note:
I really should either update this or rewrite it based on my experiences since I last posted. My outlook hasnt changed, but has rather crystalized based on my experiences with this. As of now, the article is as it is, and is a nice pointer to get you started… the key points are there. 
Introduction:
You have seen it time and again on the forums, in the comment section at Youtube:
“My martial art beats yours” – “Ah, thats just a load of sh**”
For the most part, its comments like this which seem to show that the people posting have no clue about martial arts in general – or are living in some kind of delusion about what they, and others, can or cannot do with the art they train in.
Perspective
Time for a little perspective.
All martial arts that have competitions are based on…drum roll… RULES.
The very fact that its based on rules eliminates the very thought that you can judge which martial art is ‘the best’ against another based on what wins in a competition.
In short, Rules will either weaken ones strengths and play to the others weaknesses.
More on this later.
Competition
What you can do is get a sense of what would work best in a competition with a given set of rules.
Thus far, you have to have good ground work, so B.J.J. (Brazilian Jui Jitsu) seems to be the name of the game.
You also need a good striking/kicking art, as well as the know how of taking someone down effectively each time so you can take advantage of your B.J.J.
Again, due to rules in competitions, its not that clear cut what wins in striking/kicking, per say.
Also, B.J.J. does have the advantage on the ground in this set up – but lets look at practicality.
Outside the Ring
I would guess that if you were a good Thai Boxer, that you could put some permanent damage on someone, if that were your goal.
Thai Boxing is the science of the 8 limbs.
- elbows, knees, feet, fist
In a ring a Thai boxer is not allowed to use a few of those limbs which are inherent to its art.
So the idea that someone can take down and then grapple a Thai boxer is a moot point.
If he were to go all out, there probably would be an elbow to the cranium in there as the take down is happening. (or something else, who knows.)
Aikido
Ah, the art that people swear by or say is just good ol choreography.
Later I will get into more why this is so misunderstood of an art.
Suffice it to say, you cannot use the types of pins and locks in competitions that Aikido provides anyway. Some may say you can – that is fine, even if you could, you would run the risk of being maimed for life.
Here are some real life examples:
In our recent seminar, in a controlled environment, a high ranking belt (I believe brown) was sent to the hospital when his shoulder was no longer functional after an move was executed on him.
The guy is like a grizzly bear in size, strong as an ox – and the ‘fake falls’ that Aikido is accused of having…actually its a means of protection…didnt go smoothly this time it seems. (No, he was not able to make it back to seminar.)
A few years ago, when I was attacked, I finished the attack with a swift kick in the nose, followed up with a punch to the nose. Yes, its good…I stopped the fight – it was messy. But my joint that was attacked was in pain for about a year. (Thats not so fun) After that I took up Aikido. (The joint attacking sport.)
Not good for competition
So sports like BJJ, wrestling, etc. are great for competition – and within the rules, it beats all else.
The other sports where your digits may be ripped out by accident, like mentioned with the shoulder of the guy at the seminar, are not permitted. And what is permitted is no longer effective as your taking the bit out of the whole.
By the way, Aikido, at least some branches, do have heavy atemi (strikes/kicks) to ensure that the attacker is off balance. – for aikido to work, you must break their balance…and it will be broken – if trained properly.
Bruce Lee
Im not saying Aikido is the end all be all.
Much like Bruce Lee, I think one must find what suites them, and adapt.
Get a good ground sport…hey, thats the easiest, its B.J.J. at the moment.
Get a good striking/kicking sport (Im all for elbows and knees, so Thai boxing works well for me.)
And then what ever else floats your boat. If you can take someone down, I suppose your more than half way there.
Real situtaions
In a real situation you may be faced with more than one opponent, and BJJ aint gonna cut it.
I was in a situation with 2 people, at the time, I could have taken the one, was not sure about the other…
The real point is to learn NOT to get in the fight to begin with.
So many people, starting at young ages and moving up with the mentality as they age, want to prove something.
But the only thing to prove is that there will always be someone better than you.
Even if its by freak accident that you were to loose at a fight which would then cripple you and take you out of the ring for life, so to speak.
Not what egos want to hear
I know, not what young aspiring egos (or older ones) want to hear…but you win the fight by not getting in one. If it so happens that one happens, you can make the best of it.
In this sense, this is where I like the philosophy of Aikido.
Sure we could have competitions, but who wins? The guy who rips out the most ligaments?
Dont know where you trained at Aikido, but where I do we get bruised quite often as well as pain that last some couple of weeks – its rough as it is in a controlled environment.
Yes, there are Aikido places softer than where I train.
And I think they deserve as much respect as the type of aikido I do.
Just because we walk away bruised, etc. doesnt make it better or even wiser for that matter.
(who needs pain on purpose?)
What do you want?
If you want glory and fame then go find a sport and play by its rules and pretend that your the best.
It may look real, but as mentioned, within the confines of rules its only as real as the situation allows.
Or you can go to Rio and go all out, and be worse than the monkeys as you beat each other into a pulp. Hey thats great, you win a fight and have to retire at an early age while you tell your grandchildren, if you live that long, that once you were a bad a**.
Fame doesnt last forever, especially the violent type.
Now if you want to be remembered with some kind of memorial after life…well good luck, even the most famous of people, who actually contribute to society, are barely remembered.
Maybe you can be remembered for what you contributed to others.
Again, it seems that Aikido takes this type of mentality.
But in truth, its not about the art – its about the people.
What mentality will you take on this? (regardless of the sport)
Are you going to add to the world or just try to pop up for a moment for your minute of glory?
The choice is yours, the road is yours to walk.
Peace
dAlen
Posted by dAlen 
