Does Aikido really work? I've heard it said that aikido is more like a dance than a martial art. I've also heard "that would never work", or "I've tried it and it doesn't work". My response, or at least my thought to these types of remarks is; how many times did you "try" it, or how many years have you practiced aikido.

Professional athletes of all types practice their sport, or "art" continuously. A good pitcher doesn't throw one or two, or even several pitches and say, "I tried it and can't do it", or "that doesn't work". An Olympic swimmer doesn't give up after swallowing some water, or losing a meet saying, "I can't do it. It doesn't work". It is constant and dedicated practice and effort that makes one good at their craft.

Perhaps aikido didn't work for them, or didn't work that time. It is quite a defeatist attitude that only briefly tries anything, or gives something a only a cursory look and then passes judgment. It's a darn good thing that people like Einstein didn't have that attitude. Most successful people have failed multiple times before finding success.

As a style, admittedly, aikido often takes longer to get comfortable with, or gain a good measure of proficiency at. But one should not necessarily think in terms of style. Differently people move differently. People learn differently and for different reasons. People are drawn to one style or another for various reasons. Are these styles really so very different? After all, there are only so many ways to move or manipulate a human body.

At the end of the day, when one puts the "style" mindset aside, it is all the same. Case in point; I was once asked to share some modern arnis to a group of aikido stylists. They were amused by the uniform that we wear in the arnis class, saying that it looked like a waiters outfit. Cute. I showed some basic knife movements at a decent speed, wearing my waiters outfit. After they picked up their jaws and finished using explicatives like "sweeeet", I explained how if they put my clothing aside, and just looked at the movement, that it was aikido. The very art that they practice and are so proud of, rightfully. I have been training in aikido for more than 16 years, and continue to do so. I also teach aikido, and modern arnis, so I can speak of them with some knowledge. Both styles are beautiful, and effective. Both styles also share some nearly identical movements.

The first time I was thrown into a breakfall by my aikido teacher, Frank Hreha, without knowing ahead of time, I was smiling before I hit the floor. I seem to remember thinking "sweeeet!", or something similar. I felt the same way the first time I was shown the floor by Remy A. Presas, the founder of Modern Arnis. That does not mean, however that one style is "better" than the other.

All styles are good, and have something to offer. They also all share some connection or common ground. The truth is Yes, aikido definitely works. It is beautiful, flowing, graceful, classy, dynamic and can be peaceful, or devastating. But to simply see it, or try it a few times and conclude that it doesn't work is not fair, and borders ignorance.