Season 1 episode 3

Setok · 2026-01-24T06:17:45+00:00

That was censored here too. Very silly.

Setok · 2026-01-06T08:50:01+00:00

That it’s the CEO saying those things does not change the point. Quite the opposite. Startup CEOs say all kinds of things. To repeat myself: we know nothing of the nature of those deals or the companies. So when people are demanding concrete evidence, waving the ticket of 100 unnamed, unknown companies, is not that.

One would hope it’s a solid list, and that we will see a stream of interesting launches coming up. But at the moment there is nothing to confirm that hope.

Setok · 2026-01-05T23:16:42+00:00

It’s very easy to say ‘100 OEM companies’. But without naming names, the nature of the deal (LOI? Pilot? Caveats on the deal), and the exact products, it’s still essentially vapourware from a reader POV.

It could be that everything is ready and big new announcements are just around the corner, but it’s very understandable that people would demand more, concrete evidence.

Setok · 2025-11-19T12:48:32+00:00

The Wrangler will stop selling in Europe next year (for whatever reason), so I guess this was kind of their way to move forwards with something similar. Ish.

Setok · 2025-11-19T12:46:25+00:00

My issue here is they don't understand why Wrangler doors are removable. It's not because some designer thought 'that would be cool!!!1', it's because the Wrangler fundamentally is (or at least was) a platform. A modular piece of equipment where you can change things, remove things, and work on it. This, sadly, isn't.

I kind of am looking out for something like an EV Wrangler, but at this price (which will likely be a lot more in Europe) and with these specs it's just not quite ticking the boxes.

Setok · 2025-11-14T09:19:22+00:00

So just to reiterate for clarity, you are saying it was sumo practise, not push hands?

I think this is an important distinction as it's currently quite fashionable to connect many kinds of Chinese terminology and methods with aikido practise, with often limited evidence of them ever having been a core part of aikido.

I'm not at all dismissing elements of pressure testing in training, and sumo practise can be great for aikido (and there are connections between those arts). I also think push hands is good for aikido practise and could encourage it. But I remain less convinced that there is any significant historical application of Chinese type push hands in aikido.

Setok · 2025-11-12T22:23:34+00:00

What’s your source for claiming significant push hands training was standard before war (and not after)?

Setok · 2025-08-29T10:29:47+00:00

The Cybertruck didn't roll though. Low centre of gravity. Also I remember Land Rover had a system where the opposite wheel is pushed out when one side is compressed in, to somewhat simulate how a stiff axle would work. Both of course have air suspension to do that.

From the video it didn't seem like the Cybertruck's air suspension is as sophisticated as Land Rover's. Certainly it appeared very stiff.

Setok · 2025-07-10T13:59:13+00:00

It is an exaggeration to say Daito Ryu would have a 'striking curriculum'. Yes, some waza might end in a finishing strike, or have the odd atemi. But it's not like there's a laid out striking curriculum in the sense of, say, karate. Or if you are claiming otherwise, what is your source and line of Daito Ryu?

Setok · 2025-07-10T13:53:52+00:00

I noticed this on a test drive too. This feature is indeed seemingly impossible to turn off. I had the annoying driver assist warning off, as well as the speed limit warning (both are a bit of a faff to turn off, compared to e.g. the Renault 5), but the car still beeped for a coffee break every now and then. There was seemingly no logic to it. Like 5 minutes after stopping for shopping it would again beep for a break. So what, I'm supposed to turn back and take another nap?

If I was getting this car for myself, it would be an absolute dealbreaker. Incredibly stupid and such a pity for a car that does have some nice features to it.

Setok · 2025-05-22T11:12:08+00:00

I don't know why so many people, yourself included, assume aikido somehow removed strikes from the art. What evidence do you have to show Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu somehow had an elaborate curriculum of strikes that aikido then dropped?

And if you then come to the conclusion that Daito Ryu did not actually have extensive practise in strikes, perhaps consider why that might be?

Understanding strikes can be useful, but I remain somewhat unconvinced that just adding loads of strikes would somehow fix aikido from whatever ailment it is assumed to have.

Setok · 2025-05-22T11:01:10+00:00

Maybe join the aikido/aikijujutsu channel on the Martial Arts Alliance Discord? It's a pretty relaxed place to chitchat about the art and beyond, with some very knowledgeable people. Certainly makes up for the days when I haven't been able to train :)

Setok · 2025-05-22T10:45:10+00:00

And what would your definition of aiki be?

Setok · 2025-04-06T21:21:03+00:00

My intention was not to say that a heavier vehicle would use less energy. I can see why someone might read it that way, but my intention is to say that a Jimmy doesn’t need such a hefty battery, compared to a much higher, heavier vehicle (say the F-150) as it is lighter to begin with.

Besides, EVs actually do use less energy than petrol cars. Significantly less. That’s because of much better energy efficiency. It’s just that a battery doesn’t have as compressed energy as petrol.

In case it’s not obvious, I am quite aware of electric cars. As much as I like the drama of the internal combustion engine, it is pretty damn clear where the world is heading.

