Making Aikido Into A Combat Art With Matrix Aikido
One of the most astounding facts in the combative world is that Aikido does not work well in combat
. The reason this is astounding is because it is derived, for the most part, from Daito Ryu Aiki Jujitsu, which is one of the most combat ready arts in existence. Interestingly, it doesn't take much to transform Aikido into a formidable street ready art.
To understand why the 'Gentle Way' is not street ready one must understand the founder's purpose. Morihei Uyeshiba, who established the art, designed the art around his enlightenment. This is to say that he designed it for people to come together and love their neighbor.
Of course Morihei could destroy his neighbor, so he lost nothing in loving him. The modern Aikidoka, however, studying an art distilled for peace and brotherhood does not have that ability, and so the art becomes unworkable. Thus, one has to explore the art for movements that do not enter and present themselves as 'get along' techniques.
In classical aiki classes the attack is exactly prescribed, and they are designed to feed the flow of the defender, and therefore the 'spirituality' of the defender. What one should do is, after delivering a flowing attack designed to fit the defender, is apply an attack in a more real manner, that is not designed to fit into the flow. Thus, the defender must solve the problem of being attacked the way he would be attacked on the street.
If an attack is presented, say a lapel grab, with the arms extended, one must explore that attack with the arms bent. Further, the attack must be explored with the motion of the attack to one side or the other, or in conjunction with the movement of feet in all directions. Thus, the defender learns to not just go with the flow, but to make the flow work no matter which way it is flowing.
The procedure I am describing here is nothing more than exploring all the possibilities of motion, and not just the politely described entry movements of a zen shaped art. This is the procedure we used in down and dirty karate schools, and we managed to stay polite, and yet became aware to all the things that could happen in a real fight.
I have meant many Aikidokas over the years, and the better ones have always subscribed to some variation of this procedure. Many a night I stayed late, after class, after the polite ones had gone home, and explored the nuances and deviations necessary to survival in a real fight. And for any Aikido practitioners out there who object to my opinions on this matter, I suggest they research the Hell Dojo of Ushigome, and other practices of the founder.
In reality, with the proper consideration, Aikido can be one of the most combat ready arts in the world. It does take an enlightened mind, however, to embrace not just peace, but the reality of violence. These, however, are the principles we embrace when we practice the art of Matrix Aikido.
by: Al Case
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