Our style of Aikido is not like the Aikido you will mostly see on You-Tube or probably what you have seen before.  Why do I say this?  Because most Aikido out there today, about 80% of it, is pure BS.  Does that sound a little harsh?  I say no.  If you are looking for some guy holding out one arm and some guys to go flying through the air repeatedly , then look elsewhere.  Why did these attackers just come in and grab his arm for 3 minutes and not once actually attack or a real technique executed?  Interesting, neh?  If your style of Aikido is working primarily from a one handed grab with Atemi mentioned as an afterthought, then I think you are in for a rude awakening.  In my short 36 years of existence and 8 years in public safety, I have never seen a domestic dispute or real attacker attack that way. We can go on and on about this but I think you get the picture.

If you are looking for lineage, then we can go that route too.  I have studied with S.Suenaka who directly trained with O'Sensei on & off for 8 years.  S.Suenaka was one of Tohei's top students.  Well how important was Tohei?  Please read the aiki journal article#109.  I would like to quote S.Pranin please.

"I want to make my point perfectly clear. What I mean to say is that Morihei Ueshiba was NOT the main figure at the Hombu Dojo who taught on a day-to-day basis. O-Sensei was there at unpredictible intervals and often his instruction centered on philosophical subjects. Tohei and Kisshomaru Ueshiba are the persons most responsible for the technical content and development of aikido within the Aikikai Hombu system."

So you are probably asking yourself, or should be, why aren't S.Suenaka and S.Ackerman all over the internet and huge in the Aikido world?  Its pretty simple, they are humble men who just want to train.  The political world can do wonders to reputations, in good and bad ways.  Do some digging and you might just get a surprise on true lineage.   Both gentlemen are fantastic people and remarkable martial artists which Forsyth Aikido is based from.

Aikido must go back to its roots of being a martial art.  O'Sensei travelled the countryside proving this point time and time again.  Nothing should have changed in such a short period of time.  Our style here at Forsyth Aikido embraces that challenge.  Think of Pishock-ryu as a modernization of Aikido.  We work today's strikes along with classical Aikido attacks.  If Aikido is NOT for you, then go out there and find a martial art that trains hard and pushes your limits.  There is a martial out there for everyone.  Be true to yourself and always question if your technique works.  Let me end with some quotes from Wisdom for Daily Living.  Bruce Lee said, "Bear in mind I seek neither your approval nor to influence you.  Disregard all that is useless."