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Are women the same as men? Obviously not. The application of Aikido techniques and philosophy can be helpful for women because the focus on much more than the use of physical strength. The first concept is that the use of physical strength (particularly that of the upper body) is abandoned in favor of use of the extension of ki and proper body movement to produce effective defenses. The second is the development of situational awareness in an effort to help make us more effective at identifying potentially dangerous situations.
Before discussing these concepts it is important to point out some of the important characteristics, which differentiate women from men. The most obvious is the lack of upper body strength that actually creates an unanticipated advantage in that without this asset to rely upon, a woman must learn to use the whole body rather than arm or upper body to throw or pin an opponent. This apparent disadvantage results in women learning Aikido techniques properly from the start and often results in the attainment of superior skills faster than many men. The second is that with less testosterone coursing through the veins, women are less likely to sense and act upon potentially dangerous encounters in a rapid, proactive manner.
Ki extension and the body " Power flows through ki and ki flows from the center. In the sandbox as on the mat, men tend to rely on upper body strength to muscle through techniques. This creates force on force conflict and usually works only if your strength can overcome that of your opponent. Properly executed Aikido techniques rely on blending rather than opposing forces and using the body to redirect them in a technique. Women that are successful in Aikido have learned to apply these concepts to their advantage.
Awareness of potential threats " On the basketball court, a great player such as Kobe Bryant has what is known as court sense, which is the ability to know the threats and opportunities in every part of the court. This makes him very effective at both creating opportunities and seeing the obstacles before they become a problem. This talent is also known as situational awareness. Women tend to lack this skill because they did not interact physically with the people around them to the same extent as their male counterparts. Randori is an advanced Aikido technique designed to develop the level of situational awareness. In randori the there are multiple attackers who are focused on striking, kicking or knocking you down. The goal is to become aware of the threats on the mat and turn them into opportunities to execute a successful Aikido technique. It is though this an similar training that one is forced to become aware of your total environment " not just what is in front of you.
No martial art will prepare a woman for all possible situations. Aikido techniques can reduce advantage created by the obvious disparity in physical strength between men and women. It can also provide a woman with tools to develop their ability to recognize and avoid dangerous situations. The key to self defense for men and women is to keep from getting yourself in a situation where you will need to call on your marital arts training.
Before discussing these concepts it is important to point out some of the important characteristics, which differentiate women from men. The most obvious is the lack of upper body strength that actually creates an unanticipated advantage in that without this asset to rely upon, a woman must learn to use the whole body rather than arm or upper body to throw or pin an opponent. This apparent disadvantage results in women learning Aikido techniques properly from the start and often results in the attainment of superior skills faster than many men. The second is that with less testosterone coursing through the veins, women are less likely to sense and act upon potentially dangerous encounters in a rapid, proactive manner.
Ki extension and the body " Power flows through ki and ki flows from the center. In the sandbox as on the mat, men tend to rely on upper body strength to muscle through techniques. This creates force on force conflict and usually works only if your strength can overcome that of your opponent. Properly executed Aikido techniques rely on blending rather than opposing forces and using the body to redirect them in a technique. Women that are successful in Aikido have learned to apply these concepts to their advantage.
Awareness of potential threats " On the basketball court, a great player such as Kobe Bryant has what is known as court sense, which is the ability to know the threats and opportunities in every part of the court. This makes him very effective at both creating opportunities and seeing the obstacles before they become a problem. This talent is also known as situational awareness. Women tend to lack this skill because they did not interact physically with the people around them to the same extent as their male counterparts. Randori is an advanced Aikido technique designed to develop the level of situational awareness. In randori the there are multiple attackers who are focused on striking, kicking or knocking you down. The goal is to become aware of the threats on the mat and turn them into opportunities to execute a successful Aikido technique. It is though this an similar training that one is forced to become aware of your total environment " not just what is in front of you.
No martial art will prepare a woman for all possible situations. Aikido techniques can reduce advantage created by the obvious disparity in physical strength between men and women. It can also provide a woman with tools to develop their ability to recognize and avoid dangerous situations. The key to self defense for men and women is to keep from getting yourself in a situation where you will need to call on your marital arts training.
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For great information on womens self defense techniques be sure to check out Dan Kudo Sensei's free and instructional article on womens self defense, and aikido techniques.
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