Oh, yeah, baby!
Nice, Roland. That was my point all along. People are trying to fit Aikido into box it was never designed for. You have to look at things from the perspective of the progenator and only then apply the lessons to your current situation. You have to ask why you are learning it. Just because art hasn't saved my life doesn't mean I don't get fulfillment from it, right? As an artist (of more than one medium), I can assert the truth of this.
Also, you have to understand what situations respond best to your skills. I would never grapple with a gun-wielder. I doubt I would try submissions on someone who has shown a willingness to bite and claw, either. That doesn't mean BJJ is useless, far from it! But, like everything else, it has its place in the world. So does Aikido.
As for your comments, Bri Thai, I've seen the police reports. Apparently there are folks amongst us who grab you and respond to wristlocks. Do you really think seven-hundred years of martial study of wristlocks was wasted on techniques that have no real-world merit? I think not.
But like anything, wristlocks are not the end-all-be-all. They fail, like every technique, depending on the situation and skill of the martial artist. A time and place for everything . . .
As for why you would want to hit someone as a distraction instead of to kill/maim them? Obviously, you don't wish to kill or maim them. That's what wristlocks are for. I've made them work myself. They are great when you sense things are about to get physical, but you don't want to be seen as the assailant.
In fact, they are probably the only reason I've avoided the typical barroom brawl. I don't particularly enjoy fighting folks, and wristlocks, used wisely, can save you the hassle. If you want a specific anecdote just say the word.
I’ve never been in a “real” fight, the kind where you face off against another man with fists flying, since I’ve been trained. Wristlocks are the reason.
Respect.
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A broken mace is still a weapon.
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