Would it be good to cross train aikido after reaching a black belt in another art?
If you can find a good dojo, there’s a lot you can learn from aikido to complement your current skills. Aikido will introduce you the gentler and subtler aspects of martial arts: relaxed movement, subtle balance-breaking, non-resistance, and so on. At advanced stages you’ll also be introduced to the concept of “managing” multiple attackers, or randori; while not exactly realistic in terms of the application of direct techniques, it’s main benefit is in training your spatial awareness: how to position yourself in relation to your opponents, how to keep them from overwhelming you, and how to finish a technique in a position where you are ready to face the next attack.
After 10 years in one art I believe you would benefit from cross training in another art. Particularly an art that is somewhat different as Aikido is. Aikido always waits for the attack and is full of useful locks and redirects and throws. I strongly am against cross training until a student has become proficient in the art they are in. I’m probably a little old school on that and have taken some heat for that position. In my limited experience though it seems that those who bounce around from art to art never really seem to be good at any of them and end up marginalizing their skill. I am all for learning other arts when the student has a full grasp of the art they are in.
