simply wouldn't be safe to train full speed in most instances), I think it's one reason why arts lose their effectiveness over time. Not that there's not value in training still, but that's an entirely different discussion......

"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but even great still to stand up to your friends." - Albus Dumbledore Good for you man. You have courage!

My Aikido senseis encouraged me to try other martial arts. And my club didn't feel like some sort of cult. My senseis were practicioner of other martial arts too. They are not closed minded to other arts. They actually test techniques they learned from other martial arts and incorporate it with Aikido.

@catherinefotic4614

2 жыл бұрын

They Are open minded so much the better, so keep on with your instructors..

@trumplostlol3007

Жыл бұрын

A Wing Chun Sifu has a youtube channel too. He openly admitted he was defeated badly when he first tried BJJ and Muay Thai. But he never gave up Wing Chun. Every style has its value. The more styles you learn, the better you become.

I went through almost the same experience. Whenever I had questions or doubts, they were being avoided. And the questions and doubts kept on piling. Finally I had to detach myself from Aikido. Though I respect it as a peaceful art and maybe a form to improve fitness, it never helped me answer the basic questions on how to defend myself if the need arise. They only kept on consoling, " You have to win over your fear and anger". Never answered, "what if the aggressor/s do not want to do the same? Will I be able to defend myself?"

@TheMylittletony

3 жыл бұрын

@@PooleAcademyofWingChun From one cult to another.

A great instructor will encourage you to explore other martial arts. The instructor telling you to not compete in the BJJ tournament was a major red flag! I'm glad to hear that you are on a new path on your martial arts journey!

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

🙏👊

@radicaledwards3449

3 жыл бұрын

My Ajarn Yai Danny Kapoor also held a black belt in karate 3rd dan I think, His teachings are literally the main frame of my methods, put some RESPEK! on his name.

Lemme guess... drinking your own kool aid? 🤪 Like Sensei Scarface once said: ”don’t get high off your own supply” 😎 Ok time to actually watch the video 😅

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

Haha! That's a great guess Jesse. But the answer is a bit different 👊 By the way, I am guilty... I haven't seen Scarface yet, but my plan is to watch it next week. It keeps haunting me 😑😂

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

About the kool aid though... I think I wasn't that bad at it, but I definitely believed that I knew what I was doing more than I should have 😅😅

@giannibleya7690

3 жыл бұрын

Sensei Jesse I saw your Mike Tyson video and I watched your brother fight in mma, quite fascinating!

@hellcla5

3 жыл бұрын

@@Gawain_Phoenix didn't he close his own dojo and quit being a 'sensei' as wel call him because he felt he was teaching something flawed? I mean he could easily have lived comfortably taking sheep money but he didn't, sometimes rokas annoys me lol but the vast majority of his work I greatly appreciate and I definitely have have respect fir someone who gives up teaching something because they no longer believe it in it themselves, isn't that more what we'd expect of a true 'martial artist'

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

@@Gawain_Phoenix Jesus... Calm down Jesus 😂

One of my sensei in traditional Jujitsu (not BJJ) told me that his goal in doing this martial art was to have fun with friends doing sports. I think that's a very wise description on how traditional martial arts should be seen. It's not a bad thing, but it shouldn't be called something it's not.

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

For sure

@MzuMzu-nx1em

3 жыл бұрын

The aikido masters have the goal to keep their students awake during lesson

@pauldaniel6208

3 жыл бұрын

@@kampfwicki Agreed. The fact so many liked that answer speaks volumes

@Bronco-1776

Жыл бұрын

I think your sensei was running a big waste of time then. I found dojos that were running extra curricular "killer" MA that were not suited to the feint of heart.

@anlumo1

Жыл бұрын

@@Bronco-1776 Having fun with friends is a waste of time for you?

This man has a true fighting spirit. Love the videos

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@MzuMzu-nx1em

3 жыл бұрын

I wonder how a true fight spirit can take seriously a soft meditation practice ... without falling asleep...

Thank you for your story awesome video!!! I love the structure of your videos!

"Even better, samurai pants" lmao love it.

