Aikido can be used to cause harm like other arts. It is up to the person to choose whether or not to harm. But this is also true of any other art. it is more often encouraged in aikido not to harm.
It is not taught or encouraged for you to use aikido or any other art to intimidate anyone. That is the wrong attitude to have. Martial arts were created for self defense. A wise saying often taught in aikido is if there is not attack there is no defense. A good aikidoka does not attack, but does not wait to react either. They can create the intent for the attack in their adversary.
I left Aikido at 3rd Kyu when I was in my teen years. I took up Judo instead. Nothing against Aikido as a whole, but I found it to be an art that took VERY long to become proficient with. It is a much more difficult style to use effectively than Judo or Jiu Jitsu because it is reactionary. About 9 times out of 10, an Aikidoka is waiting for an attack to "blend" with rather than putting on some pressure of their own to subdue their attacker. That takes a lot of coordination, and the Aikidoka MUST be multiple times better at Aikido than their attacker is at whatever they're doing to make it work. For this reason, I consider it more a way of life than an art for fighting. It is steeped in philosophy to a very high extent and learning it simply takes a lot longer than learning another grappling style. It's not a style for those looking to defend themselves quickly if they have no experience.
My Jiu Jitsu instructor is a Dan rank in Aikido and blends it in with his classes as well, but uses only the techniques that he believes work with little training. It removes about 90% of the art leaving only the techniques using the most gross motor function. There are two bouncers I train with and they both love the Aikido techniques for escorting people to the door.
I wouldn't mind doing more Aikido someday, but it would be as a supplement to my Jiu Jitsu and Judo.
AIKIDO is a modern Japanese Budo (martial art) which was
developed by Morihei Uyeshiba (1883-1969).
Can it cause harm? Yes, it can. Aikido came out of Aikijutsu which is very martial and meant to maim or kill. Aikido's techniques are still the same and with some know how can easily do harm as well.
I don't want to cause serious harm, but can it break bones and manipulate pressure points? Yes. It's not so much breaking bones though. A lot of bones in your body are hard to break for a good reason. joints are weak point and much easier to manipulate and dislocate if need be. The result is the same as if you had a broken bone.
The knifehand strike to the nose sounds potent, but is it? Aiki does teach strikes too. I can't say I would use a knife hand strike to the nose but getting hit in the nose is definitely debilitating. Your eyes will water to the point you can't see right. If the strike is hard enough and your nose bleeds you will not be able to breathe right. It's not a deadly technique but definitely designed and quite adequate to slow you down.
The techniques of Aikido, according to Morehi Ueshiba, are "killing techniques", that can be used to control a situation and, thereby, not harm the other unnecessarily.
Aikido comes from aikijujitsu, the art of unarmed combat practiced by the samurai, is based on practicle combat experience and dealing with more than a single opponent.
Whenever one is applying joint locks, there is the possiblity of injuring seriously the one who is receiving such. Akidoka learn to move with the force rather than to resist however, most attackers do not do such and may thereby cause themselves injuries.
Wakarimasu, tomodachi?
Do we have any Aikido practitioners around these parts?
Until very recently (yesterday, in fact) I wanted to do Karate (Shotokan) or Boxing. They were the only two martial arts that my eyes were willing to see.
However, I discovered Aikido. It's philosophy seems to fit with mine, which I'll explain now.
At it's core, Aikido is defeating the opponent while causing minimum physical harm to both parties. I get picked on a lot, quite passively, but that doesn't mean that being picked on in literally EVERTHING that I do by almost everybody is fine for me. I've had enough of being that kid who can't do anything about it.
None of them actually practice martial arts, apart from one guy, probably the strongest I know, who is a brown belt in Judo. He is probably one of the nicest guys I know too, and he doesn't pick on anyone unless they initiate it, and it's still banter then.
On to the philosphy. I want to show people that I am not to be taken lightly. I've started to go to the gym, and am focusing on Pecs, Core and Biceps to try to intimidate without actually have to be agressive to show it. Aikido is practically made for this purpose.
However, I have to ask, can it cause harm? I don't want to cause serious harm, but can it break bones and manipulate pressure points? Is that part of the art or not, I don't care if it's advanced or not? The knifehand strike to the nose sounds potent, but is it? Basically, can I have an oveview of what Aikido is and answers please.
