Aikido Westchester NY: Which is the best Martial Art for Self
Defense?
Is it Karate, Judo, Jiu Jitsu, Aikido or Mixed Martial Arts? Some instructors argue that their
style is the most effective approach to self defense. We do not begrudge them their efforts. In
fact we support each and every one. For example, did you ever try to purchase a car with the intent
of buying the worst product at the highest price? Most would answer no to this question. If you
sought the worst self defense method and began training, exactly how proficient would you expect to
be in your martial arts? Conversely, if you think you are training in the best martial art, you
would become confident in your abilities very quickly. Confidence is absolutely critical to the
ability to defend oneself, and so promoting an art you teach as the best is not actually self
serving, but serving those who train in your martial art. It will be the most effective for them;
each and every one of them....
That said, when looking below the surface, each and every martial art essentially teaches the
same thing. For example, those in Aikido may criticize martial arts that employ competition
due to the unrealistic nature of their rules. Success in the presence of unrealistic rules
then leaves the practitioner with a false sense of security. Martial arts that employ
competition may criticize Aikido because they do not practice against competitive resistance.
However, if you look more closely, training against a live opponent in the absence of any
rules is very dangerous and a martial artist must gain substantial self control before venturing
into that territory. Some martial arts introduce competition with rules to prevent injury as
a first step in that direction. But one is taught that they should not have a desire to win,
even in competition. In Aikido, drilling technique with progressively stronger levels of
resistance is used, and again the practitioner is taught not to have any desire to win.
Eventually, both martial arts meet in the same place, with training against full and active
resistance without the desire to win and in the absence of rules. But some people do better
with one method while some need the other approach.
Note the similar thread that one should not desire to win. In martial arts training, both
technique and understanding of principle are needed to close all openings to be countered or
defeated. To compare technique alone to determine the best martial art is incorrect.
Nobayashi Tamura Sensei, the senior most Aikido instructor in the Western Hemisphere
explains: “Aiki (as distinct from Aikido) is the origin of all martial arts… However, it is
important to note that the primordial nature of Aiki doesn't imply that Aikido is the best martial
art, but only that it is one way towards aiki… Bujutsu and Budo are not merely techniques. Their
value comes from using asceticism to go beyond technique. The techniques originated from the
specific circumstances of their creator's life: the place, the era, the human situation. Thus if
you are given a chance, widen your horizons and practice or watch techniques anytime an occasion
presents itself.” The particular techniques were derived from historic circumstances and are
not the critical issue in determining one’s ability to defend oneself. Understanding the
principle, or aiki, will determine success or failure. All martial disciplines recognize the
transcendence of the selfish ego as the key point. The selfish ego is immersed in desire for
all sorts of gratification, such as winning tournaments, etc. Self defense is dependent upon
the senses for correct observation of an intended attack and muscle memory for a reflexive
response. Focus on the desire to win distracts one from receiving the sensory data and
creates a logjam in the body’s ability to respond reflexively. Therefore, all martial arts
teach that one must extinguish the desire to win in order to have the best chance of survival.
Thus the clear function of the senses (principle) and reflexive response of the body
(technique) combine to close openings to defeat.
So our position is to be respectful of all martial arts in terms of their ability to provide
effective self defense. They all teach principle as well as various techniques, the
combination of which will lead to survival in the face of genuine threat. We are also
respectful of their need, from time to time, to claim they are the best, and they are for the
individual in question. Since different people need different training methods based upon
their individual dispositions, there is really no such thing as a best martial art; only a best
martial art for a certain individual based upon their needs at that time.
For further information on evaluating the effectiveness of Aikido as a Martial Arts, see
FAQ. To consider which training method may be most appropriate for
you as an individual, see the Learn about Martial Arts section of this web site.
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