Senseis’ Corner

Some observers, and even a few practitioners, have questioned the practicality of using Aikido for self defense outside of the dojo, claiming that they know it does not work.

Many complain that the standardized attacks used for training kihon waza (basic techniques) are not seen in the modern age in real fights—wrist grabs, head chops, etc., and are often delivered so slowly and without significant power as to not be realistic at all. Further, they say, why train for an attacker to grab your wrist when a grab attack can be blocked and readily countered by even the newest student of any martial art or untrained brawler with force by a punch or kick? In addition, to some, Aikido techniques appear fake because the attackers seem to jump into falls or readily lay down. Finally, a few say that Aikido’s philosophy of minimizing harm to the attacker demonstrates weakness, not strength, since the attacker wants to do just the opposite. These views most often derive from a fundamental misunderstanding as to what Aikido is and is not.

Critics make the mistake of equating training to preparing for a fight in the street. Perhaps, that is understandable, as other arts more frequently incorporate full speed sparring with blocking, absorption of impacts, and counterattacks into early training. Aikido initially requires a completely different mindset.

The standardized attacks begun from a static situation allow students to feel the direction of energies of a committed attack, while learning to remain calm and able to move in a safe and controlled environment. Practice makes permanent, not necessarily perfect. Attacks and techniques are practiced by nage (the object of the attack) at slow speed to allow correction of mistakes that might not be observed through more rapid training. Repetition of the techniques incorporates them into muscle memory. If the basic techniques can be effected smoothly at slow speed, they can be accomplished at any speed matching that of the attacker. To reach this stage, the student must also learn not to use upper body strength to fight the attacker’s energy, to breathe correctly and with power, to move from hara (center), and to keep the body’s structure in balance.

In the dojo, students also train to perfect ukeme (falling) and other skills needed to protect themselves from injury. It is axiomatic that in Aikido, the faster the attack (assuming a proper technique), the faster and harder the fall (if the energy of the attack is not otherwise diminished by the trained fall). Aikido students may appear to jump or fall down, but do so in a controlled way in an effort to avoid a broken shoulder, arm, wrist, etc. In the street, an attacker is unlikely to have the same skills.

While training varies from school to school, proficiency of basic techniques in response to specialized attacks from static posture is generally not considered the final goal of training. Eventually, the student learns that this method of training is just an archetype for intermediate positioning between the attacker and nage. In a street fight situation, action will ebb and flow, and nage cannot safely wait in a static posture. Likewise, a wrist grab as an initial attack may be unrealistic but may occur as an intermediate step where nage is dynamically moving at the attacker, or where a prior attack has been neutralized.

Learning to move, not wait, by dynamically positioning the energy of the attack is a critical element in making Aikido work on the street. Our training focuses on controlling the course of the conflict by “attacking the attack.” On the street, the attacker’s intent is to injure or kill his victim; nage’s aim is to survive. For Aikido to work on the street, nage must be proactive and end the conflict by mentally and physically assuming control over the center space and introducing technique (if possible) well before physical contact from the attacker.

In order to lead the attacker’s mind and take his physical balance to end the conflict, atemi (attack at a vital point) is critical. Atemi creates the possibility to apply a lock or throw—the technique is not determined beforehand. Atemi may be mental, vocal, or physical, but must be sufficiently and timely administered to gain the proper effect. Without atemi, Aikido techniques could be, but are less certain to be, effective. The founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba O’Sensei, called this "takemusu aiki," explaining that it is the highest form of Aikido. It is the ultimate state where new and unlimited techniques are created spontaneously from any attack. According to O’Sensei, "takemusu aiki" can be obtained by anyone through dedicated practice.

To make Aikido work on the street, practice must include both atemi and the freedom of takemusu aiki training. Our training concentrates on calming the mind and muscle response for random multi-person attacks through jiju waza (designated attacks or techniques) and randori (undesignated attacks and techniques).

While no martial art can guarantee success in every possible circumstance, Aikido offers nage a wider spectrum of choices, including: to cradle the attacker’s head to keep it from striking the floor (or otherwise proactively take steps to reduce the likelihood of harm to the attacker), allow the attacker to potentially hurt himself (do nothing but the technique), or apply chokes, strikes or kicks to the attacker’s vital points during the technique (if nage or others are perceived to be at continuing serious risk).

Aikido can be a very effective and practical form of self-defense, as long as it is approached from a realistic perspective.

Making Aikido Work On “The Street” — Michael Zartman (Nidan Essay)