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

😂👊

Love your videos, keep it up!

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Many more are yet to come 😊

Rokas - Love your video! Honesty + curiosity = super power!!

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Peter!

This is genuinely fascinating and sad, I’m glad you pushed through and continued your journey

@lovedaddy1582

3 жыл бұрын

I paid a random guy to punish my rectum. I met him in the parking lot of Wal Mart. Things went down hill from there.

It's amazing how learning when we're mature enough is different from when we are teens. As a teen our thirst for knowledge is the same as our search for guidance and even father figures, so the line between respect and subservience is easily crossed

Awesome mindset. Good luck ronin

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

😊🙏

Been thoroughly enjoying you for some time now ~🙏

i just wanted to say i love how you learned to question what you're taught instead of blindly accepting everything you're told. i've trained some martial arts here and there, but didn't know there is a dark side(s) that you've brought up. and thank you for sharing your stories where things didn't go well for you (i.e. being scared of getting into a fight). there's a lot to learn from failures. keep up the good work :)

Aikido is a cult. BJJ was going into that direction until MMA became mainstream. Now its just a gym membership.

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

I think it depends on the school/coach but you're making a good point

@nicholas8381

3 жыл бұрын

@Joe Mamania you can use aikido in combat so it's not like "combat yoga"

@cargosquid

3 жыл бұрын

@Joe Mamania It was actually designed FOR combat. See the original students. It has mutated to the existing thing it is today.

@TheMisterGuy

3 жыл бұрын

@@nicholas8381 "you can use aikido in combat" It doesn't work very well, though. You can measure it by looking at how much time and effort you have to put in to beat someone who does a different martial art. If someone else has three years of Judo, you're going to need decades of Aikido or you're about to get a short, free lesson in human flight.

@nicholas8381

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheMisterGuy funny how judo is your example I did light sparing with a judo girl who would compete and only when she got me on the ground did she submit me but I made her work for that otherwise I would lock her wrist and it be very painful. We only did light strikes and no headshots but it was for fun

Awesome vid, bud. Your message should be applied to anybody in a learning process. Thanks for sharing 😉

Man, this was a really grat video, I like how you talk about the errors you have made during your live so other people can learn from them.

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

👊🙏

Brother I've always liked your videos and your message but this video has earned a whole new respect for you from me. Keep up the journey

This reminds me of my experience leaving the catholic church/christianity.

Much respect. It isn’t easy to break from your organization like this. Always question, always improve, and don’t be around people who discourage you from doing either.

Thank you so much for this video telling us what happened and your truth. It’s a great thing.

Good stuff Buddy! Good stuff!

I love this kid. Lotta balls to "own" his journey. Keep spreading your wings mate 😉🤘

I remember seeing that Akido vs MMA video when it first came out, It's so cool to see how far you've come along on your journey since then!

I am planning on starting a taekwondo school soon and your experience has shown me some of what to avoid. My instructor allowed me to ask questions which helped a ton. I too will not only allow but encourage that. Truth is so important…

This is just an amazing video!

Well, you've definitely become powerful enough to make a difference. Your videos are encouraging students of martial arts to ask important questions about the effectiveness of the things they learn. Up until 2017, I had been out of martial arts for fifteen years. I did karate (Tang Soo Do) when I was younger. I decided to start doing it again, and your KZread videos started popping up in my feed while I was looking at schools. I remembered your videos talking about "pressure testing" and made it a point that whatever school I picked, it was going to be one that made sure that we had pressure testing. I avoided a lot of McDojos because of your videos. I made a lot of similar mistakes in my martial arts journey when I was younger. My main school allowed me to have the freedom to study other arts and ask questions (they also did sparring once a week, so it was a decent school), but a lot of other schools I did on the side didn't offer those kind of freedoms. One of them was a Dillman Karate International school where they promised that I'd be able to knock folks out by giving light touches to pressure points (this was a decade before the infamous video of George Dillman trying to justify why the no-touch knockout didn't work exposed him as a fraud). The instructor ran things like a cult, and any time I gave even the slightest hint that I was questioning him I would be torn a new asshole in front of the entire class. Despite his bullying, he was shocked when I finally quit. I got tired of not just the bullying, but I had never been able to be knocked out with pressure points, nor was I or any of the students able to do so. I realized he hadn't taught me anything. He tried to bully me into staying, but he didn't realize that the bullying and the cult attitude were why I was leaving. When we're young we're very impressionable. We're used to being led by authority figures. Our parents, our teachers, etc. Even "rebellious" kids see adults as smarter than them. So there's no shame for you, I, or anyone else for having fallen for an adult's authority. Now that my old ass is doing martial arts again, I'm going to good schools, and you're a big reason for it. So thank you.

