John, let me point out to you the inherrent fallacy in your question, you are assuming that ANY technique can be used on the street, or on the battlefield. That’s not necesserily true, in fact it’s hardly ever true, so rare, in fact as to not even merrit attempting the use of any SPECIFIC technique or Kata in a real fight.

That being said, when violence happens around you, or to you, you can certainly use the components and concepts of any technique, that you are supposed to learn from them. Don’t worry about how to use a specific throw (or whatever), and worry about surviving your encounter with the guy attacking you with a knife.

That’s the important lesson of all basic martial arts, it’s not about beating the other guy, it’s about winning, or it’s not about winning, it’s about preserving your life and those around you.

The short answer to your question is this. Aikido isn’t for fighting. Most Aikido techniques don’t even hurt, let alone damage a person, it’s designed (in philosophy) to prevent the end of anybody’s life. In practice that doesn’t work unless you’re either extremely lucky, or extremely talented; probably both.

I practiced Aikido for a good deal of time before moving to a Ninjutsu dojo, and it was because Aikido (at least my school) doesn’t make it real, in this basic physical existence we all inhabit. It focused far too much on the energy aspects and channeling you Ki, which is fine and good as a meditative practice, but doesn’t work in the martial realm, unless you have a strong foundation in the physical aspects of battle as well. The philosophy of Aikido is good, though it’s not always possible to save the life of your attacker, if they are intent upon killing you- especially if there are more than one of them- but that’s the thing about Aikido, it’s heart is in the right place, but it’s practice often fails to take into account the practicality of the situation it is speaking of.

I hope that answers your questions. If not, post again.

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