Akido vs. Boxing…
January 18, 2008 by Bob Patterson
Pat over at Mokuren Dojo has an interesting post up concerning aikido skills vs. a boxer. After my post he even linked to a video which is worth a look. I also found this video which shows some aikido skills vs. a kicker:
I especially like the last technique which looks like the leg version of a arm/shoulder throw! I also wonder at what rank they would teach defense against leg techniques? I know in most chin na curriculum the defense against leg techniques comes at the advanced level. I wonder if it’s the same for aikido?
As I noted in my comment to Pat’s original post, I’ve always wondered how effective aikido would be against a striker. I know I’ve blogged about it before. My main criticism stems from a similar one of taekwondo. Namely, we mostly practice defensive techniques against a chambered punch. Granted, the techniques can work but the situation is very controlled. It’s a different beast when you don’t know what technique is coming and have to act spontaneously.
My aikido knowledge is limited. Approximately 15 years ago I was taking boxing lessons at a dojo. Among various arts they offered one was aikido. I sat in on a few classes and noticed that the punches where not boxing punches. So, the first question that came to my mind is how would aikido work against an expert striker?
Anyhow, these videos and Pat’s post have given me something to consider if my TKD journey has to stop.
~BCP
Hey,
Regular practice in dealing with kicking attacks has been uncommon in the Aikikai schools where I have trained. I’ve seen it more in demonstrations than in actual classes. However, when my son was doing Kokikai Aikido, he was taught Aikido techniques to use against kicks at a very early part of his training (i.e. at 4 years old). It was on his last test before we left the US. Mind you, he also had an intro-to-break-falls as part of the ukemi portion of his test!
FYI,
e.
see also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmkGa0XSmCQ
Bob,
Great video. Beautiful to watch. I’m not sure I want to catch a high kick like he did, but I absolutely loved what he did with side kicks.
Pats video was very interesting. I’m assuming it was some kind of combined new style?
P -
You’d have to ask him. I know very little about akido so I’m not sure what’s what. Still, cool stuff.
I trained in aikido for a few years and gave it up for one reason or another. Now I box at gym for a third of the price and am finally learning an effective fighting system. Don’t get me wrong, some of the principals idealized in the fictional world of aikido training sessions have been useful. Watch youtube videos of Willie Pep or Pernell Whitaker to see a lot of the same footwork. Thing is, that is just good boxing. There as many specific styles of boxing as there are boxers. But the fundamentals of boxing are the real deal. From experience I can say that an aikidoka will never be able to implement 95 percent of the throws he knows on a boxer with minimal experience. And, while he is trying to do that he will probably be getting pummeled. Boxing footwork is just as effective as aikido footwork too by the way, and you learn not only out to dodge and flow, but also how to block and even better, counterpunch. Finally, I will say that since I have been boxing I have never been in better shape. Training in aikido was barely a workout, and any real life situation you would be in where you would have to defend yourself, the person who gasses out will lose… and lose badly…
I’ve covered aikdio in other posts. Just do search for “aikido” in my search box (top right). I’ve ruled it out for several reasons.
As for boxing, I had about a year of commercial lessons and at the same time lessons at the Armory. It’s biggest weakness is that it is one dimensional: It does not account for kicks or take-downs.
That having been said it has some killer hand techniques and the conditioning is excellent.