Tim-san! Aikidoka desu-ka?

[Tim Broderick]

US!<P>Two years studying Yoshinkan Aikido - I know, the "wrong" kind, but that's what was offered at the 'Y.'<P>Training has been put off due to my schedule and my sensei's retirement. I may, some time in the future, try to find another dojo. Now, I'm just trying to stay in shape.<P>Good eyes Clint!<P>------------------
Tim Broderick
Someday, all jobs will be<A HREF="http://oddjobs.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank> Odd Jobs</A>

[Russ]

Ok, I admit the guy Ed at the bar was being a rude drunk (at least I assume he was drunk; clueless in any case), but David's response seems way out of proportion to me. 10/19 we see lowbrow Ed shouting "where're you going" and putting his arm on David's; next thing I know, there's martial arts and bodies flying around. Weird! It felt out of character with the feel of the previous strips: like a cerebral enigmatic arty foreign film suddenly turning into a macho action film; is it just me? I was left thinking "you know, there was surely a more tactful way for this situation to have been handled rather than escalating into a fight with knives and guns" Lest I confuse the author with the character, I will leave it at that. <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/smile.gif"><P>Good action art in today's strip, in any case.<P>
<P>------------------
russ
<A HREF="http://www.kofightclub.com" TARGET=_blank>Ko Fight Club</A>

[Tim Broderick]

Hi Russ!<P>You make an interesting point. In Aikido, they teach you ways of doing things that may cause momentary pain but in such a way as giving control over to someone most likely not to cause serious damage. <P>The idea is to make the assailant think twice about pursuing a fight. That's why David throws Ed away from him, "no harm done."<P>But you're right: For you and me, there were probably better ways of handling a drunk like Ed (of course, we don't know how drunk he was). And if it felt out of character, well, that's probably the way I handled it. I hope to get a bit "smoother" as I go along.<P>Which brings me to something I've thought hard about. I had to decide how I wanted to portray violence in the strip. Since it's a mystery/detective toon, I know I wanted more active violence than finding a corpse neatly laid out in the library. But I also didn't want "cartoon" Bruce Willis-type action. <P>So I decided that any violence was going to be quick . The - threat - of violence may last, but actual, physical, violence is a shocking, sudden departure from the norm that brings consequences. And David may suffer those consequences. <P>So getting back to the action: it may not have been the smartest thing to do in that case, but David may not be someone who operates like you or I . He's definetely not a "Diehard" action guy, so he'd better be careful about who he picks fights with - he won't win them all <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/wink.gif"><P><P>------------------
Tim Broderick
Someday, all jobs will be<A HREF="http://oddjobs.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank> Odd Jobs</A>

[Macclint]

Hey Tim, your man there's got some slick moves. Is his creator an exponent of Aikido?<P><P>------------------
-Clint Hollingsworth
Wandering Ones, The online adventure comic!
http://www.wanderingones.com

[Macclint]

Personally, I don't like anyone putting their hands on me without permission.<P>In a similar situation, I might not have thrown the guy, but his arm would've been kinda numb.<P>But I studied a different art.
<P>------------------
-Clint Hollingsworth
Wandering Ones, The online adventure comic!
http://www.wanderingones.com