What Do You Think Of Akido?

[ScottUK]

Okay Martial Artists, what are your thoughts on Aikido?

I think it is a slowly-learnt art (i.e. not one you can get good at quickly) and 90% of the aiki I have seen has not been good - ukes flying across the mat and being too compliant to make the demonstrator's job easier etc etc.

However, it is a good art - albeit not so effective against a skilled fighter/brawler etc - but an art doesn't have to be 'street-effective' to still be a good thing to learn.

[Tom Yum]

Er, I don't know about that...

Agreed. I think Jiujitsu has the closest link to Samurai - since it was designed as a method of fighting without the sword.

[jubaji]

A boxer is probably (along with wrestlers) the best fighter in the world.

This is just an excellent statement!

[jubaji]

Other things I love: Of all the martial arts, Aikido probably has the closest link to the Samurai. .

Er, I don't know about that...

[LightHevyWeight]

Everyone knows Aikido is based on defenses, philosophy, and religious beliefs. There are absolutely no attacks in Aikido. Which is a weakness in this martial art. I am actually a big fan of Aikido myself, but my sensie told me that Aikido is weak, & if an Aikidoka <Aikido practitioner> went up against a boxer he wouldn't be able to catch the boxers punches and convert them into jointlocks/throws. I also heard that it is absolutely usless in a street fight. But judjing from the Steven Seagal Videos & Movies that i saw, it DOES work in a streetfight.

Okay Martial Artists, what are your thoughts on Aikido?