Essay By Paul Chapman
Let’s face it, compared to martial arts or fighting systems promoting aggression and violence, Aikido sounds pretty wishy washy! With words like ‘harmony’, ‘non-aggression’ and ‘unified energy’ commonly used to describe it, I don’t blame you for dismissing it as a “nice idea” but “useless” for self defence.
In the face of the huge popularity of spectator combat sports like Brazillian Jujitsu, MMA (mixed martial arts) and Kickboxing and numerous RBSD systems (Reality Based Self Defence), Aikido seems to have recently taken a “king hit” in the ring of public opinion.
In my experience, the truth is quite different.
Aikido is a technically sound system of physical protection, a rich source of martial culture and a way of life that goes far beyond teaching you how to simply hit someone.
Physical Protection and the Tokyo Riot Police
Since 1957, each year a select group of Tokyo Riot Police (kidotai) are selected to undertake a year long intensive program of Aikido. To be accepted to the course, Riot Squad members must have a minimum of 3rd dan black belt in Judo, Karate or Kendo.
Why would the Tokyo Metropolitan Police do this? Because the training is very physically demanding, mentally challenging and teaches a sophisticated & intuitive understanding of Aikido.
Why Aikido? Because it is a system of locking, restraining, unbalancing and defending against one or multiple attackers. If police want to stop rioters with maximum force, they can use water cannons, tear gas, rubber bullets or even live ammunition.
However, to develop the skills for stopping rioters with minimum casualty and maximum respect for human life, they choose to send their elite to learn Aikido.
Moreover, police forces worldwide teach aspects of Aikido as an ideal civilian defence art.
Martial Culture: Etiquette & Respect
In the modern military and military of old, etiquette and respect for others kept you safe. In times of war, dangerous weapons are readily at hand and deadly situations are a daily reality. In this context, lack of regimentation or respect quickly leads to loss of life.
In modern martial arts, etiquette and respect have become a starting point for acquiring the more positive aspects of martial culture, such as heightened self-awareness, calmness under pressure and strength of presence in threatening situations.
A Way of Life
Many descriptions of Aikido include the words “harmony” and “peace”. I believe this to be just a little misleading.
As beginners we come to the dojo with intentions of becoming powerful, strong, skilled and maybe even feared. Training long term brings us closer to becoming powerful, strong, skilled and perhaps feared. However, long term students also learn humility, patience and the importance of connectedness with others. As we achieve our early goals, our horizon shifts and we can begin focusing on the more idealistic ones.
An education in Aikido as a serious martial art may lead us to ideals of harmony and peacefulness. To describe Aikido’s philosophy more accurately, we would do better not to begin with these words, but end with them.
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