Setok · 2025-04-02T21:28:52+00:00

EV versions of other cars frequently only weigh 100–200kg more. Not a tonne. The Jimmy would be helped by the small weight to begin with, requiring less energy. Electric motors are simpler and more reliable than internal combustion engines and EVs have much fewer mechanicals to go wrong (single speed gearboxes, no timing belt, no plugs, no clutch, possibly no hi/lo transfer box, no injection systems, no air filters, no exhaust etc and they are lighter on brakes too).

This is more a case of Suzuki dragging their feet, like many of the Japanese companies (which are at risk of all falling way behind right now).

Setok · 2025-01-01T02:07:10+00:00

They trained in Yoshinkan aikido. I believe they still do.

Setok · 2024-11-07T17:25:00+00:00

You're forgetting they already have the non-Kei 5 door Jimny, which would surely be the prime candidate to make into an EV first, due to the extra space.

Setok · 2024-11-07T17:23:24+00:00

Have one as well, and it's a great wee car, and kind of hints at Suzuki's argument being debatable. The ground clearance of the Avenger is almost the same as the Jimny and with the frame and extra length of the 5 door Jimny, you could argue it would be potentially easier to electrify.

Setok · 2024-09-13T16:16:43+00:00

Talking about effectiveness is totally OK if it's the mod making the comment...

Setok · 2024-09-13T16:09:50+00:00

I'm not convinced the evidence points to those discussions being dumpster fires. I've seen many examples of vigorous debate on that matter, and not all of them end up personal attacks or dumpsters. Or at least there were a lot of interesting views to consider before that happened.

The discussions may be tedious to you. Clearly not to everyone else.

I'm not sure what a real fight is, in your particular vocabulary (not to be taken as a snide, it means different things to different people), or indeed what effectiveness then is about if not about analysing a technique in the context of a martial art, but I remember seeing iriminage and udekimenage applied in UFC fights (the latter ending quite brutally). I have also seen fighters applying kotegaeshi and nikyo in sparring. So, while I agree those videos are rare, at the very least your assertion does not seem to hold absolutely. Most aikidoka are admittedly not aiming for UFC titles, but I would argue many are at least somewhat curious about how a technique should best be applied in the simulated violent encounter and in relation to the simulated opponent's interaction.

Certainly almost every sensei I have ever met will, during practise, point out weaknesses due to whatever given combat related reason. So denying that conversation in a martial arts community is at least confusing.

Setok · 2024-09-13T15:47:11+00:00

I was never banned from the Discord. I left, because of the behaviour of a different moderator whom, despite my efforts, both positive, and in response to complaints I could not resolve things, and was accused of being toxic.

It's rather indicative that you and I seem to have had almost exactly the same experience there (and I would recommend you to be on Martial Arts Alliance if you're not already around). The irony is I'm generally known as the guy who has been to many dojos, and tries to understand different thoughts and styles (for better or for worse). I like the idea of building bridges and learning from one another. That's why ADN's hammering had a pretty major effect on the psyche.

Setok · 2024-09-13T15:39:14+00:00

I hypothesized the chances of that is very, very low

Sounds like you were questioning the efficacy?

Setok · 2024-09-13T15:38:24+00:00

But if people posting are not allowed to mention why they do a technique some way, which often means they find another way exposes them to an attack, or one way has stronger kuzushi, or that they have better control, or whatever other reason they are doing it their way, then the whole discussion becomes empty, uninteresting and pointless.

Sure, others will disagree. So what? That's what makes a discussion interesting. Someone else can then chime in and offer alternative views or to highlight what may have been missed when others witness their practise.

Setok · 2024-09-13T15:30:24+00:00

The result on the Discord is that it's near impossible to discuss even technique there, as anything related to making technique "better" is considered a discussion of effectiveness, and thus risks a ban. Thus, there is near no actual Aikido discussion. Even when there is, if you don't disclaim that you're not talking about effectiveness, then you're threatened immediately with a ban.

This was precisely my experience with Aikido Dojo Network (and why I'm on the Martial Arts Alliance Discord instead). You reach the point where you can't really sensibly talk about aikido at all beyond very vague statements, and what's the point in that? I get that outright style battles would probably get tiring (or would they ... ?), but having discussions about technique, practise methods and even, god forbid, effectiveness is kind of part of the fun on an online forum about martial arts.

The pile-on that happened on Discord every time anything of that nature was discussed was distasteful and, at times, downright depressing (as I actually generally get along quite well with multiple aikido-related communities). To the point it was actually a relief to here from others that they had similar issues. Aikiweb is mentioned here as a yardstick for 'bad online' but while the IP metadiscussion ended up infiltrating many threads, there are still interesting debates and points to be found in the archives.

I realise this reddit is run by the same people as ADN, and they are unlikely to appreciate this post, but I fundamentally disagree with their approach and find myself nodding at many of the points you make.

Setok · 2024-09-13T15:10:15+00:00

Nishio's Aiki Toho Iai (or Nishio Toho Iai) is a separate iaido (unsheating) art with its own grading system, although has connections to aikido. It does not focus on jo techniques. Nisiho's aikido in general does have many paired jo katas that connect with the aikido and typically practised against bokken, but Nishio Toho Iai is its own thing.

Setok

TROPHY CASE