Does anyone here do Martial Arts?

@USMCGUY: where do you put Aikido in that spectrum?

It depends on the style of aikido you study and your instructor. Some styles are more focused on the development of KI and the practice can seem to the uninitiated as a bit of a dance where folks take turns playing the attacker and the thrower (Uke and the Nage). Techniques are practiced hundreds and thousands of times. Eventually someone's awareness and technique can be universally applied in life an in fighting. This is what is mean by the "DO" in Aikido.

Other styles of aikido focus on combat proficiency where attacks become more faster and realistic. Focus move from not just a single attacker but dealing with multiple attackers simultaneously. The practice of this kind of Aikido resembles more of what you would expect to see from a practitioner like Steven Seagal. Less emphasis on the dance and more emphasis on practicality and effectiveness of technique.

It's not a striking and kicking art so is wothless for someone who wants to do cage fighting. It's techniques often end up with small joint manipulation or throws. If practiced as osensi intended it is entirely defensive. All techniques require someone else to attack and you help them regain harmony with the universe.

It's also important to note that there are no shiai or contests in aikido. If practiced correctly ego is discouraged. Using techniques to score points risks injuring your partner unnecessarily.

It would not be of much use in a street fight until you are well practiced and understand effective in "shortcuts" in techniques.

It's important to note that aikido was created to overcome advantages in speed, size, and athleticism. I know some very good female aikdoka that you could not lay a hand on. If you did manage to touch them, that point of contact would be what they would use to control the rest of the engagement.

Hope this helps.

BTW, Steven Segal is the real deal. I know people that have trained with him and they are great. I have films of him studying and training people in Japan. There were many people that were sent to beat him as a forigner teaching in Japan was considered insulting. The people sent to beat him were sent home broken.

@USMCGUY: it's all quite fascinating. I wish I'd started about ten years earlier 😕

But, for now, I just pay more for private lessons. I can learn more, faster. It also assures humility as there's zero chance that I'm better than my opponent.

In Karate, I will do an additional sparring class once a month, but my Wing Chun is completely with my Sifu at this point.