The Potential Effectiveness of Aikido in Mixed Martial Arts: An Analysis
In the fascinating world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), techniques and strategies are constantly being tested and perfected. Recently, Jeff Chan of the YouTube channel MMAShredded took the challenge of exploring and dissecting the effectiveness of Aikido within MMA. Here we’ll delve into the findings to better understand how Aikido may play into modern self-defence techniques. To start, Aikido is a modern Japanese martial art that focuses on using an opponent’s energy against them. It emphasizes flowing movements and a balance between mind and body. Some people question the efficacy of Aikido in a live combat situation due to its perception as a soft or purely defensive martial art. Jeff Chan decided to put it to the test. Chan, an accomplished martial artist, enlisted the help of Rokas, an Aikido black belt based in Sydney, Australia. For all his respect for Aikido, Chan admits he doesn’t think it works significantly well in MMA. Yet, he maintains an open mind and tries to adapt a few techniques, asserting that the effectiveness of a martial art depends greatly on the individual and their level of training. Testing Aikido’s Effectiveness While sparring, Chan tries to apply what he learned from Aikido. The result? Mixed, but there are flashes of effectiveness. Chan was able to apply a few techniques, usually followed by rolling to escape a hold or lock. What stands out is the concept that Aikido may not provide advantage during stand-up fighting but can be valuable when rolling on the ground. However, effectively using Aikido techniques seemed to require a significant amount of practice, strength, and experience, especially with other martial arts such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Chan discusses his experience being caught in a wrist lock, forced to roll to prevent injury. He suggests that with more strength and training, these Aikido tactics can indeed work. Hitting the Sweet Spot: Blending Aikido with Other Martial Arts After the testing, an intriguing insight emerges – the real magic happens when Aikido is combined with other martial arts. The effectiveness of Aikido comes from using the opponent’s energy against them, which can be a powerful tool when paired with a martial art that furthers the initiator’s own power. This matches Chan’s belief expressed in the video description, where he advocates for a mixed martial arts approach incorporating other disciplines, such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, and a striking discipline. More than ever, today’s fighters are asked to be interdisciplinary. The concept expressed by Chan encapsulates this: adaptability and a broad arsenal make for an effective martial artist. A boxer must consider the threat of takedowns, while Muay Thai fighters need to adapt their traditionally tall stances to defend against punching and grappling. In summary, it appears Aikido can deliver value within MMA or self-defence scenarios, when it is appropriately harnessed and blended with other martial arts. It’s the mix of the right tools, right training, and nuanced understanding of each discipline that seems to truly unlock an art’s potential effectiveness. This paradigm gifts us the vibrant, diverse, and continually-evolving field of MMA, where every technique, whether from Aikido or another discipline, has the potential for effectiveness.MMA Block
MMAShredded is a YouTube channel run by Jeff Chan, a professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter. He shares instructive videos portraying his vast knowledge and experience in MMA. Jeff’s goal is to help viewers improve their skills through his unique techniques, insights, and genuine passion for the sport.
Jeff Chan Block
I don’t think Aikido is effective as a stand-alone art, but I believe strong Aikido fundamentals mixed with Brazilian Jiujitsu, wrestling and a striking discipline can be effective!
I think there are many Aikido techniques that don’t work in a street fight scenario and should be used only in an Aikido match. But the same thing goes for certain techniques used in martial arts known to be effective for self defence, like Brazilian Jiujitsu. For example, I wouldn’t recommend going for an imanari roll or guard pull in a street fight.
What do you guys think? Let me know in the comments below!
Jeff is very good. For untrained people a lot of these locks are the dead end. That’s why a lot of such techniques are used by police – they are tricky and most of the people have no idea how to escape. And that’s why aikido doesn’t work in mma – most of the tricks are too obvious and simple for the trained fighters.
This is how Rokas resynthesises Aikijiujitsu from it children arts of aikido and jiujutsu by applying it in a more competitive and live resistance training methid
Sorry but why is this bald headed guy recently seen very often in your videos. He is quite annoying.
My sensei always said that karate and other martial arts were designed to be used against non martial artists. Thus, Rokus work is great taking what he knows and adding to it. I stole a bit from my kids Aikido just watching and adding it to my Shotokan. Slid in a bit from my few year with Goju Ryu. Take what works, ditch what doesnt.
Aikido looks like standing BJJ. In judo, standing locks are banned because they are too dangerous. I don't see why we shouldn't learn them *strictly* for self defense
Just wanna say- the position at 3:03 is a beautiful setup for a choke
BJJ vs Wrestling was very technical & interesting. Leaving ur arm as he uses both of his arms to twist it, while u dont use ur other arm to knock his ass out..was the opposite of the 1st video I saw from you. Its literally a waste of time to practice much more than few moves that may help in rare situations in an mma fight. Honestly, i stopped watching at 2min33sec. It was fake as those videos where one guy shows moves as his students let him do it & participate by assuming how they would react in a real fight lol. I would rather see how u show the consequences of him attemting to turn ur wrist as his head & chin is open to a KO etc
Wristlocks obviously are real. I don't think anyone is challenging that.