Thank you for this. I had a similar experience being laughed at by a supposed role model. His attitude proved me right. Questioning really is a superpower!

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

🙏🙏🙏👊

I thank you so much for your videos. They really opened my eyes. I was on the same search. Pascal Guillemin, 6th Dan, once the uchi deshi of Christian Tissier Shihan said in a training lesson:" We work with the intelligence of the uke". Thats the point though I did not understand in those days what he meant. A real fight follows no rules, there is no intelligence of the attacker/uke. In a real life threatening situation, that i have experienced and seen on the street you find yourself in a mixture of agression, fear, violence. If you do not train that or if you "only" have an intelligent (means cooperative, non resistant) partner you can be lost in a dangerous situation. I heard someone say that he loves traditionel martial arts but as a hobby or an art not as self defence. Thank you, Rokas

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Stefan. Means a lot for me to hear that you find my videos valuable

@catherinefotic4614

2 жыл бұрын

What you say or write actually, Stefan, Is really interesting . I have also often (or almost always) heard when I practiced Aikido that we must be soft, supple and not tensed or stiff when we do the movements.. Nikkio, kote gaishi or shiho nage among others.. Summed up : to be compliant and submissive.. The problem Is that Aikido had no Real work on the ground and grappling (except in the Fudoshin style or Daito Ryu more or less oriented grappling..) ans There Is no Real strikes and true armlocks or ward off when you are on feet. Bonne journée à vous et bonnes vacances!

@trumplostlol3007

Жыл бұрын

Some people doubted Bruce Lee's fighting ability and said he was never in a real MMA fight. That's bull shit. Bruce Lee was feared by most of the gangsters in Hong Kong. One of the top ranked fighting gangster in Hong Kong said no one would dare to challenge him. The reason is simple. Most of the gangsters who challenged him failed miserably. Of course, Bruce Lee did not win in each and every street fight. But he improved over the years by learning as many different martial art styles as possible. Few people knew he had a black belt even in Judo. He learn different styles of Kung Fu. He played boxing and Karate at a very young age. He praised Judo but never had enough time to practice more cause he was too busy trying to invent his own style.

I always ask questions too. A related story: the kongfu teacher when I was in primary school (many many years ago), stopped to teach us more than just some kata, and he never explained to us how his teaching should be used. He didn't allow spar, and simply said his teaching was too deadly. At my young age, I knew straight away he was BS and never returned to his class. Some of my friends / classmates believed him, and they found out the hard way that their "deadly" skills was nothing in school fight (back then, fight between boys were normal).

you're the greatest and best Martial Artist out there, Rokas, and a role model for everyone! Your arguing and your search for the truth exceeds every single other attempt of anyone throughout the last 800 years of Japanese Martial Arts. I wished I were you! How could I miss during all the years and years of training that I never asked any questions.. let alone train in a way that whatever I train at the time I train with an intent and a POV towards reality, not mixing up routines and drills with real life scenarios. I must have been so blind all my 42 years of Martial Arts journey.. thank you for opening my eyes with all your videos full of insight and wisdom and truth! I would never have learned that an art which was developed on and for actual battlefield work and used for 250 years as a secret knowledge of a clan who were the enforcers of Daimyo from 1400 to 1650 would work less well, when you stop training it with intent and POV towards reality in mind. Instead I too should have changed to another and another and another modern style with no heritage in real combat whatsoever, and opened a youtube channel myself and told everyone that the arts is bad, instead of understanding I and my training and my self-chosen teachers were.. NOT! :-P

Enjoyed hearing the mental aikido sparring between you and your sensei.

