ChrisHein

There seems to be this strange attachment to the idea of "doing Aikido" while sparring. This is not the way it works.

Aikido is a system, based on things learned from physical conflict. The foundation of Aikido didn't just get made up as an ideal way of fighting, and we have to try to "do Aikido". The things we practice in Aikido are natural to a certain context of fighting. If you spar in that context, Aikido technique will naturally arise. Will things look slightly different than forms, yes, everything gets smaller, and less pronounced, but all the techniques of Aikido will be used. Not because we want to use them, but because they are the most natural thing to do.