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The Competitive Side of Aikido
Melinda Rose
If you go to a Martial Arts tournament, you probably won’t see Aikido represented in any division - it is not a trophy sport. So how can Aikido be competitive?
Your competition doesn't come from others
Your competition in Aikido doesn’t come from the classmate sitting next to you in the lineup or even from the Uke you are currently throwing, it comes from within yourself - you are your own opponent.
"You compete with yourself each time you attend class"
You compete with yourself each time you attend class by working to strengthen your Ki, to roll a little straighter, to be a better Uke for your partner and to do each technique a little more effortlessly.
Practicing Aikido is not a contest with other classmates to see who is better or who knows more techniques. This “one-up-manship” wastes your time and energy in a mock competition where no prize is offered and you lose in the long run.
Focus on yourself
It is more important to use your class time to see where YOU need to improve and to concentrate on the subtle details that make a technique work. No one really cares if you have the best Shomenuchi defense in class, but it better work if you’re attacked on the street where your life may be at stake and no one is around to congratulate you on how great you looked performing it.
"If you’re attacked on the street no one is around to congratulate you on how great you looked performing it."
Worrying about whether the guy you started with will pass his next test before you is again a waste of your resources. It is self-defeating to concentrate on others’ progress and not your own. Again - you lose. Focus on yourself. Unless you’re a Grandmaster (and few are), there is always room for improvement.
Don’t criticize your partner because he/she doesn’t “get” something the first time - everyone learns at a different pace. Are you that perfect? Of course not! Help your partner by going a little slower or offering to take ukemi for them until they feel comfortable with a technique. You’ll “win” by getting a little more breakfalling or rolling practice as well as perfecting your attack execution.
Rank testing can be thought as a competiton within yourself
Is Rank Testing a competition? Yes, it’s a competition within yourself. When you perform for the Testing Committee do you sweat bullets and shake like a leaf? Most people do, so before your next test, concentrate on why you are nervous. If you are secure in your knowledge of the testing requirements, you should not be concerned with others watching you. Show what you know!
"A poor performance means that maybe you weren’t ready for your own tournament."
The Testing Committee is not a panel of judges to award your new belt as a trophy for the most points. Your test allows you to demonstrate how well you have progressed in your own efforts since the last time you presented yourself before them. Have you improved considerably or done just enough to get by? If you did not test well, a poor performance means that maybe you weren’t ready for your own tournament.
When receiving your new belt and rank, accept it humbly as a sign of your own growth, realizing that you still have a long way to go toward your next goal both mentally and physically. Comments from the Testing Committee should be gratefully acknowledged and used wisely - the information is invaluable.
Take advantages of opportunities
Once again you “win” by gaining insight to your shortcomings. The competitive side of Aikido exists in everyone who steps onto the mat - will you use it in a positive or negative manner? It’s your choice.
Original article from
the Aikido Center of Charlotte Newsletter
