I just got this message from PETER GOLDSBURY, Chairman of the International Aikido Federation(Aikikai) :
"Hello, everybody. Thanks for all the feedback and the questions.
As you might have gathered, I am especially interested in the aspect of competition in aikido because the IAF has already begun to receive the kind of outside pressure which eventually led to judo becoming a western-style sport. This is one reason why contributors like Yamantaka have, in my opinion, rightly said that aikido really has no business being in the World Games. But let that pass. However, a new thread has recently opened about competition in aikido and I am looking forward to seeing what the members of this forum have to say."
That was my answer to Mr. Goldsbury :
"YAMANTAKA : Hello, Goldsbury Sama!
I'm glad you finally opened the box on Aikido participation in the World Games. I've always felt that this was the beginning of competition in Aikido, as it has been for other martial arts, as Taekwondo.
So, the problem now is : Aikido is being pressed to create competitions and to become a big money making international sport, as judo. Why not?
A month ago, I made a poll in my List (Aikido in portuguese Language)asking if aikido should or shouldn't have competition. The results were very interesting.
YES, BECAUSE IT WOULD HELP AIKIDO'S GROWTH........... 5,56%
NO, BECAUSE COMPETITION WOULD BE AGAINST THE PRINCIPLE OF HARMONY..........38,89%
NO, BECAUSE O-SENSEI FORBADE IT....27,78%
NO, BECAUSE ALL ARTS THAT COMPETE (Judo, Karate, Taekwondo)WEAKEN.........27,78%
As you see, almost 67,0% rejected competition, not because "O-Sensei forbade it" or "because competitive sport was considered negative", but because, in their opinion, competition was absolutely contrary to Aikido's essence. Another curious thing, is that those which approve do not consider competition as an important thing on itself but just as a means to aikido's growth. The rejection was almost absolute (more than 90%!).
To include competition in Aikido will be to uproot it completely from its sources (peace, harmony, cooperation, martial spirit). Even Tomiki style practitioners are cautious to minimize competition ("not so very important", "a small part of Aikido") and its effects(need to defeat the other, jealousy, aggressiveness)on participants.
Also, no one can deny the bad consequences of competition on martial arts. Judo has abandoned all its martial arts aspects and became a mere sport; Karate and Taekwondo have become weak and also abandoned their martial aspects. We should point out, also, that sports judo, karate and Taekwondo, having lost public continuously, are always trying to develop new things to get their public back to the stadiums. Taekwondo was the most fantastic case of all. After stripping their art to the core to gain access to the Olympics, their first participation was a fiasco. Small public and bad press reports.
If we believe Aikido to be a martial art; if we think it helps to develop saner and better people; if we love the complexity and richness of our art; we should not allow it to become a mere sport, simpler, weaker, without roots. Aikido today attracts youngsters, women and men of all ages. If Aikido becomes a sport, it will attract only teenagers(competitive age). We saw that happen in judo, karate and Taekwondo. Our teachers will be heavily involved in competition training and won't have time to teach anything else(as it has happened in judo, karate and Taekwondo). Even Tomiki style was unable to make the transition (I participate in many discussions with Tomiki friends and in Tomiki lists, and they admited many problems with competition).
AIKIDO IS NOT SPORT. TO INCLUDE COMPETITION IN IT, WILL BE A GRAVE DISSERVICE TO THE ART.
IMHO
Yamantaka
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If anyone wishes to manifest personally his opinion, he may write to the :
INTERNATIONAL AIKIDO FEDERATION
c/o Peter Goldsbury - Chairman
http://www.aikido-international.org/
In my humble opinion, we have the duty to fight against this possibility.
Feeling very bad
Yamantaka