Is Aikido really a good martial art for real-life self-defense?
You can check the answer of the people under the question at Quora “aikido knife defense“
About Kennedy
Written by: Kennedy
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Is Aikido really a good martial art for real-life self-defense?
You can check the answer of the people under the question at Quora “aikido knife defense“
About Kennedy
No, Im afraid not. In fact to be honest there is no silver bullet martial art for self defense in my opinion. Also slef defence is part of the wider topic of self protection which will be context dependent.
Like all MA there are many benefits in training Aikido e.g. learning to move, learning to fall and soon.
In terms of physical training combining a striking MA with a grappling MA is a good way to go. Then there are specific combatitives such as Krav Maga or Combat Sambo etc.
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Any answer anyone, I mean anyone, gives you is bound to be subjective.
Better ask why would you be interested in it, and what attributes does it offer you!
But here’s a sample:
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Not when it comes to physical skills. I did encounter one really bright guy in the security industry who was very keen on aikido, and explained that it was a really great mental exercise to exemplify certain concepts in attack and defense. He also mentioned that he once did use a physical technique from aikido when hands-on handling a client who was taking an accidental fall.
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I will note that both my sensei to date have stated the first rule of aikido in an actual fight: there are no rules. My present sensei was a student under my first sensei, I will note.
So if I deliver an atemi with my palm or elbow into an attacker’s face, or a fist in his solar plexus, with more force than I would ever use in friendly practice, and end up doing the next move (the kokyunage, kaitennage, wrist technique, whatever) far more sloppily than I would in the dojo, but the guy goes down, hey, I was using aikido in self defense. If I don’t control my movement in a shihonage and yank the attacker’s arm to the side, so it dislocates the elbow (rather than the gentler handling I’d give an uke in friendly practice), that’s his lookout. If I break his wrist or dislocate his elbow with an old school kotegaeshi, that’s aikido too.
But no rules. If I kick him in the shins or knee and run like a bunny, I am applying rule one.
Now I have practiced Ki Society for over 20 years – quite the softest, wimpiest if you will, style of aikido in the whole gallery of aikido styles. I would like to think I can be a good aikidoka and de-escalate a situation, or use minimal force if it goes physical. But gentle does not mean doormat. So the perfect timing and cooperative attacks and all the rest of it that we use to learn this stuff and look good in the dojo don’t really figure into self-defense. Keeping your center, moving so as to avoid impact, and ending the fight ASAP…that is what we also learn in the dojo. It may take us awhile longer to get there than in some other systems, but I prefer the results (for me…wouldn’t presume to dictate them for someone else).
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I’m predicting that the vast majority of responses will tell you aikido isn’t useful for self defense.
While I agree that aikido technique does little for you in a cage match, there is an actual application for your aikido training in the street. I’m speaking of an actual pavement street situation, where there are multiple people around you, threatening attack.
It’s a very different situation from a confrontation indoors with limited space.
Street urchins, especially youth in a group, take care not to get hit. They take passing runs, trying to snag a limb, hoping you will fall to the ground. NOT to grapple, but so all can come in to stomp you into the ground.
Aikido training spends a lot of time practicing redirecting incoming attackers without depending on strikes.
Your goal is not to punch out a group, because while you’re absorbed in targeting one guy for strikes, another two will be trying to bump or grab you off balance. You’ll get stomped trying to punch out one, as they tend to stay out of range until they’ve made you lose balance and fall.
I found my aikido training was useful in giving me the timing and body movements that helped me keep from being held or knocked over, and I was able to escape.
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There are some techniques that might work in a real confrontation. And I would emphasize the word “might”. The thing about Aikido is that it works well when the timing is perfect… which looks great when you have a partner who is cooperating with you… but very difficult to pull off in a real fight.
So I would recommend learning some other arts with proven effectiveness, and then add Aikido on top of that if you really want to.
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FYI: Never done Aikido. Only seen videos of it on Youtube.
Even though I like to think that every martial art can be used for self defense, at the same time it really depends on how the martial art is used, how it is taught, and when to use it. Kickboxing, for example, is a good striking martial art and can be used for self defense since most fights are standing. Not to mention that most kickboxing gyms apply their techniques through sparring. Plus the art focuses on hitting easy target areas such as the face and body.
Since Aikido is a grappling art focusing mostly on wrist locks, it would be really difficult to pull off. The reason is because the wrists (as targets) is too difficult to grab. You have to find a way to grab your opponent’s wrist and put them in lock while at the same making sure you’re not hurt which is almost close to impossible if your opponent knows how to punch or worse have a knife or gun. Another thing is that Aikido lacks sparring. Instead they just go through demonstrations.
With that being said, I really do like the idea of putting your opponent down without hurting yourself and your attacker but aikido just dont have proper application of their techniques. I’m sure it does work but only in minor circumstances that may not happen in real life.
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