Kido Ryu;204739 said:
Hello, It’s been a few years since my last post.
Aikido in a cage/ring competition?
This is difficult to answer, it’s like asking “would a tennis player do well in a gulf match or who would win between Tiger Woods to Andy Rod*ick.?” I would say they are evenly matched. (In a archery contest that is).
In my opinion Aikido training is not geared toward the all out aggression exhibited in a MMA match . (Based on the training I have witnessed) However all aikido practitioners/instructors are not equal. There are accounts of Morihei Ueshiba defeating multiple attackers, armed with live katanas, with a stick. This indicates to me that the techniques are sound. ( I can’t say how well a MMA would do under the same circumstances as they don‘t train for this scenario)
If one understands blending with the angle of attack, feeling a path of least resistance and the ability to instinctively find the technique to exploits that path coupled with a will to inflict damage they would fair well in the above mentioned contest.
The simple truth, the odds favor the participant that trains under the rules of the engagement. Changing the rules will change the possible out come. Let us imagine the same competitors in a no rules match and arm them with stun guns (we wouldn’t want to advocate a death match) A match like this would make everything a little more even.
Personally I would like to see the cage match between Tiger Woods to Andy Rod*ick
Respectfully,
Rev.Dean
There are some interesting observations in your post regarding the understanding and exploitation of the attack. The training under different rules of engagement is an excellent point. I believe that a practitioner, regardless of his style, will react the same way in a street fight as he had been trained in the dojo or gym. If someone does notengage in realistic fight training in class, one can not expect to perform any differently when being attacked outside the classroom environment. I have seen this with Renzo Gracie's NYC Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes, Yamada's NYC Aikido School, Emin Boeztep's NY Wing Chun class, etc... Whatever comprises their training in class, I have seen the students replicate by rote when confronted outside the school.
The various rules and regulations that govern MMA, boxing matches, and so forth, limit the methods one can utilize to "defend" ones self in the ring, A soldier who was trained in Special Ops will have learned different techniques to fight or defend himself than would be allowed in a tournament.
However I do believe that certain attacks that would be directed against an Akidoka in a MMA fight would be very basic punches , kicks and takedowns that he would encounter in a street fight. If, as LD suggests, Aikido is all about "self deffense", shouldn't the Aikidoka not be able to use his "self defense" techniques successfully against such an attack. A basic right cross, uppercut, straight leg kick, a takedown etc... would most likely be the same attacks that would be leveled against the Aikido practitioner in or outside of the ring. Either his Akido techniques work, or they do not.
Now a cage match between Rod**** and Woods would be interesting, hmmmm
Kido Ryu: would such a proposed fight include weapons ( golf club vs tennis racquet) or unarmend combat?
To Little Dragon: If you don't mind, when and where have you fought as a Pro Kickboxer and MMA fighter? Do you believe that none of the techniques learned in Aikido would be practical to apply against a "live" and "unwilling" opponent in a tournament fight? What have techniques have yo ufound to be of most value to you in a ring fight?