Aikido from Two Perspectives: Practical Application and Tradition - Hatenkai Aikido's Master Tenkei Fujisaki on "A Comparison with Mixed Martial Arts" and the Path Forward [Interview Part Four]
A Perspective on Mixed Martial Arts and the Difference in "Nature" as a Budo
Interviewer: In recent years, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has become popular worldwide. Master Fujisaki of Hatenkai Aikido, what are your views on it?
Master Fujisaki: The technical evolution and rise in the competitive level of MMA are remarkable. I have great respect for the physical strength, technical refinement, and mental fortitude displayed by top-level athletes. However, I recognize that the Budo I pursue—especially Aikido as a form of self-defense—differs in its objectives and underlying philosophy. This is not a matter of superiority or inferiority; it is more appropriate to see them as having different natures and purposes.
MMA has a strong aspect of being a competitive sport where victory and defeat are decided within a framework of rules. The strategies, physical conditioning, and choice of techniques are all geared toward that end. In contrast, Aikido as a Budo is not limited to the acquisition of techniques; one of its purposes is the lifelong discipline of mind and body, character development, and the pursuit of the principles (riai) of self-defense in critical situations.
As a spectator, I do enjoy watching MMA. For example, I have been impressed by the striking power of certain fighters. However, when viewed from the perspective of realistic self-defense, rules such as having no time limit for groundwork raise practical concerns. In a street situation with uncertain elements—such as being on asphalt, facing multiple opponents, or the presence of weapons—fixating on groundwork, which presupposes a one-on-one situation on a mat, is not necessarily the best course of action. In that respect, the 30-second time limit for groundwork adopted by Daidojuku is rational, as it takes into account the need to respond to changing circumstances in a real fight.
At Hatenkai, we place importance on the fluidity of a real-world situation. Even in our practice of pinning techniques (joint locks and holds on a downed opponent), we set a time limit of 10 seconds. This is intended to prevent practitioners from becoming fixated on the act of pinning itself and to encourage them to always be conscious of the next development, be it striking, disengaging, or dealing with another opponent. Of course, I recognize that MMA is not intended to be self-defense, but it has its own unique value in its completeness as a competition and its entertainment quality. An excellent MMA fighter, with their conditioned physical abilities and combat sense, would likely be able to respond effectively in many self-defense scenarios. What is important is that Budo has its own value and context, and MMA has its own. An attitude of understanding and respecting each other's domain is required.
The Challenge of Aikido Practitioners in MMA: The Presence of Pioneers and Future Possibilities
Interviewer: We sometimes see fighters with an Aikido background challenge themselves in MMA. What are your thoughts on this?
Master Fujisaki: Although they are from other organizations, there have been pioneers like Mr. Yasunori Okuda and Mr. Yushi Shiori, who transitioned from competitive, practical Aikido to the different stage of MMA and achieved success. Their challenges provided a stimulus to the entire Aikido world, and their influence was significant. They can be called pioneers who sought to demonstrate a facet of Aikido's potential within a different rule system.
Particularly for styles that center their training on free sparring and practical offense and defense—such as the practical Aikido with striking that Hatenkai espouses, or competitive Aikido that incorporates matches—I believe the potential aptitude for MMA is not low. Of course, to do so would require adapting to MMA-specific rules, striking with open-fingered gloves, the environment of a cage or ring, and its unique sense of distance and combat rhythm. Aikido techniques like kotegaeshi (wrist turn) or iriminage (entering throw) will not work in MMA in their original form. However, elements cultivated in Aikido—such as the sense of "unbalancing" (kuzushi), the principle of "Aiki" that utilizes an opponent's force, the "body movement" (tai sabaki) for critical situations, and the insight to read an opponent's intention—all have the potential to be applied in the back-and-forth of MMA.
However, considering the current situation, the priority for us practical Aikido practitioners is not to challenge other genres, but rather to first strengthen the foundation of our own style—that is, to increase the recognition and competitive population of practical and competitive Aikido. Without a solid foundation, it is difficult to continuously develop fighters who can compete at a high level. I believe that challenges in other styles or in mixed-martial-arts bouts only become meaningful once that foundation has been established.
The Problem with the "Master" Label: An Issue the Aikido World Must Confront
Interviewer: On the other hand, we also see cases where individuals with almost no Aikido competition experience are treated as "masters" by the media and made to compete in MMA matches with a large skill gap. I find this questionable.
Master Fujisaki: I believe that is a problem that cannot be overlooked. In any specialized field, a person who represents that field normally possesses corresponding achievements, experience, and ability proven through competition. To casually label someone with no Aikido competition experience as a "master" and send them to the stage of MMA as part of a show, with their actual ability and adaptation to the rules unknown, can be seen as an act that lacks respect for Budo.
In such cases, when the individual is defeated one-sidedly due to the skill gap, it is not just a personal loss. Regardless of the promoter's intentions, it can ultimately promote the simplistic misunderstanding that "Aikido is useless in a real fight" and affect its reputation. This is an act that can undermine the efforts and feelings of the many practitioners who have sincerely dedicated themselves to Aikido training for many years. Logically speaking, it is not realistic for someone who lacks a solid record even in their own specialty of Aikido to achieve victory in MMA, which has completely different competitive characteristics. I believe a true expert is someone who objectively recognizes their own abilities and limits, and has the discernment to identify the appropriate stage where their skills can be utilized. The Aikido world itself needs to raise objections to this casual treatment of the "master" label and work to protect the value of Budo.
The Spread of Aikido Competition and Development Amidst Diversity
Master Fujisaki: For Aikido matches—especially the more practical, free-sparring style that Hatenkai aims for—to become more widely recognized and prevalent in the future. I believe this is important for the future of Aikido. If the soil for competition becomes richer, then from there, Aikido practitioners seeking a higher level of competition will naturally emerge to challenge other fields like MMA.
For example, Sanda fighters, who developed a unique competitive system while having a base in Chinese martial arts, have used their skills to succeed on stages like the UFC. This shows the potential for a traditional martial art to fuse with a modern competitive system and develop. Similarly, if the competitive nature of Aikido is established and talented fighters are consistently produced, it is entirely possible that in the future, a fighter known as a "unique MMA fighter with an Aikido backbone" could emerge.
However, I repeat that personally, I do not believe Aikido's unique values and technical system should be excessively measured by the yardstick of MMA. I believe practical Aikido is, in itself, an independent self-defense art equipped with a sophisticated technical system and principles capable of responding to real-world crises. The toughness and striking power of full-contact Karate, the diverse kicks of Taekwondo, the throws and groundwork of Judo, and the joint locks and body movement that utilize an opponent's force, which are characteristic of Aikido—respecting the inherent value of each martial art and combat sport and recognizing their diversity will lead to the richness of Budo culture as a whole.
Aikido is a multifaceted Budo, possessing aspects of a rigorous martial art, a refined art of body control, and a form of spiritual discipline. We at Aikido Hatenkai intend to delve deeply into these diverse charms. Through training that continuously questions practical application while paying respect to tradition, we hope to sincerely face the question of what Aikido's place is in the modern era, and just how far its potential can be expanded.
