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Old 09-23-2014, 09:37 AM   #1
BEleanor
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 14
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What is different about aikido?

Hello,

I am trying to answer a question for myself; thought I would put it out there for the collective experience and wisdom and see what comes of it. What is there, in Aikido, that is really unique and not found in other martial arts? Anything? A unique combination of things? What does aikido offer that other arts don't?

Thank you in advance.

BE
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Old 09-23-2014, 10:21 AM   #2
Lee Salzman
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 406
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Re: What is different about aikido?

Aiki
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Old 09-23-2014, 10:45 AM   #3
Cliff Judge
Location: Kawasaki, Kanagawa
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,276
Japan
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Re: What is different about aikido?

I don't think Aikido has any unique single elements to it, but it is a fairly unique package among martial arts that most people in the world can train in without going too far out of their way.

The best thing about Aikido is the cooperative, non-competitive nature of training and philosophy.

The fact that it is non-competitive and cooperative are not unique, as all the classical Japanese martial arts are built on a foundation of non-competitive, cooperative kata training where techniques and principles are practiced in a formal manner. But Aikido allows for the technique to fit the abilities of the practitioner, as opposed to forcing the practitioner's abilities to fit the technique. That's something that can be done without risk of serious injury but it can involve a lot of pain.

Movements are generally big and circular so you can get a certain kind of workout that is good for circulation and you can explore practicing technique while keeping the body relaxed.

There is a deeply-rooted philosophy of finding alternatives to resistance, aggression, and direct opposition that is practiced with the body in class, but can be applied elsewhere in everyday life.

It might be that yoga and some Chinese martial arts provide all of these things, but with most styles, Aikido is all paired training, so for some people, it makes them come out of their inner shells and deal with the world around them a bit more. Some people go for the Japanese trappings as well, and the fact that it has a real warrior pedigree.
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Old 09-23-2014, 10:59 AM   #4
sakumeikan
Dojo: Sakumeikan N.E. Aikkai .Newcastle upon Tyne.
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,266
United Kingdom
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Re: What is different about aikido?

Dear Barbara,
Aikido offers a platform for people to post articles ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous.Cheers, Joe.
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Old 09-23-2014, 12:11 PM   #5
BEleanor
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 14
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Re: What is different about aikido?

thank you for the thoughtful and straightfoward answer. That is a really helpful, simple summary.

B
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Old 09-23-2014, 07:23 PM   #6
lbb
Location: Massachusetts
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,202
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Re: What is different about aikido?

Does aikido have to offer something that other martial arts don't? Is that why you train? If so, don't you already know the answer to your own question?
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Old 09-23-2014, 08:01 PM   #7
Mert Gambito
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 202
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Re: What is different about aikido?

Quote:
Barbara Knapp wrote: View Post
What is there, in Aikido, that is really unique and not found in other martial arts?
On one hand, aikido is the one martial art with a grappling component I've experienced in which I've taken ukemi in a manner that's safe for me, as well as appropriate for the technique applied by the tori/nage (by broader standards, i.e. including various Japanese jujutsu, judo and BJJ), yet I was scolded for not being cooperative enough and/or doing the ukemi properly.

On the other hand, aikido is the one martial art I've experienced in which I've been admonished (and encouraged) that the form of the ukemi taken by a training partner is of zero relevance in terms of the quality of my expression as tori/nage.

Mert
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Old 09-24-2014, 01:36 AM   #8
Dan Richards
Dojo: Latham Eclectic
Location: NY
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 452
United_States
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Re: What is different about aikido?

Aikido, Aikijujutsu, Jujitsu, Judo and Russian Systema offer more paired training with partners than most other martial arts. And out of those, Aikido and Systema are the two that probably allow for the most individualist expression of the art.

Aikido is kind of like the Jazz of the martial arts world, with everything from Coltrane and Davis to Kenny G, crappy lounge singers, and new age smatterings of Yanni.
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Old 09-24-2014, 05:57 AM   #9
phitruong
Dojo: Charlotte Aikikai Agatsu Dojo
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,944
United_States
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Re: What is different about aikido?

combination of mostly paired training, odd weapons (swords and medium length stick), multiple attackers, non-clashing power, and last but not least, where men proudly wear skirts with or without shaving their legs and/or wearing panty hose.

"budo is putting on cold, wet, sweat stained gi with a smile and a snarl" - your truly
http://charlotteaikikai.org
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Old 09-25-2014, 05:26 PM   #10
BEleanor
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 14
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Re: What is different about aikido?

Hey, thanks all, some really cogent good thoughts here. Helped me clarify some things. though I have been in aikido for awhile, I don't know much at all about other martial arts. For various reasons, I am thinking about what aikido has to offer. This discussion was very helpful - sometimes you need to hear it from outside.
thanks again, feel done with this and will not be back for a bit.
BE
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