Expert: Judith Warner - 4/30/2008

Question
Thank you for your time. I was interested in Aikido. I'm 19 and iv practiced Jun Fan( Jeet kune do) and Wado Ryu karate for 2 years now. Iv practiced kickboxing since 6th grade. I met a guy recently who has 21 years aikido training and was talking to me and i was interested in it. I would like to watch  him alittle. I just don't know how id do in it. Mean I'm great at fighting for the street but how do you flip people? Do the Steven seagal stuff? Could i really do all that? Iv tried to put those karate pressure points on people and flip my 108bl girlfreind and cant. Could i do that to a big 208Bl guy? I'm very aggressive fighter with Jun Fan but id like to learn some aikido? what you think?

Answer
Hi Josh

Of course you should try aikido. It will teach you some skills and principles that will help you in all your arts. I am only slightly bigger than your girlfriend and have no problems throwing fellows bigger than 208.

Once you learn the principles, it is simple. But, it will take patience and quite a bit of training to succeed.

I wish you best of luck,