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Aikido can be effectively made use of as self defence in a street attack scenario, but only if you practise in the correct way. Frequently instructors and students studying the art are even more focused on harmony, balance, self discovery, and improving themselves as a individual.
In this way you learn how to use your skills, on a daily basis, as you interact with other persons. But, it seems that the extra martial side of Aikido is pushed further and further away.
Don't get me wrong, I support and prefer the instructors that are moving the art into the 21st century and making use of it for much more practical purposes. Learning how to deal with hard people today in a wide variety of uncomfortable scenarios is incredibly valuable.
The Aikido dojo training atmosphere is also fine for challenging oneself and your emotions and feelings. It brings your ego out into the open, so you can have a very good look at it and change for the greater.
But, When points do go wrong, you could possibly get your self into a tricky circumstance that you cannot resolve in a reasonable way, then you are going to have to have some sort of back up. When an aggressor desires to tear your head off and permanently damage you... what then?
The time for talking is more than and you have to either use a preemptive strike, or react to a sudden aggressive attack... can you deal with it?
Please bear in mind that most of us are made use of to a warm cosy feeling as we practise our Aikido self defence approaches. If you get your timing incorrect and cannot block an attack in the dojo, will it seriously do that significantly harm... not likely!
In truth, a full on street attack is aggressive, violent and professionals, who have experience of these kinds of scenarios, agree that it can freeze you in your tracks. Even if you are a seasoned student or instructor, can you really get past that rush of adrenaline when you are in fear for your life.
Of, course, if you are 1 of those students or instructors, who can calmly deal with sudden tension, then go on with your day entirely unaffected (like a cat), then you are ok... appropriate?
So, how sure are you that you can use Aikido as self defence against a violent attack?
I am not trying to have a go at students or instructors of Aikido, But, just to wake up those who may possibly be unrealistic and believe they are safe. After all there is an growing amount of street violence happening on a every day basis. Countless people think it normally happens to a person else, and assume it will not take place to them!
There are other techniques of practising Aikido, which I do not prefer, but I do recognise the require for. That is when the attacks are as hard as your partner can hit or grab. When you feel inside that you have to make it function, or encounter the force of the blow.
You can construct this up over time, gradually growing the power, speed, and even making use of distinct angles of attack. In this way you can get a feeling of the sort of tension you will be below in a street attack scenario.
If you practise difficult Aikido training and add some sneaky street attacks, from a selection of various angles, then you are finding a lot closer to becoming able to defend oneself in an aggressive scenario.
This can be a little scary, but it will take you nearer to the edge of reality. Occasionally your block isn't excellent adequate, or you didn't prevent the strike fast adequate. This tends to wake you up, giving you the incentive to get it proper or suffer the consequences. It also develops your concentrate and concentration speedily, the similar way weapons training does!
This type of training is becoming less frequent, but an crucial component of the total Aikido encounter. Right after all real Aikido self defence is supposed to be 'martial' then 'art', not the other way round.
Bear in mind that a warrior need to be able to choose to use minimum force, which indicates that they also have the skills to devastate an attacker, if the situation needs it.
Happy training, be safe, but be sure!