Has anyone used aikido in real life situations?

[Tom Yum]

I have never studied aikido.

I understand it is a "soft" martial art and that some of the basic wristlocks are taught to law enforcement, so it makes sense that a police officer can restrain a potential criminal. From what I gather, its meant to work better against tactics when someone is running at you, pushing you into a wall, trying to drag you away. Somewhat physical, but non-violent attacks. I can see also how a bouncer would benefit from aikido.

But somehow I can't imagine the likes of Steven Segal surviving a brutal onslaught from Tank Abbot or a real version of Tong Po. I would guess that Aikido wouldn't work well against an agressive, explosive opponent. I'm not saying Aikido is useless. Can anyone give an example?

[MrPoopy]

I dunno. I think Seagal could take out Tank.

Aikido is very refined. It's not something for a casual martial artist. It would definetely take years of dedication to get good at it.

It seems a little hard to imagine soft Aikido techniques working against a relentless attacker. I think it would depend on the person.

The only thing brutal about Tank Abbot these days are his looks.

[ryanhall]

Throws and wrist locks work on "yes" people. By that, I mean those people who aren't determined to and capable of hurting you badly. Cops can use them because most people will let a LEO put his hands on them without breaking his nose. They want to minimize their sentence, not add a felony to it. For the rest of us, Aikido doesn't have much use at all. Fine motor skills like wrist locks break down under pressure, and "techniqes" tend to fail when it counts and adrenaline kicks in.

[ryanhall]

And Steven Seagal could NOT take Tank Abbot.

[Budovideos]

Hi Tom Yum,

These days, if someone really wants to learn to fight, they don't just stick to one classical art - such as aikido, karate, kung fu, jujutsu, etc. For real fighting, one has to be an all around fighter meaning that they have to be able to grapple, strike, and fight dirty...

If that's the kind of training you're looking for then there are many dojos that breed those kinds of fighters. Hey, it is fun!

But if you're not looking to take on the world, and are interested in learning an art that teaches more universal principles such as posture, breathing, and awareness, just to name a few, Aikido is ideal.

Those that think aikido is just wrist locks are only looking at the shallow surface. Aikido is a deep art that can only be understood through intensive practice. Mike Tyson, for example went to Japan (with Don King and the rest of his entourage) to watch Aikido legend Gozo Shioda demonstrate aikido. Was Mike interested in learning wrist locks? No way! That won't help his boxing!! Shioda is quoted as saying that Mike was very smart. He wasn't watching what the hands were doing, he was watching the footwork the whole time. Aikido teaches body movement, not just ways of twisting wrists.

Best,

Jake McKee

https://www.budovideos.com

-The largest selection of Aikido videos on the net!

[Toudiyama]

I would say that a clothesline(spelling) or in Aikido irimi-nage is a posibility for reallife
A good Aikidoka has a perfect sense of timing and bodymovement
He/she will know when to step where, for instance instead of blocking an attack the avoid the attack

Segal even though an actor is a real provicient Martial artist 8th dergree black belt Aikikai if I'm not mistaking, on top of that he leans more to Aiki jitsu/ Aki ju jitsu in his excecution of the techniques so more practical
Of coarse he can't defeat any top UFC or Pride fighter but guess what these guys train all day long 7 days a week, no-one training less will be able to defeat them

[chris davis 200]

I have used aiki techniques working the door against VERY agressive attackers.

On one occation i had to save a guy that was getting the S**t kicked out of him on the ground by about 8 guys (he was a boxer by the way! go figure!) Myself and another doorman (trained in Judo) went to his assistance. I used aikido's Irimi Nage twice, both times the guys head went into the pavement and they didnt get up, i used 'ude geishi' am arm twist, the attacker went down and as he was getting up i applied a palm stike to his head knocking him out. If i had gone in with MT or BJJ i wouldnt have got out of there, in my opinion.

These guys where focused on the guy they where kicking so when we went in, they were taken by suprise. but there are other occassions when i have used wrist locks ( have broken 3!) and pins, with very aggressive non - pissed people. I can only remember 2 occations when they have not worked, and this was mainly cause of the doormen on those occations where not trained and did stupid things!!

I do not aim to change peoples oppinions about aiki / internal arts. But i will tell you that FOR ME (being only 5'10) they really really work.

There is a reson why these techniques are taught to police forces all over the world! Maybe some of you cant comprehend that reason, but hey we all have our opinions.

cheers
chris

[sk12879]

I take TKD, but my instructor also teaches us bits of some other arts. We've learned bits of Aikido and Judo mainly in the forms of arm/wrist locks, take downs, and throws. I think the Aikido throws that I have learned are going to be more applicable to the street than most of the kicks I know. It's more likely that an attacker will rush you in a street situation that walk up and go toe to toe with you.

I think we need to know some of everything, from toe-to-toe fighting to grappling and take downs. If you can flip somebody onto his head once, he's probably not going to get back up. Just my $.02.

[Tom Yum]

Thank you all very much. From what you tell me, aikido is more of a state of mind, health and principles which has physical applications (the clothes line technique etc.) I remember when Tyson went to Japan and wondered what he thought about judo, aikido etc. He also played around with champion Sumo Sally Konoshiki. Glad that you pointed out how Tyson would watch the feet/body. Its not so much the fists alone that make boxing effective.