Questioning is vital to growth!

You are a stellar soul, Rokas!

Hi rojas, the videos with your kickboxing champion friend really helped me and I just wanted to say thank you. I've been kicking for years without dosiflexing my foot and now I literally feel how solid it is

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

Niiiice! I'll let him know that

Thanks for this video

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

🙏

Well done for walking your own path

To ne easily one of your best and deepest videos. I Love to hear more about the inside journey you made. The psychology of changing your beliefs even after having invested in them that long, and while you we're making a living out of them. That is an amazing achievement and Maybe the toughest thing one can do. That is really something especially as you we're doing it publicly without knowing If in the end you would be the hero or the idiot. If there was a thing Like the "Martial Artist Hall of Fame" you should be in it. For you really fought against all odds. And you killed the dragon, at least for all of us who are willing to see. Thanks you! P.s.: do not regret anything there, maybe you just had to make that "mistake" to see the whole picture and be sent in your "martial arts Journey".

You're a beautiful soul and true warrior ❤️😌💪💜

You did the right thing walking away from such teachers who are full of themselves. I had teachers like that one in Karate and Taekwondo too. Best of luck on your journey...

Congratulations Rocas!!It isn't easy to test everything especially yourself

Ramsey and Jesse Enkamp commenting on Rokas' video? This is too much.

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

Haha Henry 😂 We are all friends so it does make sense that it happens once in a while 😁 I comment on their videos too 🐱‍👤

I just subscribed and I'm not even a martial artist. But this guy seems like a person of integrity and I appreciate that.

This is such a sad story. It's great you've found your way. In Japan, I've never met any teachers or been to any dojo like what you've described.

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

I wouldn't be surprised if it's not a common experience in Japan.

Rokas. Wow. Very impressive history. Congratulations. Thank you very much for sharing this. I can see myself when you tell us your history. I also felt abandoned by the ones i considered a family once. Almost no one kept in touch after I quit Aikido. Now, I am sure it was not my fault. Thank you.

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Myrullo for sharing this. To know that my video was helpful means a lot to me. And yes - it was not your fault. Good people don't leave their family members abandoned.

One must question authority from time to time. How else can one know if journey is sound. God bless you ladd.👍

08:40 never mind, even John Wick was "excommunicated" it just makes you more badass.

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

Haha 😂 Love it 🥰

outstanding!

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

🙏

Love how ya end the videos with the sloooooow aikido style munetski style punch 👊 . Idk if that's intentional but I find it hilarious . Great videos , great message.

It sounds so much like a cult. Recently been watching former cult members explain what it was like being in one and what it was like seperating away from them. Good to see you break free and continue in your fighting journey

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

I agree with you and made several videos on how martial arts schools can be cults

Great video dude. I really enjoy watching and learning of your martial arts experiences. Might I suggest that you do a video with your BJJ friend who tried to enroll you in the tournament to hear his perspective as well thanks.

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

That's a great idea! Thanks

I M PROUD OF YOU ROKAS. I M 3DAN IN AIKIDO. AND VERY DISPOINTED OF SOME OF MY TEACHERS AND SOME AIKIDOKAS SINCE ABOUT 8 YEARS, SO I UNDERSTAND YOUR FEELINGS VERY WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR EXCELLENTS VIDEOS. YOU ARE VERY BRAVE.

Amazing jounery. Truth reveals itself in the reality of pressure testing.

My dude, this is so relevant in today's society. We are all comrades in this global fight. Thanks for the upload

I got criticized for attending too many classes. I got criticized for punching incorrectly in a school that did no sparring. I got criticized for not going to rank advancement tests. I got criticized for teaching other students, including the BLACK BELT that gave me my weekly private lesson, how to fight. If your getting criticized, it's just as likely your doing something right, than your doing something wrong. Keep asking questions and keep getting those answers! I'm right there with you.

