The history of aikido in Chelyabinsk spans three decades

Chelyabinsk residents, like the Japanese, love to admire the sakura in the spring, which blooms in the very center of the metropolis. There are many admirers of Japanese cuisine among the people of South Urals. However, the Japanese in the harsh Chelyabinsk residents does not end there, many of them, for example, are close to the Japanese “path to the harmony of energy.” This is how, according to one of the versions, the hieroglyphs denoting aikido are deciphered.

The extent to which aikido is widespread in the Southern Urals, whether this sport is traumatic and how its followers look for motivation for training was discussed in the latest edition of the stream show “In the Morning” on Granada TV. His guest was Viktor Sadykov, head of the Central Aikido Club of Chelyabinsk.

We note right away that today aikido among Chelyabinsk residents is no longer as popular as it was several years ago. The followers do not dare to name the exact reason for some retreat in the fashion for aikido, hinting that, perhaps, the matter is in economic difficulties. However, we do not exclude the possibility that Japan has recently moved into the camp of countries unfriendly to Russia, and this could well turn some of its fellow countrymen away from its “harmonious path”. Or maybe (and we, frankly, are leaning towards this version), the whole point is that any fashion is cyclical, and after the heyday there always comes a cooling time, it is possible that, turning over the calendar, we will again see the peak in it. the popularity of aikido. Moreover, the history of aikido in Chelyabinsk is more than rich.

“I can confidently say that aikido is quite developed in Chelyabinsk today,” says Viktor Sadykov. “We have been promoting it here for 30 years. I myself started doing it in the early 90s, having switched to it from judo. It turned out to be close to me both in spirit and in body. Different directions of aikido are developing in our region. We are developing a central (main) direction in Chelyabinsk, which comes directly from its founder.

It should be noted that in the South Urals, aikido classes currently mainly focus on children. It is easier and more promising to work with them, our expert notes. Unlike adults, who often drown in their everyday problems, it is easier for children to immerse themselves in the art of Japanese martial arts.

In Chelyabinsk, children from five years old are taken to aikido classes. How burdensome is this sport for parents? According to the expert, if the parents brought the child just to try, you can not get a special uniform, no one will forbid you to practice in an ordinary tracksuit. If it is decided that the child will study, then it is necessary to buy dogi (clothing for “comprehension of the path”), as kimonos are called in aikido. Its price depends on many characteristics. For example, it can be thin (for growth) and therefore not very expensive, or you can order it directly from Japan, where ninety-year-old grandmothers created the costume by hand (this form will naturally go off scale in price).

The path to aikido is by no means reserved for adult residents of Chelyabinsk either. According to Viktor Sadykov, at one time even a man who became interested in aikido came to their training when he was already over 70 years old. And today there are a lot of age South Uralians among those involved.

“It’s just that the depth of this martial art is such that you can practice it all your life, without ever reaching the limit,” explains Viktor Sadykov.

Note that in aikido there are both children’s and adult levels. Up to the fourth dan, there are special programs for conquering levels: you need to go to the tatami, demonstrate your technique, prove that you have reached a certain level … The examination committee, consisting of people with high dans, looks at and decides on the worthiness of a candidate.

Here you need to draw the attention of readers that aikido, unlike many other martial arts, is much less traumatic. Here, not percussion technique is used, but throwing.

– We have a lot of throws, falls, rolls, although there are also attacks. But attacks are not studied separately, as, for example, in boxing, in aikido, says Viktor Sadykov. — Our athletes learn how to fall correctly. Therefore, there are no such injuries as boxers do in aikido. But, like any sport, aikido, of course, brings certain inconveniences. But, I repeat, aikido is about how to use gentleness against strength. You need to be able to use momentum.

I will give a simple example. You come to the door and you think it’s closed, you push it and fall through. And all because it was not closed. The same principle applies in the art of aikido. But physical strength is also important in aikido. You need to stand firmly on your feet – at least you need to be able to dodge, step, control the process … Remember that the person who will attack you has a certain mass and something needs to be done with this mass. All this encourages the athlete to be in good physical shape.

The motivation of people who practice aikido is very interesting. After all, they, unlike other martial arts, are more alien to the competitive moment.

“People come to us for the purpose of development,” Viktor Sadykov is sure. — Development of internal, physical, spiritual… Aikido gives the individual the opportunity to develop harmoniously. It is good if parents who bring their children to study understand this immediately.