Rec and Sports

Aikido Techniques: Focus on Women

Women are different than men in many ways. Some of the more obvious of these differences include a relative lack of upper body strength. Another is a lesser tendency toward physical aggression. Aikido techniques and concepts can reduce the strength disadvantage through the promotion of ki extension and proper body movement to apply Aikido techniques on an opponent. The second is the concept of awareness of potential threats and opportunities around us.

The obvious lack of upper body strength clearly differentiates men from women. This apparent disadvantage can become an advantage because women must learn Aikido techniques properly to overcome the physical disadvantages. Another obvious difference is that men tend to have more aggressive tendencies than women often making them more aware of potential dangers than women.

Using the whole body ” From the earliest stages, Aikido training seeks to impart the principle that power or Ki comes from the One-Point or Center. Most men are like overgrown boys in their early stages using upper body strength in an attempt to overpower an opponent (like they did when they were in playing in the sandbox). This works if, and only if, you have a strength level that is superior to your opponent. With equal or inferior strength, attempts to muscle results in a high level of force on force conflict. The Aikitaiso exercises seek to help the student practice using the body to move the opponents body, thereby unbalancing and weakening it so that an Aikido technique can be executed with minimal effort. Women, in this case, must focus on using their body to throw since their attempts to muscle a technique will often be met with superior resistance.

Developing an awareness of potential dangers ” The best martial artists have developed a skill known as situational awareness. Maverick had it in the movie Top Gun because he was able to sense where his enemies were in time and space. Women, as a general rule, have not developed this skill to the level of men and men, as a general rule, have not developed this skill to the level of a practitioner like Steven Segal Sensei. Randori is an Aikido technique in which one student is pitted against multiple attackers who are focus on hitting, kicking or knocking him down. One must sense the position of each attacker relative to yourself and move in a way that prevents them from collapsing on you.

There is no single art that can protect a woman in all circumstances. Aikido techniques promote both concepts. However , situational awareness is probably the most important because a conflict that is prevented is the conflict that is won.