Self defense techniques

Physical conflict is something that has been a part of human evolution from the day one. Unfortunately, this has been one of the most used methods for solving problems between two people, two nations, two different ideologies, religions, cultures. More than often, people tried to inflict physical supremacy over anyone who is physically inferior. This is why there are people who invented self defense techniques.

Aikido

Morihei Ueshiba, also known as O sensei, is a founder of Aikido, martial art based on self defense techniques. But this martial art was not born while O sensei was young, it actually happened during his forties. Before that, Ueshiba was a master of several different martial arts, including aiki jutsu, some sort of aikido combined with punches and kicks. O sensei said that at one moment, he had a revelation, he was bathed in golden light and that is when he realized that all the knowledge he had to combine into one defensive, non aggressive martial art – aikido (name aikido came years later).

Techniques

Aikido is interesting because it uses the strength of the opponent to defeat that opponent. This is far from easy, but once mastered, it allows a person to defend against an opponent several times stronger. During aikido training, a person learns to defend against several different attacks and also against several opponents. Basic attacks include punches like jab, hook,uppercut, kicks, knife attacks etc.

Basic self defense techniques are performed slowly for beginners and as they progress, the speed and force of attack increase. This is why aikido takes years to be mastered completely; it takes time until aikido practitioner is prepared to evade and defend against all attacks. This is why many people think that aikido is ineffective and non-realistic. Aikido is very effective, but it is also one of the hardest martial arts to master, there is always something new to learn, and there is always space for improvement.

Example

One of the basic techniques is kotegaeshi. It can be used to defend against a direct punch or a forward knife strike. It is important for aikido practitioner to make the right move at the right time. He or she has to move from the attack line. Usually, if attacker attacks with right hand, defender moves a bit to the left and forward, grabs the opponent’s right hand with left hand, while left foot is used for rotating the body.

This puts opponent and defender in parallel position but now with defender with advantage. This is the moment when defender uses technique to lock down the opponent's right hand. This happens if the opponent is smart and turns to defender quickly to continue the attack (this momentum defender uses to finish the technique). If not, attacker is opened for attack by defender.