Can one take another martial art while taking Aikido?

I have been taking Commando Krav Maga which is more self defence than a actual martial art for 2 months and I will be starting my Aikido beginners course in June. Will it be difficult to learn Aikido while taking CKM. I know a lot of people take more than one but just wanted to ask.

Depends on you. If it's your first martial art, and you have less then a couple of years in, it might be overload. I would just try it and see how it feels.

I know of several people that train in Aikido as well as other martial arts at the same time. Etiquette would dictate that you discuss this with your sensei and follow his direction.

As is the answer so often...

"It depends."

Typically, you want at least a few years in one martial art before you start cross-training in the other, especially when it comes to two arts as different as Krav Maga and Aikido. With a foundation in one, they could complement each other quite nicely, but without that foundation, you'll find yourself getting confused as to what goes in which art as your muscle memory tries to internalize the two differing styles.

My recommendation would be to talk to your sensei(s), but perhaps pick one to focus upon for a little while until you feel comfortable cross training.

Nick

Chuck Pata wrote: I have been taking Commando Krav Maga which is more self defence than a actual martial art for 2 months and I will be starting my Aikido beginners course in June. Will it be difficult to learn Aikido while taking CKM. I know a lot of people take more than one but just wanted to ask.

Eh...I think the question that I highlighted kind of puts the focus in the wrong place, i.e., on the two arts vs. on you. You're a raw beginner in one style, and you want to start pursuing another. I see several likely difficulties here, but I'll stick to two.

The first is whether you're really equipped to learn two different styles at this point in your training. At two months, you've learned some KM techniques, but in a lot of ways you really haven't learned how to learn yet. You go to class, you do some stuff, you think you get it, or it doesn't make any sense to you so you discard it (or you get the instructor to show you the Street Lethal(tm) application of whatever technique you're learning). IMO, a lot of the real learning in the martial arts happens when you're not trying to "get it", when you discard the filters through which you're trying to comprehend what you're learning. That in itself is a skill, and it comes with time. Without that ability to set aside the filters and just absorb what's being taught, it's really hard to train in two styles and not make a mess of it.

On a more pragmatic level, there's the question of whether you have the time for it. Lots of people sign up for introductory martial arts courses, train twice a week (or whatever) for the eight weeks of the course...and then drop out, because, wow, two days (or more) every week forever? Most people can't or won't make the time for that. Multiply that by two and then ask yourself if you can commit the necessary time. If not, you really can't expect to progress or to sustain training in two styles, so best not go down that path.

I took and still take more then one martial art at a time. I did however have over 4 years dedicated to one style before starting the others and they blended rather well together. I say try it and see. I am certain your teachers will tell you if you start doing strange things or picking up bad habits. Good luck.

IMHO, just dont confuse the two.
When doing Aikido, do Aikido.
When doing KM, do KM.

Chuck I reckon you should study a system which involves serious sparring and fitness, become a really good fighter over several years ... then take aikido, not before.

I used to do aikido, tai chi, and kali all at the same time. I found myself using the other arts to enhance my aikido and using aikido principles to enhance the other arts where applicable. It got to be tough rnning from one class to another so I dropped the tai chi first since I wasn't enjoying the teaching style and eventually dropped the kali as well. That was harder to give up since I like weapons.

Lynn Seiser wrote: IMHO, just dont confuse the two. When doing Aikido, do Aikido. When doing KM, do KM.

Totally agree with Lynn on this.

For some strange reason 6 months before my grading for Shodan I wanted to have an MMA fight. So I stepped up my training in MMA whilst still training Aikido. Even though my focus was on MMA I could still train Aikido well. The reason for this was exactly what Lynn said never confuse the two when you are training Aikido train Aikido and when you are training KM tarin KM. I know that this sounds simple but some people have trouble keeping one away from the other.

What you will find eventually (after a fair while) is that they will most definitely start complementing each other.

Stay Safe

hae done Aikido, Judo, and Kali all at the same time and i have found that i was able to do them all. I also think that a great art to add to Aikido would be Chin Na or Qin Na. i think they would flow very well together.

Chuck Pata wrote: I have been taking Commando Krav Maga which is more self defence than a actual martial art for 2 months and I will be starting my Aikido beginners course in June. Will it be difficult to learn Aikido while taking CKM. I know a lot of people take more than one but just wanted to ask.

commando krav maga? isn't that redundant? or are you doing krav maga in commando, i.e. birthday suit?

wonder if we have commando aikido? as in nothing under the hakama.

certain things complement well with aikido, certain things impede. but then again, what is aikido but principles and ideas? some principles match, some don't. don't ask me the principles, because those are top secrets!

Commando = no underwear, dude, it doesn't mean naked.

Krav Maga, underwear optional.