Primary Techniques for Self Defense

Joe Bramblett wrote: Glocks haven't changed significantly in the last six years.

Only in the hands of thy beholder I believe?

Joe Bramblett wrote: Glocks haven't changed significantly in the last six years.

But the person you're responding to has no doubt resolved the issue by now. So...?

Daren Sims wrote: I absolutely would not even think technique. Think principles. Irimi. Atemi. Or even better maai....don't even be there.

yeah

David Skaggs wrote: Which Aikido technique would be your first choice to know for use in a self defense situation? Which Aikido technique would be your second choice to know for use in a self defense situation? David

1. Uchi kaiten sankyo koshi nage.

2. Kokyu nage.

David Skaggs wrote: Which Aikido technique would be your first choice to know for use in a self defense situation?

Prior training/discipline of the mind/emotions in Observation-Orientation-Decision.

Which Aikido technique would be your second choice to know for use in a self defense situation?

Prior training/discipline of the body in startle-response (freeze-flee-fight-flow) to get off the attack line, creating effective/entering distance, and decisive action.

Its about reality-based principles, not a specific technique which would change by circumstances and opportunities.

Just initial thoughts off the top of my head, not to be taken too seriously.

Wassup, ancient aiki thread! I read the whole thing and maybe I missed it, but I think there's a significant question missing from this discussion. This question is, what type of self-defense situation is it? Your "favorite two techniques" or even the appropriate principles to apply will vary widely based on the answer to this question.

If it is a dude hassling another dude at a bar (monkey dance type situation), aggressive irimi style responses are probably not the best card to play. You probably want to run or talk your way out, like some responders in the thread above have mentioned. Probability of legal repercussions if you respond with aggressive entry is high. Probability of needlessly escalating the situation if you move to physical techniques is high.

If it is a huge psychotic man attempting to force you (a small woman) into a car to take you somewhere with the probable intention of torturing and killing you, your odds are best if you make noise (not covered in aikido that I know of), inflict permanent damage such as eye gouges (also not explicitly taught in aikido that I know of) and do your best to leave his blood on the crime scene. What are the best techniques to quickly and efficiently teach these principles to a woman (or a guy--men need this self-defense too)? I'm not sure they're found in aikido, certainly not at the beginner level.

If it is your big tall drunk frat brother who wants his car keys and yikes he's an angry drunk, off-balancing and joint locks are probably a lovely friendly way to keep him safe without destroying your friendship or having either person land in the hospital. What are good aikido techniques to learn safe, friendly neutralization? All of them, I guess, just as other responders above have said, so I suppose there's no harm in pulling out any random two. Ikkyo, as a major joint lock affecting the balance and structure, and iriminage, as a good platform to learn getting-behind and off-balancing, would be a fine answer I think. So would kotegaeshi and sankyo. Or shihonage and kaitenage. All fine platforms from which to learn this type of self-defense.

These three examples don't cover the full range of self-defense situations, each of which might require a different type of response, different principles and different "two favorite techniques" to teach said principles. They're just an example to illustrate that when people talk about "such and such works for self-defense" or "such and such works on the street," we all have immediate assumptions, which may or may not be correct. It's worth talking about what these assumptions are.

The real defence, in my opinion, will come down to your own instinctive mindset when confronted with aggression, including your own ability to remain self-aware and take conscious actions, rather than acting reflexively.

There is an interesting write-up by a retired policeman who did martial arts about what he ended up using in his work, which I think is relevant here.

http://kogenbudo.org/my-use-of-class...y-bill-fettes/

Technique doesn't matter. Don't Focus on the practical applicability of one over the other. They are just tools to learn a way og moving. Hoping any waza Will save the Day always is a dangerous mindset. A flexibel mind and a relaxed body Will have the best chance of coming Up with the appropriate response.

... not to add to the thread necrology overmuch -- but my first teacher, Dennis Hooker (may he rest in peace), would often say that he knew of only two aikido techniques: 1) irimi and 2) tenkan.

The main problem in using Aikido for self-defence is the way we train. There are two main ways:

1 If your technique doesn't work, try to find out why and improve it.
2 If it doesn't work, try something else.

Aikido typically follows #1. This is good for training perfection. The more 'esoteric'.
Judo is both #1 and #2. The second is essential in a rapidly changing situation. The more 'practical'.

Basically, most Aikido training is #1 (except Tomiki Aikido) and so is of almost no use for self-defence.

It was always totally obvious to me and is why I spent 20 + years learning Judo/Jujutsu /Wing Chun alongside my Aikido (in my 38th year at it now).

That's the 'practical' reasoning, from my point of view. However, as I have mentioned before, for me Aikido is The Way of Aiki. It's sole purpose is to discover and develop aiki. If that is your path, and you discover aiki, then it may start being more 'practical' for you. Otherwise, your Aikido will never be more than a bunch of semi-useless fixed techniques ... that will never work in a rapidly changing 'practical' situation.

Julia Zummo wrote: Wassup, ancient aiki thread! I read the whole thing and maybe I missed it, but I think there's a significant question missing from this discussion. This question is, what type of self-defense situation is it? Your "favorite two techniques" or even the appropriate principles to apply will vary widely based on the answer to this question.

Well it depends. In some situations a simple punch will work wonders. I remember a situation with a teenage girl from some other Aikido dojo (we call them clubs like in "sport clubs") that was once harassed by some older man in the street. Long story short, he finally grabbed her for her shoulder from behind and she simply turned and smacked him on the mouth sending a couple of his teeth down his throat and then just ran home. The police I think handled the rest. Basic Jodantsuki although learning front and back straight punches (like in boxing or Karate) is also good.

David Skaggs wrote: Which Aikido technique would be your first choice to know for use in a self defense situation? Which Aikido technique would be your second choice to know for use in a self defense situation? David

Speaking from experience... grabbing a sleeve to get skeletal control, lots of atemi, ikkyo-frame deflections of punches, kick deflections. Of course by atemi I actually mean "punching someone in the face repeatedly".

Look at Gozo Shioda Shihan's randori. He only ever uses three moves;

A straight palm thrust up the chin, atemi in other words;

Taisabaki/Ryotedori Kokyunage;

Ushiro Taisabaki or the shoulder shrug to deal with opponents coming from behind.

The technique is not important. The most important is the Aiki, which is a matter of timing and leading. If you get the Aiki right, you can use any move which works and it will still be Aikido.

Hansel Wong wrote: Look at Gozo Shioda Shihan's randori. He only ever uses three moves; A straight palm thrust up the chin, atemi in other words; Taisabaki/Ryotedori Kokyunage; Ushiro Taisabaki or the shoulder shrug to deal with opponents coming from behind. The technique is not important. The most important is the Aiki, which is a matter of timing and leading. If you get the Aiki right, you can use any move which works and it will still be Aikido.

Exactly.
He always takes the lead, as Tohei, too, recommended, and that means he's always on the attack. Attack is the best defense…
The Aikido Kata is actually just a means of practicing together without destroying the other. It is the laboratory for strategy, but not for the application, the tactics. If it comes to a fight, there is no more room for the kata. You always only know afterwards whether you have practiced the right behavior ...
And you also need a little luck.
But luck helps the able, as they say.

Best,
Bernd