Is Akido worth learning? (Self Defense)

That's actually a myth. Immobilisations are a relatively small part of the curriculum, and an even smaller part of the overall skills trained in aikido. Furthermore, the techniques themselves are not comparatively safer to an attacker. Actually, competitive arts (e.g. wrestling) are much better at neutralising an opponent without hurting him.

I don't really understand what you mean by "repetition" but most aikido training is through solo training and kata. However, there are many approaches and emphases to kata training: Pattern Drills: A Requisite Training Methodology Towards Combative Effectiveness – 古現武道

Mostly agree with this. Just a note on the "thousands of techniques" bit as it is imprecise. Modern aikido has actually very few techniques (about a dozen) performed from about twenty positions. The curriculum is very limited. I guess that you are referring to "Takemusu Aiki" (birth of martial), the idea that application of aikido principles can be expressed through an infinite number of forms, which is quite different.

 

My father's friend described how all of his training was dedicated to locks and techniques that stopped an opponent from moving. As for the repetition, that's exactly what I refer to; lots of training to apply techniques and to perfect them, very little actual application. Many TMAs have a trend where partners show little resistance when techniques are applied, and Aikido doesn't have the commodity of sparring.

 

Repetition is key in any martial training. You won’t get good at any of this if you do it ten times and then decide your training is complete and finished. Every time you train, you are doing repetition. I don’t see how you can claim otherwise. What I bolded above, you are describing application, which is what you are saying isn’t done, in the same sentence. Would you care to clarify?

If you are really talking about resistance training, that is a different matter. But when you stop repetition, you have stopped training.

 

I disagree.
Repetition is always training.
Training is not always repetition.

I could practice a sidekick 10,000 times a day, but the correct technique is worthless if I don't learn to apply it under pressure, or apply it in general. From my experience, TMAs don't teach you to apply techniques under pressure, at least not until a much later level compared to combat sports.

 

If your looking for esoteric Inner Powers then a System of Mental Constraint and Restraints such as Ashtanga Yoga is better for you. Plus it can be done 100% alone without a partner.
But for MPA, if you only just stand in front of a mirror doing movements it doesn't make any sense. It is an extremely, extremely social Field and Field of Activity.123