I’ve been aware for a very long time that the primary focus of Aikido is not on truly efficient techniques.
While in Japan, other Hombu students attended various seminars, and I also trained in some other Hombu-style discussions.
Although their methods appear to be similar, the effectiveness of the lockdown was not as consistent.
I recently learned that the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, the headquarters dojo, purposefully altered how performed techniques were to popularize Aikido throughout the world.
It was successful—Aikido is now practiced worldwide—but the originator of the art was upset by the alterations, which may have contributed to his cancer.
A pupil once questioned O’Sensei about the method’s efficacy in a fit of aggravation.
