Starting Aikido?
 

Well guys i always have dedicaded do bodybuilding,and training my physique,but now i decided to train some martial arts and aikido was the only one that they had in the ginasium,so what i am asking if this martial art achual is efective in self defense for exemple in a street figth woud be possible to do some moves teach in aikido

just peace for me :D

o yeah i am going to talk with my future teacher this monday

thanks everione

have a nice day

Re: Starting Aikido?
 

Any martial art can be used effectively for self-defense by someone who is trained in self-defense. If you're asking if aikido training repalces self-defense training, no. If you're asking if you will learn things in aikido training that can be effectively used in self-defense, yes.

Many people here will tell you that all that muscle isn't necessary in aikido, and they might be right, but it certainly doesn't hurt. One of the most talented students at my dojo is a dedicated weightlifter.

Re: Starting Aikido?
 

How many street fights do you get into?

When you get into a street fight, are you the one starting the fight, or is someone else attacking you? Why are they attacking you -- do they want to hurt you, do they want to take your wallet, did you make fun of their favorite football team, or something else? How are they attacking you -- with a weapon, are they swinging fists, pistols at ten paces?

If your answer is, "I don't get into fights, I just wanted to know if aikido could help me in a fight", the answer is yes -- just as a screwdriver could help you if you wanted to build something. Of course,, whether it would help you depends on what you're trying to build. Once you've figured that out, you'll have your answer.

Re: Starting Aikido?
 

IMHO, if you are looking for just self-defense in a street fight in a short period of time, look elsewhere.

But you might want to look into martial arts with the same dedication you do your bodybuilding.

The more we put into it over time, the more we get out of it.

Re: Starting Aikido?
 

Take up M.M.A, or Judo and/or Boxing for quick results....
Aikido long term result, (even then a bit iffy depending on the school!!!!)...... Compliment yourself with all that you can do and pick one for main training.......;)

Re: Starting Aikido?
 

sweet tanks man i will

I WILL START TAEKWOONDO!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Starting Aikido?
 

Alexandre- have fun man w/ TKD. I dunno though if I would call it "more martial" than Aikido...

Of course it depends on your teacher- I've studied both and I think they are both long-term endeavors. What did you think of the earlier question about what you need from a martial art?

Re: Starting Aikido?
 

Well put Lynn! Aikido is amazing for self defense but its greatest gifts are to be opened over the years after sincere practice.
To repeat the old saying, "There is no superior martial art only superior martial artists." If you give any martial art the dedication you have given to body building you will be well rewarded.
Doc Sexton:)

Re: Starting Aikido?
 

for sure external or striking styles in show quicker basic results (with a few exceptions) things like karate, with a TKD, muai thai, will teach you effect striking techniques which if you end up in a street fight will be useful. although these are mainly sporting/fighting styles.

another way to go is to take arts which are predominantly martial arts, aikido, some kung fu styles, and japanese ju jitsu. these have strong techniques but sometimes lack in 'live' practice of these applications

with the correct teaching both of these groups could be adapted or included in self defense syllabus, in fact the arts that are know as being self defense arts systema, krav maga include techniques from both the fighting styles and the traditional martial arts styles, but teach them in a different way

so it really depends what you are looking for from your training

Re: Starting Aikido?
 

Um... I had a sensei at the early stages of my Aikido who said he wouldn't give 5th kyu to someone if he didn't think he could "take" a shodan in most other martial arts.
Do I believe I could "take" a shodan in most other martial arts? - Don't really want to find out. Did he believe that? I'm not sure, but he told me I'd get a 5th kyu no problem and promoted me for third kyu test without ever going for 4th...
Anyway - I guess it all depends on the sensei and the dojo. If you want to test yourself, spend a year or so at each of 5 different MA schools and get yourself REALLY confused.

Regarding the strength issue - Another of my senseis used to say sure, don't need to use your strength, but if you've got it, use it...
W

Re: Starting Aikido?
 

I reckon I would be much faster running away from a street fight after studying aikido for the past four years!

Re: Starting Aikido?
 

If he believed it, he was almost certainly kidding himself. That's an attitude of willful ignorance and delusion.

Re: Starting Aikido?
 

Joins aikiweb ... two weeks later takes up TKD. That's the kind of dedication required for success. No stopping this one ...

Re: Starting Aikido?
 

While what Mary says is likely we can't be sure. There was no mention of what kind of time was required to make it to 5th kyu nor do we know what the requirements for 5th kyu are.

Re: Starting Aikido?
 

Strength will definitely help you in a fight. Certain Aikido techniques will not work (or at least be VERY difficult to do) against someone who is REALLY strong. There are many core principles that DO apply regardless of the differences in size/strength. Getting off line and taking center are a couple I can think of. Also, your instructor will mane a HUGE difference in your fighting ability regardless of the style (TKD, Aikido, Karate etc.).

Re: Starting Aikido?
 

I think the issue of using strength in aikido maybe deserves it's own thread, however

From my own personla training, I have found that the way people phrase things is often misleading, when i am doing aikido or chinese internal arts I have come across many people who will tell you using strength is bad is not to use strength and this in itself start all sorts of problem like some instuctors telling thier students never to lift weights cos it will ruin their technique.

for sure when i start learning a new technique i try to use as little strength as possible becasue i don;t want to accidently muscle through the technique, but once I have got the basics I start to apply a little bit more strength to it. I think a better way to decribe things is not to RELY on strength rather than not to use it

Re: Starting Aikido?
 

Excellent points Andrew Macdonald.

Re: Starting Aikido?
 

Yes. Being strong never hurts. But relying on strength is unwise.

Katherine

Re: Starting Aikido?
 

Yes, we can't be sure, any more than you can't be sure that a meteor made of solid platinum is not about to h it your house...but in the real world, it doesn't happen. Sure, someone could create their own aikido organization where you only get a fifth kyu after six or seven years of dedicated training. Think anyone's done that? Or do you think instead that practitioners of other martial arts are uniformly weak and worthless?

It's not just an aikido thing, but it is arrogant and foolish to dismiss the effectiveness other martial arts of which one has no more than a superficial knowledge.

Re: Starting Aikido?
 

To protect the innocent, I don't name names.

In my individual case, having slightly slower reaction times than "the norm" (I've actually been tested in lab situations while in post-grad physical ed studies), I'm fairly sure that I'd be struggling in an encounter. That's me.

When (on the rare occasion) I visit other MA, I'm not there to fight or challenge anyone - I'm far too old for that and - I'm there to see what they're about, and to see if I'd be interested in learning their "stuff" - so I don't test them on their effectiveness against my Aikido or test my Aikido against their "stuff" - I try to learn some of their "stuff"...

The sensei I was describing earlier has had exposure to many different things.

Pure platinum meteorite? That would be neat! I'd better not be home when it hits.

Re: Starting Aikido?
 

It'll be there right after one of this sensei's fifth kyus defeats a shodan in another style.

Re: Starting Aikido?
 

Maybe 2 weeks on AikiWeb was enough to put him off of Aikido:blush: