Has anyone heard of Tohei Sensei (Aikido master)?? He supposedly kicked Gene Labells butt.?

Question

I read that during a Judo competition Tohei Sensei took on 5 Judo champs from each of the divisions and threw them around like toys. In a REAL full contact match! He supposedly beat the grappler great Gene Labell also! I don't know how true the Gene Labell story is, but I have seen a lot of evidence about Tohei Sensei kicking some Judo guys butts!

"Alex":

It IS a true story about Tohei Sensei beating 5 Judo grapplers( many witnesses saw it!), not yet sure about the Labell fight! And YES Aikido is a very effective martial art for defensive against any type of attack. YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE NEVER TAKEN AIKIDO BEFORE! It's the uneducated people who throw silly comments against Aikido! The reason Aikido is not in compettions is because it's moves would be illegal for the competition! PLUS a street fight is different then a fight in a ring! Aikido is one of the best styles for street fighting. REMEMBER it's the individual who is studying the martial art that can make it lethal or useless! It's not the martial art's fault!

Answer 1

I have heard of him and there videos of him of the net. I would believe it to. Aikido is one of the hardest martial arts to master because of the amount of patience required. You have to sit thier and wait for your oppenent to attack and then strike but it is an amazing site to see when someone knows how to do it properly.

Answer 2

All I know about Koichei Tohei was that he was O-sensei's most senior student and head instructor of the Aikido headquarters in Japan after the founder's d3ath when he broke away from the main organization because he put more emphasis on developing Ki over physical techniques leading to disagreement with O-sensei's heirs and other students and so he opened his own school of Aikido called Shin shin toitsu Aikido(Unified Mind & Body Aikido) popularly known today as Ki-Aikido. As for beating Judo Gene LeBell, I haven't heard of that, but it could be possible, he was a senior student of Morehei Ueshiba and they were no lame ducks back then.

Answer 3

Koichi Tohei, was one of O'sensei's (founder of Aikido) primary students. Regarded by many as the primary student, but that's another matter. There is no publicly released evidence in regards to Tohei sensei and Gene Lebell. However, from a very legitimate source the legends of Tohei vs. Judo are documented here: http://www.aikidojournal.com/article.php?articleID=640

Tohei had many other real challenges in Hawaii and Japan, but these are at this time only orally transmitted. Aikido is not a fighting art. However, through Aiki's history there have been those who have been capable in the usage of aiki as an ability in combat, oftentimes resulting in death. Today, the Aikido community is filled with watered down waza and teachings reflecting the PC world that we have created during this era that I call the pussification of America.

Answer 4

Although this question is not addressed to me, the spirit of it moves me to answer it anyways. Sunman. remember Icarus. Also remember that any thought taken to an extreme turns into its opposite. Positive emotions attract more of the same which sounds great, but the brain is an addiction maker. What do we do about that? Or can we do anything useful when we are in the grip of such addictions, when our whole self is demanding for more? This can even be religious fervor. The answer to most of your questions, when it is yes or no type, is yes. " In medio stat virtus " . In the middle exists virtue. So how do we know when we have reached the middle? Where is the tipping point? When love which is energy is flowing fast and furious, it feels explosive. It feels like it cannot be contained. It looks like fireworks. All the senses are involved, except maybe what we call common sense. And balance? The rare commodity. Indeed, what needs to happen Sunman? Did you buy a ticket for this roller coaster ride? Beware of those who promise you the truth for a price! Most of all, be aware! Do not sleep, for the thief comes in the night, the pickpocket who leaves you with nothing but the story that he gives you everything. His laugh echoes in the hills, in the valleys, over the mountain tops, to the ends of the universes and beyond. A loop is a loop, more so in your mind. One hell of a loop-D-loop, I tell you. One suggestion and one only will come from me if I can get it out fast enough. Everything is mathematical, arithmetical even. Everything is relative. When you sense that something you are being taught or shown in some way smells a little fishy, immediately write it down where it won't be lost, where the pickpocket won't get it, where it can't be erased, and don't believe him when he tells you " manyana!" . Do it now. You will find that these notes will accumulate. After a while you will have your answer and it will be undeniably clear, but only then. Only then, you will be the prodigal sunman. Only then will you be home and nobody will be able to take that away from you, your pearl of great price. Follow no one and keep your notes. Spit on everyone elses, mine as well, for I do not know my mother. So how can I tell You anything?

Answer 5

Dont know about the LEBELL story but if he was limited to just JUDO technique it is a possibilty.

MASTER TAKEDA founder of DAITO RYU AIKI JITSU travelled JAPAN in the 20s and 30s taking on and beating boxers wrestlers judo jujitsu players and just mean bar fighters and criminals reportedly killing a couple of the latter.

From this art UEYESHIBA created AIKIDO MAKING IT A MORE DEFENSIVE ART.

Answer 6

This is always the way with aikido. Someone knows someone who heard of someone who allegedly saw some aikido master defeat some karate/judo/boxing/whatever champion.

Aikido is fake. It does not work in a real fight. The only aikido videos I've seen are demonstrations - the ones where aikido masters effortlessly throw people around and they obligingly fall in acrobatic fashion.

Most martial arts fans could name several top level fighters who have backgrounds in karate, judo, jujitsu, kickboxing, wrestling, etc. You can't name one person competing today who comes from an aikido background. Coincidence?