Is there any grappling in aikido?

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Yes, Aikido has lots of grappling. Why anyone would say that it doesn’t is beyond me. Look at it this way…. four of the most experienced martial artists here and myself say that Aikido has lots of grappling. but then the one that says it does not has very little real experience with traditional martial arts. Not surprising is it…

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Source(s): Martial arts training and research over 46 years, since 1967

Teaching martial arts since 1973

This is an interesting debate. I think the answer could be yes or no depending on definition of grappling, which has been supplied already.

But then, I’m reminded that Aikido does not want to dominate, nor to use firm anything. That would be counter the concept of harmonizing, and I’m not talking about 1960’s cultural revolution. If anything, the Aikidoka wants to escape, not hold onto someone. We occasionally use pins to subdue, but that isn’t Aiki, and certainly not Aikido.

That said, I vote “no” – Aikido does not have grappling. To wit:

a. A struggle or contest in which the participants attempt to clutch or grip each other.

[no contests in Aikido; if you struggle, you need to find an alternative technique – or break out of Aiki altogether]

b. A struggle for superiority or dominance.

[Aikido does not aim for superiority]

v. grap·pled, grap·pling, grap·ples

v.tr.

1. To seize and hold, as with a grapple.

[We will use pins occasionally, but strictly speaking, this isn’t Aikido]

2. To seize firmly, as with the hands.

[No strength needed. Even with throws, we are only redirecting the user’s own energy, not supplying our own.]

v.intr.

1. To hold onto something with or as if with a grapple.

2. To use a grapple or similar device, as for dragging.

So while the Aikido-ka might use grappling, it is strictly not a part of the style.

Aikido is also not a “clinch art” either; that would presume the desire to hold or bind – a very distinct concept of redirection of energy.

EDIT: I’m amazed at all the dissenting thumbs! I think you got great answers. I think much depends on one’s Aikido training: Nearly all techniques can be executed without nage grabbing uke at all. This presumes, of course, that uke is providing real intent to strike, of course, and in training – particularly with beginners – this doesn’t always happen. So the grab that nage does often is done to lead uke. Strangely, the desired goal in Aikido IS to lead uke – but not by grabbing.

Just because an Aikido-ka uses grappling (seizing, holding, etc) does not mean s/he’s doing Aikido. And of course, some styles of Aikido will have you explicitly grasp in many of the techniques, whereas others would not. So the answer is also dependent on the style of Aikido too, and whether or not your definition of grappling meets your definition of Aikido.

Do people think that someone performs a front flip of their own free accord when having an Aikido (or any other sort of similar technique) move executed on them? I never considered myself that acrobatic until I had to do it out of necessity; the alternative would have been my shoulder being dislocated.

I agree with the majority of the others: “Yes”

Source(s): 23+ years of training

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There is no way to accurately predict the outcome of this. It would depend on the fighter not the style. Aikido and judo have the same origin in a sense, but a different philosophy. Aikido does not have competitions. Aikido training is taught in a non-competitive and cooperative manner emphasizing defense: not getting grabbed, not getting struck and not getting taken down to the ground. Judo the gentle way has a strong emphasis on grabbing. Both uses throws, pins, and joint locks. The throws are quite different. The pins are different too. As with any fight the best fighter wins. Styles do not win, however styles can make it entertaining. The style is only as good as the individual using it. Just as a wrench is only good in the hands of the person using it. It depends whose hands it’s in A basketball in my hands is worth about $19. A basketball in Michael Jordan’s hands is worth about $33 million. It depends whose hands it’s in. A baseball in my hands is worth about $6. A baseball in Mark McGuire’s hands is worth $19 million. It depends whose hands it’s in. A tennis racket is useless in my hands. A tennis racket in Venus Williams’ hands is championship winning. It depends whose hands it’s in. A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal. A rod in Moses’ hands will part the mighty sea. It depends whose hands it’s in. A sling shot in my hands is a kid’s toy. A sling shot in David’s hand is a mighty weapon. It depends whose hands it’s in. Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches. Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God’s hands will feed thousands. It depends whose hands it’s in. Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse Nails in Jesus Christ’s hands will produce salvation for the entire world. It depends whose hands it’s in.

There’s grappling in the fact that if you have an opponent who throws a terrible, slow, over-exaggerated punch, you can throw them (assuming they won’t resist, that is). That’s the limit of it’s grappling throws. It’s takedowns defense is (depending on who you train with) either non-existent or terrible. It’s ground game is the same. It’s ground defense is worse. All in all, Aikido is better than training nothing at all, but seriously, it’s hard to consider it a martial art.

Source(s): Years of martial arts experience.

Aikido as a whole, is a true grappling art.

But I know why you asked this question in the way you did..

It is because the term “grappling” is GREATLY misunderstood and has been highjacked by the mma community.

To you, grappling is “ground game”.

In reality, ground grappling is only ONE PART, as in PERCENTAGE – of grappling.

So again, Aiki arts ARE grappling… no, they don’t have grappling WITHIN THEM – THEY ARE GRAPPLING ARTS.

ignore kw he has no idea what grappling is.

@kw bjj can be considered clinching as well, grappling does not mean ground fighting.

grappling means to grab, any type of joint lock is grappling, clinching is grappling, choking is grappling

aikido contains a lot of grappling as well as strikes.

edit the definition of grappling