Is Aikido good for self defense?
Yes, Aikido has been used countless times in real self-defense situations, with many of it’s technique’s origins tracing back centuries to unarmed samurais having to defend themselves. That being said however, Aikido’s purpose is not to create fighters or for use in competition, and the damaging nature of the historical techniques was removed in the creation of Aikido. Rather than teach you to fight, Aikido will prepare you to deal with real threats of physical violence, such as muggers and other potentially life threatening situations in such a way as to help keep you safe as well as legally and morally in the right. Those wishing to learn offensive techniques or to become better fighters would best be served by another art. Beyond this Aikido also addresses the long standing question of what a warrior does with his skills without a war. The philosophy and principles you learn through training will find use in your daily life, from resolving verbal conflict to being able to better sta
