| What is self-Defense? It is the means of | | | | fight or brawl with another martial artist. |
| defending oneself from physical attack and the | | | | One particular thought about Aikido is that dojo |
| right to protect oneself against violence by using | | | | training does not prepare you for a real street |
| reasonable force. Aikido is not a fighting style but | | | | fight. The truth is that most dojos, of all types, |
| rather a self-defense style. Aikido is perfect for | | | | do not prepare students for a real street fight. |
| self-defense because it revolves around blending | | | | The only way to prepare for a real fight is to get |
| or moving out of the way of an attack. | | | | into real confrontations which is not realistic in a |
| One of the main Aikido practices is to step out of | | | | dojo setting. Instructors cannot take the risk, |
| the way of an attack, usually to an area that will | | | | most students do not want to get hurt every |
| put you in an advantageous position. This can, in | | | | day and there is a chance you may really hurt |
| fact, be accomplished many times over without | | | | one of your training partners. Then who will you |
| actually touching the attacker or the attacker | | | | train with? |
| touching you. This is probably the easiest and | | | | Another knock on Aikido is that it trains you to |
| safest way to prevent yourself from getting hit. | | | | wait for someone to attack you before you can |
| Not everyone feels comfortable punching and | | | | do anything. Yes, if no one is attacking you, why |
| kicking their way out of an encounter but the | | | | do you need to attack them? This is called assault |
| young, old and not so strong can easily evade an | | | | if you attack someone first. In fact, the person |
| attack with Aikido training. This type of training will | | | | attacking is actually at a disadvantage because all |
| also be beneficial if you experience a lot of | | | | of their energy and focus is on the attack. The |
| tension during a conflict, as most of us probably | | | | perfect time to blend with an attack and redirect |
| do. If your body is tense, it will be easier to just | | | | it is when the attack starts. |
| move out of the way than to throw a forceful | | | | Yet another criticism is that Aikido weapons are |
| punch. | | | | not available in the real world so training with |
| A simple example is if someone throws a right | | | | them is a waste of time. Yes, Jo's and Bokkens |
| roundhouse punch toward you. A common | | | | are not laying around in the streets to use in |
| reaction is to try to duck out of the way or put | | | | fights but if I come across something that is |
| up your hands to block it, still leaving your | | | | similar, like a small broom, I will be glad I had the |
| attacker in a strong position. Aikido trains you to | | | | training. Anyone can throw coffee or use a |
| move forward and to the left, away from the | | | | ketchup bottle. |
| side of the attack. In the dojo, an atemi (strike) | | | | The most inaccurate statement I have seen is |
| would normally be included but in a tense situation | | | | that Aikido does not have strikes. This cannot be |
| where you might not react effectively, simply | | | | further from the truth. An Aikido technique is |
| stepping to the side to make the attacker miss | | | | actually 90% atemi (strike) and 10% throws and |
| would be sufficient. Your attacker then has to | | | | locks. An atemi is used to strike or distract the |
| generate another attack which can also be easily | | | | attacker so that a throw or lock can be |
| avoided. There are throws and joint locks but | | | | executed. The reality is that the initial atemi should |
| they require timing and good technique and may | | | | be sufficient enough to end the encounter and a |
| be difficult to execute in a difficult situation. | | | | pin or lock will complete it. In the first example |
| Another example is if someone pushes you, go | | | | above, a forward step to the side would be |
| with the push but grab their arm and take them | | | | immediately followed up with an atemi to the face |
| with you. As you go back, step to the side and | | | | of the attacker which should end the situation or |
| let the attacker fall by the wayside. After one or | | | | be followed up with a throw or lock. |
| two missed attacks and the adrenalin rush has | | | | Those who would attack normal everyday |
| subsided, you may be able to throw the attacker | | | | citizens going about their lives are not expert |
| or get them in a joint lock and end the | | | | fighters as all of the detractors would have you |
| confrontation. | | | | believe you will be facing in the streets. These |
| Self-Defense is not about going out and being | | | | individuals rely on fear and on the person they are |
| confrontational and getting into street fights. Most | | | | attacking not fighting back. Any type of |
| individuals involved in fighting or other martial arts | | | | self-defense training will be helpful in these |
| will tell you that Aikido is too passive and too | | | | situations, whether it be Aikido or Mixed Martial |
| ineffective to work in a street fight or against | | | | Arts. If it helps you in a fight, then it is useful. |
| another martial artist. While these statements are | | | | Learn the truth about different self-defense |
| not true, anyone with any brains and self-worth | | | | styles for yourself. Learn what is right for you |
| does not need to go out and get into a street | | | | and not what is right according to others. |