Why I Choose Aikido

I'm taking a Kyu 1 test (one level before Dan), and I need to make a paper of "Why I Choose Aikido" which is one page long.  I wrote this in five minutes, and think it's a good idea to publish it.  Comments welcome, especially if you're also an aikidoka (e.g. Jean). :)

Let's start:

There are many martial arts out there.  “Why I choose” referring to a comparison, so I’ll compare aikido with a martial art I learned before, and is actually one of the origins of aikido, jiujitsu.  I was also a student at jiujitsu before I trained aikido.  In jiujitsu, the focus point is also on throwing someone, rather than hitting them with punched and kicks.  But, in jiujitsu, sometimes we must use maximum power to defeat our opponents.

I went into a match in jiujitsu once.  And I won the first round.  But what happens?  I lost the second and third round, so I’m eliminated in the first phase.

I also have seen some of kung fu and tai chi.  The training in kung fu is rigorous and very exhausting, while tai chi is very very hard to master, without any practical application in its initial levels.

Now, why I choose aikido?  Besides some factors I will describe below, because I’m suppose to write a paper, the reason I choose aikido is:  because I like aikido.  No more.  No less.  That is the main reason I choose aikido as my martial art of choice.  Sure, aikido may has its own drawbacks, but as a whole art, I like it.

OK, now to the other reasons why I choose aikido, I’ll explain in points:

1. No competition.  This is important since life is competitive enough, and the dojo is a safe haven where uke and nage can both hold hands to cross the finish line together.
2. Let aikido work, not make it work.  Ask any aikidoka, can you push an aikido technique to a success?  You can’t!  You can only train a technique again and again and again until you can do it.  Focus on improvement, which is also a good philosophy of life.
3. Effective self-defense.  Touch me, and I can lock your joint anytime.  But I don’t need to hurt you if that can neutralize your attack (if I don’t want to).
4. The say, aikido is based on “love”.  What other martial art can match that?
5. The movements of aikido is beautiful.  Really.
6. Aikido is  cool.

Well, I can rant on about aikido, but since my paper is only one page, I need to stop here.