Akidio for Street Defence

[mrbicrevise]

Just wondering if any of you have found Aikido useful in a street defence situation. I'm not sure if its going to be any good for me, but I've heard some of the throws are similar to Judo/Jitsu. Is that true, or b/s?

I don't know if it makes any difference but I have done Judo for about a year, does Aikido lend itself to Judo techniques?

Thanks,

Pete

[JaredExtreme]

Bic, you should know that Aikido has no sparring since it was against Morehei Ueshiba's beliefs. Though they teach many joint locks, it's hard to tell whether these techniques generalize to self-defense scenarios in which your opponent isn't fully co-operating with you.

[RobertG]

Actually Jared Aikido does have randori (free sparring)--if its the Tomiki lineage of Aikido.

As for the throws, Aikido is based on different principles and footwork than Judo. Aikido, in some sense, evolved largely from Kenjutsu. Judo, on the otherhand, developed from unarmed techniques bushi would use in real combat (maybe with or without weapons).

Now here's where I might get into trouble with people. Even with Tomiki Aikido, Aikido hasn't been field tested in any major way. It never went through the process that Judo and Brazillian Jujitsu went through. Thus, I'd be especially skeptical that Aikido is going to work outside of the dojo (Seagal not withstanding). Yeah, some people can pull it off. They're exceptions, not the rule. Again, Aikido developed from sword arts. It might be good if a guy is attacking you with a bokken. It doesn't have much in its repitoire to deal with boxing type punches, nor to deal with grapplers (among other things). Yes, I've heard of bouncers claiming to have used Aikido with great success. There are two things to note: bouncers are generally among the largest, strongest guys in a bar, and they're generally looking to control a situation, not fight for their lives in dark alley or something.

That all said, streetfighting is more about the practioner than the art. Sure, it helps if you're art has given some grounding in all combat ranges and familarization with weapons. But 90% of it is going out the window in a street fight anyway. Unless, of course, you've had a lot of training teaching you to deal with the giant adrenaline dump during a real fight which turns most people's higher brain functions into mush. But, Aikido schools generally don't deal with that.

[jules]

I was under the impression that Aikido was from JJJ (let me find a link...) Yes you are correct to an extent.

"arts. Oversimplifying somewhat, we may say that Aikido takes the joint locks and throws from jujitsu and combines them with the body movements of sword and spear fighting."

If you are considering Aikido i would suggest:

"This is the style taught by the late Gozo Shioda. Shioda Sensei studied with O Sensei from the mid-30s. After the war, he was invited to begin teaching and formed the organization known as the Yoshinkan. Unlike many later organizations, the Yoshinkan has always maintained friendly relations with the Aikikai both during and after O Sensei's life.
The Yoshinkan is a harder style of Aikido, generally concerned with practical efficiency and physically robust techniques. It is taught to many branches of the Japanese Police. "

http://www.aikidofaq.com/introduction.html

[mrbicrevise]

Thanks guys, I'll take all that into consideration

One of the dojos I have in mind seems to be less orientated on sword and spear fighting, and more on the idea of stepping off the line of attack into a throw or joint lock. I'm going to go for a look at a couple of dojos next chance I get, I hope at least one of them have some quality instruction lol

[brokenelbow]

Check out the book, "Angry White Pajamas". It's an odd but entertaining book about the authors experience in Japan taking the Japanese Riot Police course in Aikido. No hippy hormony crap to be found anywhere in it's pages.

[IPON]

I copied this quote from AiKido online

"....Aikido is traditional in the sense that it is a Budo intended for training in "life or death" situations. O-Sensei's first rule from his ‘Reminders in Aikido Practice’ at the old Hombu Dojo begins with the phrase, "Aikido decides life and death in a single strike".

I don't study AikiDO....but I thought this would help.

http://www.aikidoonline.com/

[chris davis 200]

The Yoshinkan dojo does have a focus on the reality of combat - the use of aikido to disable opponents quickly and effectively.

this is mainly due to the fact that its founder left Ueshiba early in aikido's development. When it was still more like Daito ryu aiki Ju Jutsu.

The 1 year riot police course held at the yoshinkan hombu dojo is one of the toughest years around.

6 full days a week training, having to train dispite injury etc - it is very hard.

If you went on this course your opinion of aikido as a soft martial art would very quickly change!

Cheers
Chris

[Guest]

Don't do it. You can train for 5 years and never know if it works. Simply put, you never will have an opponent who is resisting your actions. This is one of the keys why BJJ works so well.

Aikido is a fantasy.

[chris davis 200]

Talking of fantasy - how is life in your strange world!

I would say that the riot police would need something that works.

There are BJJ schools in Japan but funnily enough - in a riot BJJ would get you precicly no where! Except maybe sunk into the concrete some.

As i said - Yoshinkan is a hard style. Much like Daito ryu that i study.

I have used it - it works. against armed and unarmed opponents, drunk, sober, crazy and bigger opponent - it works.

I am not saying that all aikido is good - there are huge amounts of hippy crap out there - but there are some hard training good schools that have real combat skill.

BJJ does work well - but mainly in the ring.

[JaredExtreme]

Aikido is an in-effective martial art for self-defense. You Aikidokas may claim there are some good Aikido schools out there, but we all know these are the EXCEPTIONS to the RULE.

[chris davis 200]

I am not an Aikidoka - but i have met aikidoka that are big tough mutha's n can throw you around like your a rag doll. Not all aikidoka are old men with white beards!



If it is an in effective martial art - Why is it used by the top police department in Japan? they are much like the US SWAT.

Sorry but your ASSUMPTION doesnt make much sense.

As i say i dont practice aikido - but i have trained with and seen guys that make it work.

As you say - in every art their are Exeptions to the rule.

cheers
chris

[JaredExtreme]

Chris, I do not assume anything. I have seen three different Aikido schools, none of which practiced any randori whatsoever. These are indicative of Aikido's poor self-defense strategies.

Just because a police department in a foreign country uses some Aikido techniques, does not justify the entire martial art itself. The martial art must be judged as a whole.

Aikidokas are free to train in their fully co-operative controlled settings, I personally prefer grappling with someone who is trying to hurt me.

[chris davis 200]

aikido has many forms -

Aikikai - the aikido of the founder before his death - with a soft style to it

Ki aikido - Very soft - not applicable for self defence

Yoshinkan aikido - the result of aikido's early development when it was still very hard - Randori is STRESSED as hugely important in this style - although competition formats are not part of the style!

Tomiki aikido - a sporting format of aikido!

Etc

the thing is your view of unrealistic co opporative opponents is true of most aikido.

But there are schools that do not practice in this way - many of them practice hard style control and restraint against resisting opponents.

I train in Daito ryu Aiki JuJutsu - the fore runner of aikido - and have used it whilst working as a doorman many times. although not the same, it isnt overly different. And i know from experience against EXTREMELY resistant attackers that it does work - if trained correctly.

I am not looking to change your view - as i said i do not study aikido - but i do know that there are some schools that teach effective self defence methods.

Cheers
chris

[Mr. Miyagi]

Can Steven Segall actually fight?