AikiWeb Poll for the week of July 14, 2002:

Do you think aikido is purely defensive?

• I don't do aikido
• Yes
• No
  

Here are the current results.

I'd say that aikido techniques and skills can be applied for offense, but aikido cannot be ;D

IMHO, Aikido is first defensive by not initiating the movement but entering and blending with the attackers. Like a mobius strip it turns more offensive as it redirects and unblanaces the individual. The opposites are contained within the same waza. So, IMHO, no AIkido is not purely defensive.

Unil again,

Lynn

initiating the attack
 

We train in several basic techniques in which sh'te initiates the attack, including shomenuchi ikkajo, as well as most ushiro techniques.

The initiation of the physical attack, however, does not mean the initiation of the need.

So the question here becomes more complicated!

We practice aikido as a defensive art, which includes initiating the movement.

In our Dojo we were taught to stick out our hand/wrists....as if we are tempting the attacker to grab it...then the split second before the grab it, we irimi/tenkan in and perform a Kokyo Nage...(Sounds like it'd work with a Judoka, or BJJ)...am I initiating the fight?

Nope.

Just imagine the same thing but you stick out the hand for a friendly shake. How and if the other person grabs your hand/wrist depends completely on the other persons intention and the connection you made with that.

Once again confusing moral with physical.

Seeking out confrontation is one thing but once confronted our Aikido is not limited.

So Yes - even my most offence movement is defensive.

Now what I really want to know is who, in every poll, enters I don't do Aikido. Is it just random visitors, a hidden cabal, come on speak out.

like a zen koan
 

It is neither offensive or defensive. It is ACTIVE!

Can Aikido be anything other than defensive? There is no offencive actions in it, even Jo and Ken are reactionary! Therefore, as there are no agresive/offensive techniquies, Aikido must be purely defensive. This is even before you enter the morality argument. Aikido is an art of peace, and even if the techniques seem offensive, the attitude behind it ought to be one of regret at the neccesity of the technique (in the real world) and definately no agression on the mat.

Just the musings of a friday night,

The Wrenster.

I agree with Mike Lee... it is not offensive nor defensive. It is DYNAMIC.

I'd say it is both offenceive and defenceive.

And I agree with Thalib, neither defensive or offensive IT IS POWERFUL.

I wasn't sure exactly what was being asked, whether we thought that aikido has any offensive techniques or not, or if it could be used only for defense and not for attacking anyone.

Well, I think it could be used to attack, so in that case it wouldn't be defensive, and as one of the definitions given in the dictionary for offensive is; giving painful or unpleasant sensations well almost all aikido techniques could be considered offensive then couldn't they;) ?

Seriously though, Aikido is a tool, so I think it can be defensive or offensive depending on how a person chooses to utilize it. Also how can you consider shomen uchi or yokomen uchi to be purely defensive?

If you started the fight, its offensive.

If you defended yourself in a fight, its defensive.

If you defused it before it started, its AIKIDO.

If you run like hell (eg. me) its smart! :P