Five Methods for Making Your Aikido Techniques More Deadly

By Al Case

The Aikido Techniques of Morihei Ueshiba are sometimes accused of being too soft for real combat. Such a statement merely shows that a person doesn't know the nasty tricks underneath this wonderful art. One should remember, however, that this art is derived from Aikijujitsu, which art was taken directly from the battlefield some thousands years ago.

Before going further, let me say that this article doesn't put forth the use of purely destructive techniques. After all, studying a martial art for the sake of the spirit should provide one with a belief system that will enable one to avoid combat situations. That said, knowing the deadlier techniques will enhance the student's understanding, and should the philosophy proves insufficient to the task...one will have the necessary tools.

Something every Aikido student understands is the importance of break falls, called ukemi, and rolls. Thus, instead of placing an attacker gently on the mat, one could place them ungently. Simply throw your attacker in a manner in which he will be unable to roll, and thus will encounter injury.

Another trick is to toss the attacker into some object. When Uke comes at you, simply extend your defensive circle a little too much, or a little too short, and throw your attacker into a wall, over a table, into a picture window, over a cliff...you get the idea. Doing this in a aikido dojo will actually enable you to find more harmony when you execute the throw to the right degree.

There are several jointlocks which, if taken to the extreme, will render your opponent broken. Any jointlock can be enhanced by taking it too far. Again, knowing how to do this (cautiously and with care in the dojo) will enable one to find more harmony in the actual martial arts technique.

The best way, of course, is to undertake a study of Atemi. Atemi are the strikes that were taken out of Daito Ryu Aki jujitsu, thus helping the transition into Aikido. One can study strikes through the practice of any hard style martial art, even boxing or MMA, and then simply incorporate them into Aikido techniques.

The last method for making your Aikido into a less than defensive art is to use weapons while you practice it. You can do this by wearing a white tee shirt and wielding red marker pens. This is safe, educational, and a blast!

In conclusion, let me point out again that Aikido is best fulfilled when one adheres to the purpose of the founder and seeks harmony in the spirit. That said, one should make sure that their martial art is useful for self defense, and not just an empty tiger. Learning how to make your Aikido Techniques dangerous and damaging to an attacker through the advice of this article is a good beginning.

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If you wish to find the source of all Aikido Techniques, mouse to Matrix Aikido at Monster Martial Arts.