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I have heard from people, who have not had any real life fighting experience, argue about pure Aikido vs. Atemi Aikido.
They equate pure dojo training, as real fighting experience. There also seems to be intellectuals who have not fought in the real world, who have convinced many others, that you don't need to train for the real world.
Those with real life experience, are portrayed as not knowing Aikido, as well as not knowing real life fighting.
I would say that many perspectives of Aikido & fighting, have been analyzed to such a degree, that everyone has lost sight of the whole picture.
You can still look good using Aikido techniques in a violent confrontation. That is why you practice for many years. Not everyone is prepared to fight someone proficient in Aikido.
Aikido practitioners look for the flaws in techniques, that criminals and non-practitioners, do not look for. You are defeating yourselves before a violent confrontation has even begun.
You have the element of deceptive skills, combined with surprise, and practice.
As I reflected, over the past 10 years in law enforcement, I can now see life a little more clearly.
My worst fight was a 5 on 1, that I had barely won. My old hospital bill, reminded me, that I took a month to heal from that fight.
In 1974, on my first year as a LEO, it only took one night to recover from a 3 on 1 fight. And that did not require a hospital visit!
Martial arts and law enforcement worked out quite well for me. In the beginning, I was mostly a striker, and used choking techniques.
The striking techniques were basically linear and not geared for multiple fighters. Mobility counted more, than being stationary.
Moving & striking, as well as moving & choking, started my path to effective fighting. Moving while throwing, required a thorough reexamination. My best analogy would be; 2 trains are about to collide and I side step at the last second. Of course I stick out my arm so that it hooks on to his neck or head.
The point being, I never stopped moving and my attacker didn't stop moving. Crash landings are greater when 2 forces collide together. In my case, his neck meets my forearm!
After many surgeries and doctor visits, I have returned to training. On my first day, I sat on the sidelines and watched. On my second day, I felt like a very old 60 year old man with some memory loss. The old skills slowly came back to me.
I had concentrated on only a few techniques for street duty, that I had forsaken the rest of them. Good thing I did not forget everything. My memory just temporarily misplaced a few techniques.
My after action recovery was several days. I didn't do much, however, I was like a rubber band that required a little replacement.
I had the unfortunate experience of working on a technique, with a small college female, with a strong consitution. She dumped me twice. The first time, I could roll out. The second time, she over rotated me and I landed on the back of my head and neck. It has been a week since she dumped me and I am glad that it was on tatami and not concrete. Good thing it is the summer break.
02-22-2010 02:46 PM 