Dear Rokas, thank you for these video essays. They are very insightful. I train Aikido, but I'm still at the very beginning, training for just the second year now. My trainer is, fortunately, a guy who encourages us to crosstrain and to do multiple movement activities. This helped me make my decision to continue training based on what aikido truly is - a really complex movement and stretching activity - nothing more, nothing less. I'm a movement idiot and I desperately needed to get into good shape. I'm a slim guy, but really needed some stretching and movement practice to stay fit and healthy. Aikido does that wonderfully, as you stretch your whole body during the training sessions. Aikido actually helped me a lot in the dancing classes as well, which says a lot - my dancing improved much more than my fighting skills :D but I went to training with this idea in my head - learn how to move, do stretching, learn how to fall... therefore I'm not disappointed. The biggest issue martial arts face now is false advertising. No, it's not meant for self defence, it's just for getting into shape... it may help with defense by having the physical ability to do so, but proper self defence courses should be used for practical training, no scripted dojo katas. I was lucky that I met a trainer who realizes that and actually told me to go and try kickbox if I want to get more practicality out of some aikido movements :D Just wanted to leave this message here to let you know that there are trainers who realize that. Keep up the great work. Your videos are a blast, it's wonderful to see your views develop over time.

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

Nice Vitezslav! Thank you for sharing

Good vid, Rokas! And yes, you do look a LOT healthier compared to your first video 💪👊

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

😊🙏

Wow, your journey is amazing. I have listened a solid few of your videos, many threads are "intersectioning", but there are always new things to hear. Very interesting things - this video was super cool. Btw I don't know how that Sensei's could be like this... And that laughter you mentioned near end of the video. Screw him for living by lying to other dudes like you. Best regards!

@MartialArtsJourney

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Sébastien!

I was following your Aikido youtube video 2 years agto and I like them for the good technics demonstration. I was sad when you left the youtube planet and I did not really understand why. I have been training aikido for fex years in different dojos. I had also TKD and tai jitsu experiences. So I took Aikido as a peaceful art, but not adapted for street fights!! I am happy you are back and understand better your last few years experiences and wait now for good advise in BJJ. Keep on! Philippe from FRANCE

I can relate to this!!

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

Yup, there are many of us Danny 👊

I had totally the same experience like you. Thank you for pointing these things out. I was an Aikido student for 8 years, with a black belt at the end. I trained hard, but after some time I realised that I could not defent my self in any aggressive attack. After that these 8 years I decided to move on and tried Krav Maga. That training proved to me that I was right. That training was an absolut another level of what they where teaching at the Aikido lessons.You have not time for nice movements. The punch hits you fast and hard. Now I don't do Krav Maga anymore. Now my mindset is: I know what is it is all about in Aikdio. And if I can one day accept that Aikido is more like a Sport rather than self defence, then maybe some day I would train Aikdo again.

Amazing how I'm living a similar situation!

Excellent video...I went through this myself becoming shodan in Bujinkan, I watched the first 2 UFCs and knew my skill would not work...I could not sleep after watching the UFC fights ...I put on a white belt went to the back of the line and began training Gracie Jiujitsu!

@trumplostlol3007

Жыл бұрын

Learn some Judo and Judo theory. The standup game is as important as the ground game. BJJ seems to be strong only because they spar a lot and they fight with other styles. But BJJ is just a subject of Judo.

Much respect

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

🙏

Very happy to hear you found something that makes you happier man. Aikido people can be so toxic.

A student like you is gold to any instructor. Keeping you would have only made the style better.

@TheMisterGuy

3 жыл бұрын

"A student like you is gold to any instructor. Keeping you would have only made the style better." Gold...interesting word choice. Suddenly checking and exposing the legitimate effectiveness of your style that has been coasting on credulousness for decades is not the way to get the most "gold" in your pocket.

