You may have thought of teaching yourself martial arts at home instead of signing up in a dojo. But some martial arts will naturally be easier to learn that way than others. So, can you teach yourself Aikido? It is possible to learn Aikido at home. Many online courses, classes, and videos exist to help … Read more
Many of us learn martial arts for self-defense. Yet others use it for fitness, while others are drawn to the more spiritual aspects of it. But if you’re considering Aikido for self-defense, you might be wondering, is Aikido effective? Aikido is very effective. Some of its techniques can help one defend oneself even when confronted … Read more
Aikido can be brutally effective, and yet one of its top philosophies is to do no harm. But some of its techniques are quite effective. So let’s review a complete list, for both beginners and experts, of the top Aikido techniques. Here are some of my favorites: Ikkyo (elbow lock) Nikyo (wrist lock) Gokyo (elbow … Read more
Kendo and Aikido are both highly popular Japanese martial arts. But what sets them apart? How are they similar, and what are the key differences between Kendo vs. Aikido? Here’s what I’ve noticed: Kendo is a hard martial art focused on swordsmanship, while Aikido is a soft martial art with a do-no-harm ethos. In hard … Read more
Aikido rose to prominence in the ’90s, thanks to Aikido master Steven Segal. And while Aikido can be powerful, it’s also designed to be peaceful. Krav Maga, on the other hand, is designed to be lethal. So I wondered which was better. So let’s explore Krav Maga vs. Aikido for self-defense. Here’s what I know … Read more
Most people have heard of Aikido, a martial art with a highly spiritual and peaceful philosophy. Critics say it’s not good for self-defense, but recently, I saw a book about a fighting style of Aikido and wondered: what is Combat Aikido? Here’s what I discovered: Combat Aikido, unlike traditional Aikido, focuses on self-defense. It applies … Read more
MMA is a rules-based sport where the goal is to win. The fighters are highly conditioned and have studied a few martial arts styles that give them an edge in the Octagon. But why is Aikido not used in MMA? Here’s what I know from having practiced extensively with an Aikido black belt: Aikido is … Read more
Aikido is a fantastic martial art. While not designed for fighting, it has elements similar to Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, and a strong philosophy behind it. But how long does it take to master Aikido? Here’s what I know from extensive training with an Aikido black belt: It takes 2 years to master the basics of Aikido, … Read more
I trained with a black belt in Aikido for many years, and he was awesome. He would easily be able to hold his own against an attacker or someone who had trained in other martial arts. So why does Aikido have a bad reputation? Here’s what I think: Aikido has a bad reputation because many … Read more
Most dojos require that you wear a uniform made up of a gi; a white jacket, pants, and a belt. But for your 1st class, or when training at home, many wonder what to wear for Aikido. Here’s what I know from training in it: For a 1st class at an Aikido dojo or for … Read more