Does Aikido level the playing field?

Did you take Aikido for the purpose of defence to level the playing field in the event of having to use it to fight?

Can you use Aikido in this spirit of violence to have a martial dominence, or do you need to culture a different spirit to make it effective?

Probably the only thing that was correctly said to equalize physical confrontation was invented by a man called Samuel Colt. The Peacemaker leveled the playing field and turned it into a cemetery.

While the techniques of Aikido can be used in self-defense, I don't believe that to be it's true nature. Aikido can brings its practioners into harmony with themselves, others and ultimately with the universe. This appears to be the core teaching of K. Tohei, K. Ueshiba and their teacher Morihei Ueshiba.

This is the same ultimate goal that Tai Chi, Yoga and many of the contemplative arts from Asia have.

Life doesn't come with a guarantee. Even Superman had to fear Kryptonite.

to tell you the truth, the first reason I take aikido is because of the defence purpose (It's hard to avoid that Steven Seagal plays a big role for this one). But as my training progress I realize that the teaching of aikido is the character development, turning our negative attitudes to the positive one, with the self-defense technique as its byproduct.

among all martial arts I have learned, only aikido that taught me to "give way" instead of "stop" or "block". I immediately interested with this teaching as the non-fighting mind of aikido brings me a new perception in understanding martial arts.

I think the true nature of any internal art is to reach peace, harmony, or neutrality...whatever you which to call the balance between yin/yang.

As long as there is a winner or a loser, then there is imbalance. While this imbalance may sway in your favor today, eventually it will have an adverse affect on you.

I believe from my readings and studies that O'Sensei's hope was to use aikido as a methodology for communicating how to reach this middle ground. Resolve conflict to balance or harmony.

This is an ideal and not necessarily attainable in every situation, or even any, but it certainly is an ideal to strive for to better refine our characters.

I think Aikido does develop this 'non-fighting' mind far better than many other martial arts I am aware of; partly because of the lack of competition. However this does not mean it is no good for self-defence; the converse. Aikido keeps you relaxed in situations of conflict and gives you the option to resolve it peacefully, without producing an overt threat to the other party, which often increases the chances of attack. The truth of aikido is honed by the self-defence aspect, and through this awareness of conflict and conflict resolution, we can understand outselves, others and our place in the universe more.

Thus to be effective, I believe aikidoka have to overcome their fear of attack (and to some extent, death), and their fear of their ego being bruised.

Ian

First instinct on seeing what the

thread is called was - no, but a jcb could!!

After reading a bit more , I didn't take aikido with any thought of learning self defence. Initially it was a way of getting exercise whilst using my brain!! I still don't think of where I am as being anywhere ready to use it in self defence, however, I am much more aware of things when I am out and about - so I guess that is in itself a self defence application of some small sort!!

Pete

In the begining there was no one reason to my begining Aikido, rather a number of reasons, one of them being able to level the field in case of conflict. In my opinion Aikido achieved this for me in a very short period by pointing out to me how very ordinary I was in terms of defence, co-ordination, calmness and the like, it gave me a very clear picture of how unprepared for confrontation I really am.

The other reason I wanted to begin Aikido was to roll around on the floor like a kid, learn to laugh and have fun with myself and with others and then throw them across the dojo, ya gotta love this stuff!

Peace