How realistic a self-defence technique is Aikido?

Question

I've been trying Aikido, I think the locks and throws are pretty cool, but wonder how effective it can be when someone really attacks you. I can't imagine an attacker just 'giving' me his wrist/forearm.

Answer 1

1- you point out a good critisism of this art and many arts- well not so much the art as the teacher.

What good is an art if you aren't taught how to bring your opponent into your "advantage range" to implement it?

It would be like a bjj guy learning how to groundfight but not being taught takedowns or throws/hip toss, etc. to get them there. Or a muai thai boxer taught only how to clinch fight but not how to get them there (ok, the bjj example is better).

2- rather than just bash aikido I'll give you the most common critisisms of it.
Aikido generally has the reputation of a "compliance art". The "uke" (guy who the technique is performed on) is not giving much if any resistance.

That is not good training. if you don't practice against a fully resisting opponent, you have no way of knowing if you are doing it correctly or if you are able to apply it in a realistic situation.

Its one thing if a small percentage of the art is trained in this manner for safety purposes (most martial arts have some techniqes that are high risk because they involve quick breaks or manipulating the neck), but these kinds of movements make up the majority of aikido so if they are in fact "too dangerous to test" then you can't learn them until we come out with artificial robots or congress allows us to own metrosexuals as pets and we can test on them.

I'm sure there is an aikido dojo somewhere that pressure tests the techniques and trains realistically with full or even 75% resistance, but I haven't seen/heard of one.

Answer 2

Just look at this, an attacker is most likely to punch you, kick you or use a weapon against you. Now with that knowledge, it's like we already know their strategy. Now using the theory of Aikido and the techniques, you will never be defeated in an attack or battle. I'm not saying I know everything, it's just my knowledge. I advise you to never leave Aikido, because you're going to regret it. What I mean by the "theory of Aikido" is that you use someone's opponent against them which is very, very useful. Another part of the theory is that you must focus on your ki, and I assume you already know what that is, your internal and eternal energy. You can't imagine you opponent giving you their wrist or forearm? A punch and kick is your advantage. If someone is not trained in kicking, the easier they can lose their balance. That is your advantage. Now let's get to weapons. A knife is very easy to disarm. Aikido may be the "PEACE" art, but it can be very devastating. A knife's only option is tho pierce through your skin and kill or injure you. The only way to do that is stabbing or hurling the knife. Well, most likely they'll stab, so you can use some disarming techniques for that. A hurl, you can dodge with your reflexes. Now if it's a gun, it's impossible dodge a bullet. But you can disarm them when they're pointing it right at you. Speed matters here. If your not so convinced, try researching. Read books, go on the internet, ask your sensei. Anything that can get you informed.

If you're getting a book, I recommend "Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere" by A. Westbrook & O. Ratti.

Hope I helped you and good luck on your path on martial arts.

LONG LIVE AIKIDO!

Answer 3

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Answer 4

I've been practicing Aikido for a little over 8 years, and this is how I'd answer at this point in my practice:

People often ask how effective Aikido *techniques* are for self-defense. I don't think the *techniques* are what we really question. It is a martial art that comes directly from various jujitsu ryu(s). Those same techniques are considered very effective...

An attacker probably isn't going to come up and give you his wrist. However, they will throw punches and various strikes, they are likely to try to grab you in some manner. These are all things we practice from. I think it is also important for some time to be spent learning how we as Aikidoist can draw an attacker into attacking the way we want them too. Learning how to set ourselves and them up.

Now if the question is more along the lines of how long it takes to realistically *apply* many Aikido techniques, I feel the answer is quite awhile. Why is this? Simply put, how hard is it to protect yourself and your attacker? In essence that is what we are training to do. It's pulling double duty. Learning to protect yourself is damned hard to do. It's going to be very hard to learn to do that and protect your attacker. It's going to take diligence and devotion to training.

Of course I could just be a granola-luvin'-LARPing-hippy...

Answer 5

Aikido is a very effective martial art for self-defense! Some say the best martial art for defense! The key is going to the right dojo( like any martial art!). The first Aikido dojo I went to was a joke! Totally unrealistic. However I since have switched to another Aikido dojo and it is a much more practical style of Aikido.

So yes Aikido is VERY REALISTIC!

Answer 6

As realistic as you want it to be. It's a matter of how you train than which technique you train in. If you train realistically, chances are better that you'll be able to defend yourself in real life situations. Just don't expect to go kicking everyone's butt with Aikido techniques, it's not that kind of art. It's a purely defensive art, not an aggressive offense oriented art like TKD or Muay Thai.

Answer 7

i practice iwama-style aikido and this 'giving' you could see that as an atemi. somebody that is going to punch you, you have to understand that in practice everything is don slow so you understand how to grab a forearm or wrist, that is also why in training uke gives his forearm/wrist.

so what i am trying to say is that, it is effective, when somebody attacks you.

but then again, it depends also on what kind of aikido your training, there's a big difference between style's in aikido.

Answer 8

Aikido is a fantastic art if your planning on doing tournaments. As for a street defense art, the attacks can be used, but putting them into play becomes a little more difficult. Stevan Segals arts are a mixture of Aikido and other forms. Basically Aikido is fantastic for submission or just devastating blows to the body.

If your looking for a more "self-defense" art, I'd suggest HapKiDo. It brings the joint locks and throws of Aikido, plus adds a fluid striking and defense motion to everything, so it can be applied to everyday situations. The heart of HapKiDo comes from using your attackers force on them. And you'll learn every pressure point on the body, and how to exploit it.

The plus of it is that in HapKiDo, you learn to "fall" right. So when being attacked or attacking, and you take a spill or get thrown, you'll instinctively fall right, minimizing the body's injury. You'd be surprised how well that comes into daily life.

And the last note, HapKiDo actually adds itself into many sports, by adding flexibility, jumping height and anarobic ability.

So if you like the locks and throws of Aikido, but want something more practical in the real world, I'd Look into HapKiDo for yourself.

Answer 9

In reality, there is no "1 almighty" fighting style to defend yourself. Does a fight ever happen like it does in the movies? Fights are typically quick and sloppy. Any fighting system will teach you control and how to stay calm in a situation that's quick and sloppy, per say.
FYI, attackers give you there wrist/forearm everytime they throw a punch or try to grab you.
I would recommend Shoto-Kahn, which to me was kind of like streetfighting, grappling, submission, and boxing combined (and because it was what I was trained in)

Answer 10

Florida department of corrections teach this form of martial arts for defense. Designed to inflict pain and subdue with out breaking bones...