I’ve been blessed that from the start in my martial arts journey cross training has always been promoted. Where I come from all aikido instructors practice different martial arts. The sensei under I got my Aikido Shodan (First Degree Black Belt) is also a Karate Do 5th Dan, Judo Shodan, Jujutsu 3rd Dan, Aikikai 5th Dan, and Yoshinkan 6th Dan, so competition, cross training, pressure testing has always been encouraged. But also, all other Senseis of aikido schools where I’m from practice multiple martial arts: Karate, Tae Kwon Do, BJJ, Kajukembo, boxing. For me this last 10 years has been very different and now that I see how other aikido instructors behave and think I can see how being said that one should not practice other martial arts or question what’s being taught can be frustrating.

Wow, thank you for your insights and experience. I’m at a crossroad right now in my life. I’ve been teaching at a traditional martial art school for 6 years now. However, I want to focus on combat sports like kickboxing, mma, bjj... it’s a difficult thing to balance. I often worry about how I’m going to pay bills if I ever leave my current job, and pursue something I believe in. It’s probably the most difficult decision I’m going to make thus far... the loyalty feels ingrained. There are things I’m currently teaching that I no longer believe in myself, like the forms and one steps in taekwondo. Not sure what move to make, but this video definitely gave me some clarity brother, thank you.

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

It's a tough decision but I think if you'll make it now you won't regret it

@radicaledwards3449

3 жыл бұрын

Dont forget the forms, they'll make sense once you get comfortable in your fighting ability, this is coming from a Nak Muay who used to practise Karate in ancient times.

@graciescottsdale

3 жыл бұрын

Do it!

We shared similar experience, I watched your Aikido videos wayyy back then when I joined Aikido, I questions a lot, but none of the answer satisfy me, at some point I feel like I'm not learn anything from it, I even got bullied by my sensei (hate it when he purposely uses force and once he kicked me in my stomach), that has made me question why I don't know how to react with the incoming attack, and I never know how to react using Aikido in real situation, it only look good in the demonstration but it will never work in real life situation. I feel like Aikido is a cult. There are so many absurd things like long ass grading system, and low rank cannot try the high ranking moves, I'm training Boxing now, it opened my mind immediately about martial arts. I will learn Muay Thai and BJJ in the future, love your progress and your content bro!

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

Nice! Glad to hear you moved on Alekchin

As Confusius quoted" He who questions is a fool for a minute an he who does not is a fool for life". Thanks for the lesson. I was the same way when I was training Tae Kwon Do and got my ask kicked by a boxer. I also began questioning my Tae Kwon Do instructors but all I got was a bunch of push back from them instead of answers. These instructors care more about the art rather than its efficacy itself. Thanks for your honesty. I love watching your videos.

Keep moving.

Thank you for this. My son is struggling with the balance between being a good student and asking good questions and going his own way. Let the teacher teach is important but a good student asks good questions. A good artist tests everything. It's hard to find a balance. You are helping us build a vocabulary around this. Do you have a video about being a good student?

I am glad you got there in the end but I am sorry it took so long. I suppose the important thing is where you end up, not so much how you got there.

First step in becoming a great martial artist is to let go your teacher ....... my brother you did just that!. You are on your way to greatness!👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

Well said sir.

Very well written narrative.

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Rockin that beard man, lookin alpha

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

😁

What r your thoughts on Hapkido? Could Aikido techniques be blended with some strike in order to be more practical?

@johnmcintosh8673

3 жыл бұрын

I remember reading that Morihei Ueshiba said that Aikido was 80% Atemi, if that is true then there is very little traditional Aikido out there.

Hi man, your video is very important for me as I just started Aikido practicing! lol. It seems I am luckier than you as I have practiced karate/kickboxing before and questioned each martial art I touched. XD. Because back in my mind, I know that to become a martial artist you have to follow a real martial artist, which has become very rare nowadays. Also, even the modernized competition can be very intense it sometimes only trains athletes rather than combaters. And to be clear with these, I mostly see martial arts sessions as a thing to keep myself exercising (I don't find much fun going to the gym lol).