I think the problem is Aikido, for the most part, isn't trained properly with live resistance and unexpected movements.
I would also make the argument that training and rulesets are what make a martial art.
So if a martial art is not trained effectively across the board, in my opinion it's reasonable to say it doesn't work.
There will without a doubt be aspects that are practical in most martial arts, but I think it's very generous to say that they ALL work.
Sakuraba used certain Aikido techniques
I always felt like Akido was perfect for the moments before people put their dukes up and start swinging as a way to very quickly put someone down before they become a threat which IIRC is how it was developed for police officers in Japan to keep them safe when handling someone who isn't trying to 'fight' but passively resist them. I'm also pretty sure they combined it with Judo training and Karate and Kenjutsu at the time before the martial arts went their separate ways. A Karateka with Judo and Aikido might not make for the best fighter but it would make the best police officer IMO
Going a quarter speed helps aikido entirely
I used a lot of hammerlocks and goosenecks to sweep and occasionally finish a well defended limb attack.
I got a lot of experience using that stuff as a bouncer before starting BJJ tho
Wrist locks and ankle locks are the only ways I beat people better than me
What great controlled sparring. Both people being there to help each other progress – no ego. This was a pleasure to watch.
It’s so badass how Rokas is starting to adapt his aikido into mma and with more training he could be a serious force to be reckoned with
I'm really waiting for someone who does Capoeria with grappling tools in their set
This is great. "Traditional" martial arts have been locked in a hermetic bubble much the same way how academics are locked in their ivory tower.
Friction with the "real world" is how an art evolves.
What works stays and is improved upon, and what doesn't has to be shed away.
No.
Where is Andrew Tate? His Aikido is legendary
Aikido can work if you already know how to fight
did
Would the wrist lock qualify as "small join manipulation" which is prohibited in mma rules?
I think Aikido wrist lock can work in MMA sometime, I did try it successfully. But some other Aikido technique may not work in MMA, cos people can escape easily.
Aikido I think can be better used in security-type scenarios. You find the person sometimes doesn't actually have intentions to fight, so you can get that spit second to put on that lock before they find out it's too late.
Plus there has been video footage of security or police putting Aikido style locks on people.
This is cool! I see how he’s adapted his aikido to the clinch.
Pra quem fala que fala que a arte do steven seagal não funciona, olha ai
As far as i know, Rokas tried to complement his Aikido with Wing Tsun/Wing Chun, yet we never saw him use any of it. But i think the only challenge is the transition into the catch to technique, maybe Tai Chi or Ba Gua would have been a better choice. The Bagua which the Military uses and Jiu Long Ba Gua i think are in some techniques pretty similiar, i would like to see Rokas to go to some of these fighters and lay his questions bare there how they would make up the gap. A rather linear system is not suited this well in my opinion.
2:07 collar tie to shoulder shrug to kotegaeshi what dan the wolfman man talks about in his videos so this is proof that this stuff works
These traditional arts use weapons as well.
The one getting thrown is the one giving aikido credit, not the practitioner itself.
What I like about Jeff is his humbleness and his martial art view.
He doesn't have narrow mindset like Rokas who go hating his own martial art instead Jeff take cradit of his arsenal then make it up using anything he can so he got to know how the martial art works ''for him''.
My understanding is that the original Aikido students were all high-dan practitioners of old-timey Judo – ie, back when it was only a few years out from the Jujitsu/Judo name change. Thus, historically at least, you could consider Aikido to be the high-level Judo techniques that were taught once folks were really, really good at the underlying Ju(jitsu)do techniques.
Which makes sense – if you think of Judo as joint manipulation on the big joints (hip, shoulder, and maybe elbow), which due to their size makes them easier and thus more likely to succeed. Whereas Aikido takes those family of techniques and moves them down to the elbow wrist, for a lower probability of success due to the relative size and speed at which the hands and arms move, as opposed to the shoulder.
I have to say, I wish actual MMA competitions look like your sparing. Just the right amount of striking, kicking, and grappling. I wonder how the rules could be tweaked to make that happen. Right now most MMA fights get incredibly tedious once the fighters are on the ground. While I know lots are happening, on the camera it's just two dudes piled one on top another for 5 or more minutes.
For what I understand the aïkido IS more to control Guy not a pure self défense art. You Can use or if you start from a locked position for example when cops want to arrest you and you try to resist. I dont think you can use it on the street directly on guys.For me you have to complete aïkido with other combat sport.
There's a looming sense of dread everytime Rokas gets wrist control
watching Rokas' Aikido base is so fun, he looks like he plays a very anti striking based grapple game, I could for sure see success for someone with aikido whose able to take those fundamentals and combine with wrestling and bjj, especially once able to seemlessly move from aikido to bjj off an overcommited strike.
Yes you have right. But you have mix it up with some muay thai or boxing and kicking and mabye some ground work.
Aikido alone dont work against a fighter Who can all of this