Starting out

[xfighter88]

I have been in martial arts since I was 11. I am now 27. I have experience in Muay thai, Taekwondo, BJJ, and Kempo. I was wanting to get involved with aikido because I am a corrections officer and I don't feel that my other martial arts are appropriate for that venue. I don't like going to ground with BJJ because of the risk of multiple attackers and striking inmates is considered deadly force, with a few exceptions, wich isn't always justifiable. I was wondering what to look for in an aikido school given my needs.

 

[kaizasosei]

I'd stay away from the more brutal styles. Brutality is easy and the higher principles are way more powerful still. Always look for more secrets in the techniques. Going to aikido training, there will be plenty of people to guide you into the basics. Also there are great books like 'aikido and the dynamic sphere'..not saying it should be pure noncontact ballet either, just that there should be many steps and stuff should make sense, basically, when one starts there is much to learn and one can expect to be corrected(rightfully) quite often.

Although the essence of aiki is contact and even striking, it is possible to avoid striking altogether which is truly a sign of mastery of combat. However, especially in competition, against trained fighters or multiple opponents ,tough positions or dangerous encounters, it is more likely that striking be absolutely necessary to ensure victory or safety. So because aikido is in reality70% striking, with competition fighting such as bjj, the aikidoist if not truly superior or physically stronger and more adept, is at a disadvantage. This is why aikido is best for everyday life moving, moving things around meeting people managing space, even timing -also for real combat situations it is great and quite limitless.
I personally also test the limits of aikido techniques in competition fighting. Because i want to know if i can be defeated and how. So it does not hurt to learn ground moves. It won't make your stand up worse. And if ever you get in a situation on the ground, it's good to know many possibilities and what to look out for. One of the roots of aikido, other than swordsmanship, spearfighting stick fighting, is simple jujutsu. Actually, all martial artists use aiki. It's just that in aikido, the focus is aiki but the martial arts are as i mentioned above quite diverse.


There is this one pic i like in the book 'secrets of the samurai' (big book)- where there is this unarmed guy walking forward with fixed gaze and there are around 3 or 4 people with swords in front of him retreating loosing balance backwards cowering in fear...-
that is aiki! Balance

 

[Yari]

If you can, try and find somebody who does Aikido and is a corrections officer , police or anybody that has to step into the pysical conflict, and uses Aikido.

There are people who've practiced it and discarded it. I don't know why, but I would guess that they couldn't get the Aikido style that they practice to fit what they do; take a look at this link were Jenna gives us a great view on this:http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=80919 .

There are Aikido styles emphesizing working "on the streets", and I think a visit to a dojo will reveal if the Aikido will work for you. And if possibly, shop around, you might even find something you didn't expect.

/Yari

 

[amir]

With this type of experience, you should know what to look for by yourself.

Go in person, and look at the classes, do not make an preliminary presumptions. Some Aikido teachers are great, others are medicure and others are just bad. This is true regardless of the purpose you seek, though the identity of who is belongs in which group may change based on your purpose.


Amir

 

[xfighter88]

Thanks guys. Good info.