As a form of self-defense, you say that aikido relies on suprise and uses superior balance and positioning to control/restrain your opponent. Cool. Can you imagine the psychological impact of an average sized Joe controlling and redirecting a bigger guy? That would also seem really effective against multiple attackers, by making your opponent a human shield, while controlling him. Against another martial artist, I would have to question its effectiveness. I have never seen aikido vs. boxing or aikido vs. jj.

My only concern is that it would take many years to be effective, whereas other arts can seem effective right away but on the positive side you could practice into your old age. I don't think aikido could be taught as a weekend seminar for women's self-defense, but could be taught to law enforcement/bouncers. It seems like an art that would compliment judo/jiujitsu.

[chris davis 200]

aikido stems from JuJutsu, as does Judo. Many top aikido practitioners moved from Judo to Aikido to train under its founder.

the flowery health BS that is so common nowerdays is not what aikido was origionally about. The Yoshinkan style is a representation on the early aikido that was very close to Daito ryu aiki jujutsu.

Aikido has most of the locks that are found in JuJutsu. In demonstrations you will often see opponents being thrown away without any locking. This is just for demonstrations. There are alot of basic ju jutsu locks in aikido. Especially in the Yoshinkan style.

Style vs style matches are not really interesting to most styles. How an aikido practioner does against a boxer etc, would have more to do with the practitioner than the style IMO. a crap boxer and a 10th dan in aikido - no competition. A proffesional boxer and a 1st Dan in aikido would be no contest. as for a proffessional boxer and a 10th Dan aikido. I know where i would place my money. The aikidoist. Just my opinion.

My only concern is that it would take many years to be effective, whereas other arts can seem effective right away

This really is a big thing on these boards. In some aikido schools there are intesive training courses, japanese riot police (equivelent of swat) become very effective indeed in just 1 year. I have trained in many styles and have trained with exponents of many styles and have found that most people have not got a clue how long it would take to become proficient. Most teachers in the west are not proficient, let alone the students they produce. This is not down to the art but down to the teacher and the false impression they have of their own abilities.

The fact is that if i applied kickboxing, MT, BJJ or western boxing on the door, i dont think i would be here now. every man and his dog does these arts so i need something that i trust to defeat them.

I have used the internal martial arts to great effect on the street and against other styles. Ok i have got my ass kicked before, but everyone will at some point, especially when your a doorman.

The fact is that in order to understand a style you must feel the techniques as they are done on YOU. not base your opinions on demonstrations and style vs style matches. Style vs style matches show the better fighter, not the better style.

My advice - go to the highest ranking teacher in that style in your area and ask some questions. most will be happy to show you what their style is about, and will probably show you how it is applied in reality and not in demo's.

cheers
Chris

[Tom Yum]

Interesting points- true that everyone has studied MT, boxing, bjj etc. I speak for myself when I say that I have never really seen/experienced an aikido technique personally. I have studied hapkido which has lineage to judo/jj/aikido.

If I want to study aikido, should I look for Yoshinkan style and maybe an instructor who studied in Japan for several yrs?

[Guest]

"There is a reson why these techniques are taught to police forces all over the world! Maybe some of you cant comprehend that reason, but hey we all have our opinions."

Being the recipient of this wonderful training, I can tell you the reason. It is two-fold.

1. The authorities can'e get sued by a cop who gets his or her head kicked in, as they have been "trained"

2. The authorities can't get sued by the prisoner, as the bullshit taught doesn't do any good so the prisoner won't get hurt.

I like to call it "Twisty Wristy Bollocks". Read what Ryan said.

[MrPoopy]

Throws and wrist locks work on "yes" people.

I'll agree that wrist locks suck in a real fight. But throws? Come on. If I get thrown on my ass in Judo class does that make me a yes person, or does it mean I got tossed by someone because they knew what they were doing?
I don't think it's a good idea to build your whole game around throwing, but throws certianly have their place. Ryanhall must have been thinking about aikido wrist locks that turn into high flying throws.

And am I the only one that realizes how much Tank Abbot sucks?

[Tom Yum]

We don't think Tank is the man; he does seem to hit hard. Some have described him as the Al Bundy of UFC.

[darrianation]

Tank has some shity technique but man can he bam, bam!!!

Let me ring in here for a sec’. It’s true that for most of us who haven’t trained in aikido have a hard time under standing it. I’ve seen a lot of aikido demo’s and let me say they are among the most impressive I’ve seen (beautiful), But just like other ma demonstration where one attacks one defends It’s all crap. Who punches like that? Who swings a knife or club like that? A street predator won’t wait till’ you give him the thumbs up to attack. He attacks when you’re not ready, when you’re not set. Also in most if not all ma (to include aikido) demonstrations the attacker uses linear attacks strait in. What about someone throwing feints changing angles of attack, starts and stops abruptly? What about quick hands that snap back very fast after a punch. How does your average aikidoist deal with this? (not even sure what their called). Aikido practitioner?

I’ve seen aikidoists in mma tournaments and rather their fighting strikers or grapplers they don’t do anything that I can identify as aikido. Mostly they just get their ass kicked. Okay this can happen to people in any style, and does frequently.

I have heard that that aikido taught by Ueshiba and some of his top students is different than what most people teach today. In the beginning it was much harder and strikes were taught (punches and kicks)( but not heavily emphasized) much more aggressive than today. I read this on a aikido website from someone who learned aikido ine 50’ or 60’s from a top student of Ueshiba.
Anyway he is pretty well known in aikido circles specilly in the U.K. I wish I could remember his name.