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6 Responses to “Aikido In A Self Defense Situation?”

1. glistam3 on August 31st, 2009 5:05 am

   I would say part of Aikido’s deeper teachings help you to avoid fear and the adrenal dump in the first place. By being confident, you do not fear your attacker as much. Another thing is that by training, your movement become nearly automatic; normally adrenaline screws your fine-motor coordination, but if you have trained properly, the movements become unthinking and retain their effectiveness.

   But the biggest lesson in aikido is about avoiding trouble in the first place. One senior student who was from downtown Baltimore City said to me once: "When I go to an ATM late at night, I bring a friend. Guess what? I’ve never had anyone beg or try to rob me at an ATM at night."

   My sensei himself once said "When you are in a dark alley at midnight facing a huge man with a knife, the more pertinent question you should ask yourself is ‘What the hell am I doing in a dark alley at midnight?’" The point is not to go looking for trouble or behaving belligerently.

   One of the great uses of the physical aikido techniques are situations that are less than life-and-death, which are FAR more numerous. Indeed, sometimes you face a conflict wherein you must defend yourself, but you are conflicted about using all-out full force because the situation does not warrant it. What happens when your own little brother throws a punch at you? Or if you are a man, and your wife who is half your size and unarmed? Do you pound the daylights out of them until they’re unconscious, or try to control them without hurting them? I’ve had a few situations like this, and by using the gentler approach of aikido, I was able to defuse the situation by both using immobilizations and talking to them.

2. John D on August 31st, 2009 5:05 am

   EVERYBODY will get nervous in a street fight.
   its natural as you said, its how you channel it that is the key.

   i’ve never thank god had a life or death situation but i found breathing helped me alot (in this scenario it was over in a minute like i didnt even use martial arts just 2/3 strikes to the face and ran)
   the reason i didnt use martial arts was because i didn’t need to to get me out of this situation.

   Aikido i can’t exactly talk about seeing as i don’t know alot of it (i’ve picked up ju jitsu though)
   it will take time to get good at it & to effectively implement it into a fight.

   but its the same with any martial art i doubt i could use what i have learnt, amazingly on the streets.
   keep it up though and practice best of luck

3. Benji F on August 31st, 2009 5:05 am

   Learning martial arts not only prepares you for situations, but teaches you how to react and protect yourself.

   After training, and training, and kata’s (1:1 contact training) you’ll gain confidence in your ability.

   I have studied boxing, and Karate
   I have used them to protect myself numerous of times.

   But, remember it is not the art, but the person. Learn and build confidence in your abilities.

4. peter gunn on August 31st, 2009 5:05 am

   nerves and adrenalin happen with every one during a fight.

   training martial arts helps you get used to the stress of a combat situation but it never completely eliminates the factors of nerves and adrenalin
   but the better you are trained the better you will be able to handle it

5. not_liam on August 31st, 2009 5:05 am

   Dude when your in a street fight you dont care. You go into kill mode, there isn’t any "Oh, theres and opening right here" you just punch the hell out of the dude with your super human strength from the adrenaline, and don’t worry about pain, I once broke my hand and kept punching away. There is no thinking in adrenaline.

6. b on August 31st, 2009 5:05 am

   Aikido as with all other martial arts consists of constantly practicing techniques until the response to attacks becomes automatic. It not only teaches your body how to defend from specific attacks, but teaches it how to move with your attacker to utilise his own energy against him. Again, with practise, this slowly becomes automatic. The biggest criticism of aikido (from those who don’t study it) is that it is wouldn’t work in a real situation because during practise Uke (the guy being thrown) obviously throws himself. This technique of ukemi allows a gradual progression so that at higher levels, techniques can be practiced at full speed and force without anyone getting hurt.
   Aikido also includes defence from multiple attackers which although not a real combat situation, simulate the need to move, defend and attack in an instant without thinking; letting your body take over.
   Finally, one thing missing from many martial arts training is dealing with aggression. The first time you’re confronted by an aggresive attacker, in your face, shouting and screaming at you, you’ll probably be badly shaken and experience a massive adrenalin dump. The more you are exposed to this, the more you can control it. Read ‘Animal Day’ by Geoff Thomson if you’re interested in pressure testing your art.

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