I've had Aikido work for me even when was drinking with a buzz. I always kept in mind that Aikido isn't for striking or beating people up. UFC made me want to do something different. I always loved grappling and I participated in training high school wrestling , but my family moving us to another state through me off that path , but practiced enough to really enjoy it. it took me a long time before I found a BJJ school and it was only recently. but , 5 years before that I watched enough videos online to get familiar with it's history, names of submissions and different variations, and the fundamentals , but nothing is better than training with a knowledgeable instructor and peers to roll with. I love it.

Nice video.

@MartialArtsJourney

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

If they were more supportive of you questioning Aikido and cross training in other styles, how different would your relationship with Aikido today? Your former organization is insecure.

@emsantiago

3 жыл бұрын

I’ve been blessed that from the start in my martial arts journey cross training has always been promoted. Where I come from all aikido instructors practice different martial arts. The sensei under I got my Aikido Shodan (First Degree Black Belt) is also a Karate Do 5th Dan, Judo Shodan, Jujutsu 3rd Dan, Aikikai 5th Dan, and Yoshinkan 6th Dan, so competition, cross training, pressure testing has always been encouraged. But also, all other Senseis of aikido schools where I’m from practice multiple martial arts: Karate, Tae Kwon Do, BJJ, Kajukembo, boxing. For me this last 10 years has been very different and now that I see how other aikido instructors behave and think I can see how being said that one should not practice other martial arts or question what’s being taught can be frustrating.

@TheRubypokespe

3 жыл бұрын

@@emsantiago I didn't practice Aikido very long but my dojo was open to cross training and had no delusions of being modern day samurai or whatever. They treated Aikido as any other hobby and they pay no attention as to what other hobbies you get.

I know ,like many others that facing the shortcomings of a martial art you have put so much time and effort into is sometimes painful. I realised a lot of my wing chun is nearly useless in real street brawling. But there is usually some great technics in every martial art, so we concentrate more on the things that are actually useful and still practice the traditional stuff and enhance our understanding of it by adding western boxing etc. MMA has really sorted what does work. Great honest video's

Great story! I'm proud of you- It's a hard escape to make, and the Aikido community is lucky to have you (even thought they don't understand that yet).

@MartialArtsJourney

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Chris!!!

*_Rokas . . . I would actually consider training in Aikido again if it were from you now. Knowing how to fight and bringing that ability into Aikido would Completely revolutionize Aikido!_* 😎

@radicaledwards3449

3 жыл бұрын

Aikido could be very useful for someone who is already a fighter

@dannyarnold4201

3 жыл бұрын

@@radicaledwards3449, *_Agreed. I've actually been saying that ever since I walked away from Aikido back in the early 90's. It started to gradually occur to me as I was advancing: "Hmmm. What I'm doing doesn't look anything resembling like what Seagal does!" 😁 I started having my own realization that the more ballistic, combatives oriented Aiki-jujutsu is not what the Aikido schools out there were teaching! They were teaching the very Zen, very Flowery dance in a hakama and saying you can fight once you learn it! I walked away and went to Kenpō as well as cross training with Filipino Martial Arts, Silat, and Wing Chun practitioners as well. I stayed on friendly terms with my old Aikido teacher. He eventually went back into the military though and I lost touch with him._* 😎

@dannyarnold4201

3 жыл бұрын

*_@Stéphane Grenier:_* *_~I hope you comment again! Your comment may've been deleted by the YT. The retards at the YT will delete comments now even if you don't say anything inappropriate or use any profanity or anything! They'll just fall back on their ridiculous "terms of use" policy as their default excuse for wiping your comment clear when they do it too!_* 😒😒

Thanks for sharing your journey bro. Everyones is different. I took aikido after I took BJJ among other arts and aikido was a buzzkill without sparring. Much respect for your commitment anyway. OSS

👍 yes , you must ask questions and research everything in life, this is the only path to a contented self.

And THIS is the video that finally gets my subscription. Question everything; therein lies the path to knowledge. You master the rules, you question the rules and then you finally brake the rules. This was also Bruce Lee´s path on Wing Chun to create something new. This is evolution.

Didn't know the part of the story about the first BJJ tournament. Glad you found your way to freedom beyond both rebellion and conformity