pottertw

I was recently in a confrontation late at night. This guy's screaming at me and getting closer and closer. Finally, he's right in my face. I step back instinctively into kamai and raise my hands, with the left hand up around his face. I tell him "stay back." This really pisses him off, and he screams more. I really want to "take the fight to him," as you say. However, knowing only Aikido--and only a little of that--I have no idea how to do it. A few seconds later, the guy just walks away, and I call the police. The end.

As far as I know, none of my instructors have ever had to "use" their Aikido in a fight. These are ordinary-looking guys living in the same world that I do. I think that relaxing and waiting for the other person to strike is one of the best strategies available to the Aikidoka, and that part of Aikido's greatness is enabling that restraint. Most would-be opponents probably will never strike unless struck first. The best way to survive a fight is not to have one.