Mr. Arieson

I have been doing it for a while. It is 100% a defensive art, designed for people who love japanese culture, ettiquette, tradition and mind-body coordination. Since it is derived from original ju-jutsu, it has mostly throws and locks with some judo style grappling at the higher levels. It would take a minimum of 7 years to get any kind of proficiency in this art form. People who take it are not of the MMA type, meaning, not interested in "ground and pounding" someone almost to death. An Aikidoka tries to avoid conflict.

Benefits: For older people like me, who can't take the training of Judo or BJJ, it is a great alternative that still involves breakfalls, nerve locks and throws. The emphasis on speed, timing and distance is very heavy, and I have been told that other martial artists will cross train in Aikido simply for those aspects. If you go to Judoforum.com, you will find a lot of Judoka speaking admirably of Aikido. Many crosstrain in it.

As a primary system of self defense, I would not reccomend it because although it is very effective, it takes a long time to get there. Muay Thai or BJJ can get you there in 6 months.

Aikido training: It is not "Live" training. The Uke and Nage work together, so the Nage can learn the techniques. They are done lightly and slowly for many years, until the brown and black belt levels, were randori begins, and the kata are done quickly and with great force.

Certain styles of Aikido emphasize more of the martial side, and some, more of the philisophical side. Tomiki Aikido is excellent, as they do randori with a knife. Shodokan (sic) is a harder style as well. Ki society is more of the "jedi " training and appeals mostly to the star wars geeks. Aikikai is the original, and is what I take.

Things I love about Aikido. You can learn to submit someone without the risk of going to jail. MMA is very good, and self defense arts like Trad JuJutsu and Krav Maga or Kempo are very good-for going to jail if you use them. I mean, even if you are found innocent, you still may have to go in the can until they figure it out! This is something the ground and pound and tapout crew may not fully understand!! Beat the shit out of someone and you are going to get arrested!!

Other things I love: Of all the martial arts, Aikido probably has the closest link to the Samurai. At higher levels, there is much emphasis on sword training, but not with the punu shinai-these guys use the bokken.

Ironic, since the Samurai were very practical martial artists and soldiers, that the "art of peace" is a direct descendant!

Now, to answer your question about boxing. Most Aikidoka would do about as well with a boxer as anyone else, Judo, BJJ, Karate, Kenpo, etc..in other words, you would get your ass handed to you. A boxer is probably (along with wrestlers) the best fighter in the world. To fight a boxer, you would probably need to train with a boxer. And Aikidoka would need to wait for the clinch to use pure aikido. Aikido does have striking, but it is mostly used as a feint or distraction to set up a throw or lock.

As for Aikido being weak: the throws and locks are the same you would find in japanese ju-jutsu and in judo (for the most part). They work by causing pain, and a submission. In Aikido, like any other grappling art, you tap out when the lock is applied.

Steaven Seagal does Aikido, and so does Jason Delucia. These guys add a lot of striking, however. Nothing wrong with that. You add what works. The founder, (who always is photographed as an almost Yoda type sage) was actually a pretty tough guy, who did a lot of NHB fights in his youth. He believed in saving the opponent from unneeded violence, though, if that did not work Killing would be an option.

Aikido is excellent. If self-defense is your goal, take it, but probably crosstrain in something else. A lot of Aikido experts (like Roy Suenaka) crosstrained in other styles. Judo experts were sent by Jigoro Kano to the Aikido school in Japan to crosstrain.

A good combo would be Aikido and Muay Thai. Or, Aikido and JKD.