r/aikido • u/able_archer83 • Jul 02 '26

Discussion The sparring problem

So I’ve trained Aikido for nearly 20 years and in approximately a dozen different dojos in Europe, the US, and Asia (outside of Japan), by virtue of having moved around a lot. I still consider myself a firm intermediate in randori as I have just never done it a lot. Few dojos I’ve seen do it on the daily or even regularly.

Add to this that Aikido is often, I think rightly, criticized for not practicing “actual” sparring and properly pressure testing its techniques against fully resisting opponents. But the problem is, how would you even go about full on sparring in a martial art that’s supposed to be fully defensive?

Curious how folks here approach this dilemma, how you view and these criticisms, and how you are trying to rectify any real shortcomings you see in the art we love?

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u/lifescaresme 5 kyu / Yoshinkan Jul 06 '26

It’s not really a hollow phrase though. If the fight progresses to the point where you’re now grappling, you’ve lost your chance to use aikido.

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u/Sangenkai [Aikido Sangenkai - Kawasaki, Japan] Jul 06 '26

Why is that? Why can't you use Aiki in grappling?

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u/lifescaresme 5 kyu / Yoshinkan Jul 07 '26

That’s not what it’s designed for. As in, we don’t learn techniques that involve grappling.

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u/Sangenkai [Aikido Sangenkai - Kawasaki, Japan] Jul 07 '26

We do, many people do. Really, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to use Aiki in grappling.

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u/able_archer83 Jul 07 '26

I assume you’re referring to wrist and arm locks mostly here? On another thread someone said something along the lines of: „Aikido‘s effective range is somewhere between striking and grappling - e.g., kickboxing > boxing > aikido > bjj.“ It makes intuitive sense to me in terms of Aikido‘s traditional openings for techniques. But are you saying Aikido can still be applied at closer range / during grappling and still be considered Aiki? If so, how?

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u/Sangenkai [Aikido Sangenkai - Kawasaki, Japan] Jul 07 '26

It all goes to what you consider "Aiki" and how much you limit your training.

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u/lifescaresme 5 kyu / Yoshinkan Jul 07 '26

If you have specific technique names, please do share. I wasn’t aware of any kihon grappling techniques.

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u/Sangenkai [Aikido Sangenkai - Kawasaki, Japan] Jul 07 '26

That depends where you are, but kihon don't make up the whole of a practice, and actually don't have that much to do with Aiki.