Well, I was in Colorado back in 2002 when a couple of guys were trying to get a MMA event going, a total of 26 guys mostly from Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Boxing and surprise to me Aikido and Hapkido, were in the roster along with one Judo guy, two Greco Roman wrestlers and two Brazilian Jujitsu guys, the last four matches were Judo vs B Jujitsu, Wrestler vs wrestler, B jujitsu vs Boxer and Tai boxer vs Karate, the winner of the event... Judo why? the guy was 31, wile most other guys were 23 to 26= more exp: second: he had participated in international competition in center and south America = used to spectators and having the crowd against him, but most important aspect his father was a professional boxer, so he was the only grappler who knew how to throw a decent jab cross hook comb, then grab and go down, so if we take this as an example, we can see that as long as we complement our art with others, we not only improve our chances against true attacks, but also against attacks delivered by trained individuals, we have to stop thinking that we are the only ones who have step inside a training hall, and that our way is the only enlightened one, if we are studying and teaching any MARTIAL art lest start by defining MARTIAL = Military way of doing something that requires more discipline, physical courage, commitment, self reliance, selfless service and common sense that any common or day by day activity engage by the civilian sector. This include to proficiently train, not only for self indulgence in the manner of bragging about how much one knows, but to give that young student the tools necessary to survive a real encounter, Aikido is morally and technically harmonious and it can develop and improve grace of movement along with continuity of motion, but is effectiveness against raw concentrated power like, against a 24 year old shoot fighter or a well trained boxer or wrestler? It has a good advantage against people who don't have any formal training but even if one of these untrained individuals is physically gifted IE strong, fast, very aggressive type, then Aikido may end up short of many peoples expectations. Test your skills in deferent environments under deferent stress levels against trained attackers that don't just throw themselves with every punch, and you'll see your Aikido working much better, but if every time someones sensibilities are hurt because you are not defending yourself as a shinto priest or a zen guru you are gonna go soft, my friend you will never be able to take it to the next level and that level is called MARTIAL: combat efficient art, if cross training is necessary to do this then ask your self this: Is tradition more important than giving my students what they need to survive in this world? Now think about This World, now put your self or maybe your child in this picture, can you, could he or she survive, hopefully a couple of eyes have been open but in my home land they have a saying THERE IS NO BLIND MAN WORSE ...THAT ... THE ONE THAT DON'T WANNA SEE This have been the Evil Ways of Dave Tha Snake