Aikido

[DblTap]

My ten year old son was in Aikido before we moved. I chose this for him because I didn't want him to learn Tae kwon do or Kenpo and accidently hurt someone with a strike (ie older sisters). After watching several classes I found Aikido could be very useful for the real world. It doesn't involve strikes (for the beginner at least) but what it does is uses the opponents attack against him to put him off balance and keep him off balance. Every technique that I saw taught was defensive. As far as I know there is not a way to use Aikido offensively, esp against someone else who knows Aikido.

I don't see any Aikido schools where we moved to. Mostly Tai kwon do. Is this because it is not flashy? Is Aikido a lost art?

[gripper]

Try to find ANY TMA or MMA school that will focus on conditioning as well as technique along with relevant common sense/age specific progression.Even an old school boxing gym( never go wrong there). If you seek Aikido,do not rule out traditional Jiu JiJitsu (Aikijitsu is an ancestor),or from the Hangul speaking side of the pond Hapkido (Ueshiba was a huge influence on the founder of modern Hapkido).Yes there is striking,but a good teacher in ANY disciplineworks on the whole discipline).
In the past I was always suprised at the number of folks who thought it possible ( or even desirable) to be able to advance in a matrial art without either getting fit or actually learning how to fight when necessary.

[DaRkWoLf]

I'm a member of a Budo dojo (with Aikido being one of the studies). Since day one I was doing strikes, locks, and controls and as someone who has a 2nd Degree Black Belt in TKD, I will up-front tell you the Aikido I'm taking is a far stronger (and more practical) art than the TKD I learned. If you're worried about mis-application I'd be inclined to say that Aikido is probably not the best solution and that some good family talks would be more appropriate than a MA.

As per not able to use it offensively, its not hard to instigate an adversaries aggressive energy in one form or another and then use Aikido. MAs, even the philosophies, are tools in the shed; and like any weapon they can be used defensively or offensively.

There really is a lot of philosophy in Aikido. Almost an overwhelming amount (I've reserved that level for Iaido)

That said, when everything branched from Ueshiba different students taught Aikido different ways. The Aikido I study comes from a student of Niikura (who was a student of Ueshiba). Your dojo may have been quite contrasting to mine.

As per lack of dojo, I think gripper gave some excellent advice.

[Half elf]

Most of the mall front MA Schools are belt mills, and only want your money. I would reccomend either Judo, or Ju-Jitsu as a addition to Aikido. I studied Judo, and found that it was harder to be aggressive, but also easier to get out of trouble with the authorities if used.

[MileHighSailor]

I agree with Half elf, most of the Aikido, and "Karate" schools around my area here in Denver are McDojo's. Give 'em a few hundred dollars for a "belt testing fee" and get your belt. My best friend attends an actual combat oriented school called Ryu Shinken that teaches a bone breaking, muscle tearing style of Jiu-Jitsu....not the sporterized crap of the belt mills. If in your estimation, your son is too young for such techniques (I'll assume you feel this way due to your original post) find a school that teaches another grappling art, and when he's responsible enough take him to an actual combat oriented school. Most of the dojos you'll find will teach PC watered down techniques, which is fine for a kid learning the basics, but when he's older let him learn how to maim and kill.....sounds brutal, but as W. Hock Hochheim, the founder of CQC says..."Right now somewhere, someone is training to kill you. What are you doing?"

[krept]

I think gripper gave good advice. I got into Aikido in the late 80s and followed up with some mixed martial arts to suppliment it. Of course, this also grew into knife and closed quarters gunwork.

After being exposed to this stuff, Aikido would definitely not be my first martial art (martial way - as in way of life, technically) to study if my intentions were on combat. Indeed, it can be very effective and perhaps the most efficient martial art at the highest levels... but... it takes an extremely long time to get there. With six months of solid Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai, someone will be lightyears ahead of most bullies and many of those who study traditional martial arts for several years.

The big payoff with those is the realistic nature of how they train. Aikido training is comparable to TKD and Karate training in the sense that you have the "strike me like this so I can react like this" notion.

But... the reason why I see Aikido as superior overall is how it can effect daily life. Posture will improve because you recognize when you are off balance. If you fall from a ladder, slip from a skateboard, you'll be more likely to fall correctly and avoid injury... or even avoid falling altogether. You develop a sense of movement and centeredness that can be applied from anything... from flipping a pancake to shooting a target. It goes on.

My caution to you is that carelessness with any martial art can injure people. In fact, a Karate punch by someone untrained may hurt and bruise, but kids often get cocky with jointlocks in Aikido and can easily break a bone or worse, permanently damage a joint through torque. The projections (throws) can also cause serious injury... as it's said, "nobody hits harder than the ground." I've seen this before... it's just the nature of kids to horseplay around and "test" techniques out like the fledgling magician tries out cardtricks on unsuspecting guests.

So my recommendation would be to take Aikido for the benefits it brings to the table, not because it is any less violent... because the roots of Aikido come very much from Jujitsu and Aikijitsu - terribly crippling in their own right. It's the application and philosophy behind the techniques that makes it different to a certain extent.

Again, if you are looking more for self defense, I think the other hybrid styles would be the way to go.

[krept]

That said, when everything branched from Ueshiba different students taught Aikido different ways. The Aikido I study comes from a student of Niikura (who was a student of Ueshiba). Your dojo may have been quite contrasting to mine.


another good point. The quality of instructor can also have a huge impact.

[DblTap]

Thank you all for your input. My son and I have had a few talks about appropriate use of his Aikido. A couple of these talks have been "up close". He understands that he can seriously hurt someone even just messing around. What I liked most about his Aikido class is the respect that was Demanded of all the students to the sensei's and to all adults. This is an important aspect that is seriously overlooked in todays society.

As an aside my son's instructors were married and taught every other class. They both were great. I believe the picture hanging in the dojo was Ueshiba but I could be wrong.

[BadKarma]

I was taught aikido at the academy in DT classes, and have since studied muay thai, jkd, kali, and a battlefield form of okinawan jui jitsu based on samurai jui jitsu.

i find it is best to be conditioned above all else, and be well rounded secondly. MMA schools are great for ring fighters where you know all of the following things to be true:
1. there is only one opponent
2. he is unarmed
3. there are rules, your opponent will follow them, and a referee will guarantee that
4. the surface is softer than concrete, flat, and well lit.

it has been my experience that a well conditioned fighter of any discipline with average skills will beat a poorly conditioned fighter with good skills. the conditioning builds the discipline needed to make the good judgement calls of when to use and not use your tools.

as for youngsters, finding a good school is important because peer pressure works both ways. put them in with well focused, mannered peers and they will conform as well. the leadership of the sifu, sensei, or whatever the term may be is critical to the development of his students. children may not always listen to their role models, but they are ALWAYS watching them.

[gripper]

like the saying went:"muscle memory and physical toughness".....Conditioning is always good.I recall New Age types apporaching instructors with questions like :"how do I build inner strength(Sifu-Sensei-Boss whatever)? ...And usually gettring told to "do more push-ups,chin-ups,bridges,rope climbs whatever. Free your mind and your ass will follow? Harden your body and the spirit MAY follow..