What Are The Differences Between Aikido VS Boxing? (In-depth Details!)

Last Updated on October 2, 2021 by

Aikido and boxing are two different types of combat art. Boxing is an Olympic sport where two opposing fighters compete for entertainment and competition with only arm techniques. Aikido, on the other hand, is not a sport and it has a similar fighting method of both judo and jiu-jitsu where fighters use only the twisting and throwing techniques. Unlike boxing which focuses on knocking out or incapacitating, Aikido aims at minimizing serious injuries to both fighters. There have been questions about the similarities and differences between Aikido and boxing, and today, we’ll be looking at these two combat art forms deeply. 

Aikido is a more friendly option to consider if you’ve ever wanted to practice any martial art with less violence and injuries. It uses the methods of judo and jiu-jitsu which don’t aim at injuring your opponent to the point of incapacitation or knockdown. Boxing is more serious and professional fighting that aims at causing serious injuries to both you and your opponent. There are few ways to win a boxing fight. It is either you knock out your opponent to the extent that he won’t be able to continue with the match or either of you get disqualified for breaching rules, or the winner is decided by the referees or the judges. 

Aikido (In Details)

Aikido

Aikido is a Japanese-born martial art and self-defense training system that has similar techniques with judo and jiu-jitsu. It mainly uses throwing and twisting techniques to beat an opponent. Fighters get to use pressure on vital nerve centers to turn the strength and quickness of an opponent against him. As a beginner, you’ll be taught how to pin down or subdue your opponent instead of trying to knock him out or maim him. Nevertheless, Aikido still has some movements that are considered dangerous. 

For you to master an attack from your opponent, you’ll have to be able to remain calm as your control your entire body. Aikido especially emphasizes the development of courtesy and respect for everyone involved in it.   In the 14th century, Japan remains the only place where the basic techniques and principles of Aikido came from. Thanks to the good work of Ueshiba Morihei, a Japanese martial arts expert, Aikido was modified in its modern form in the early 20th century. 

One thing people really love about this martial art form is that it doesn’t practice any offensive moves that can pose serious life-threatening injuries. As a martial-arts expert, Ueshiba taught people about the fairness and harmlessness of the art form, giving that no heavy contact between trainees. Not quite long after, “Tomiki Aikido”, a competition-style that uses some Aikido techniques was developed by one of Ueshiba’s students, called Tomiki Kenji. In this contest, you’ll be given either rubber or wooden knife. If you can successfully tough your opponent with it, you’ll be given some points. But your opponent will also try to avoid the touch and disarm you. 

Boxing (In Details)

Boxing

Boxing is a popular Olympic sport that focuses on attacking and defending with arm techniques only. Boxers are trained to hit their opponents hard with fists and also dodge any blows from the opponent as well. As a boxer, you can either be victorious in a match by outscoring your opponent by knocking them out or be pronounced the winner by the judge after scoring more points. In boxing games, bouts range from 3 to 12 rounds where each round lasts three minutes each with a minute to rest. In the 23rd Olympiad, boxing surfaces as a formal Olympic event. 

Nonetheless, fist-fighting has been something that has been in existence for so long. The earliest evidence of rules and regulations of boxing emanated from ancient Greece where no rounds were used. Winners were only decided when a fighter knockout his opponent to the extent that he can’t continue with the match again. Boxing was more brutal and considered an injury-prone sport. Most boxing games were held outside in the hot sun and bright sunlight. The majority of fighters back then were from distinguished and wealthy backgrounds. It didn’t take long before boxing rise to its spotlight and the world of sport generally accepted it. In today’s world, boxing is one of the most popular sports that is participated in every part of the world. 

FAQs

Is Aikido Effective Against A Boxer?

No! An Aikido fighter has zero chance against a professional boxer. Aikido can only be effective in small situations against MMA or boxing. Aikido doesn’t teach practitioners how to injure or make sparring contacts during a match, and that’s why it won’t be effective against a boxer who is trained to hit and knock out his opponent quickly. 

Is Aikido Effective In A Real Fight?

You shouldn’t go into a real fight with an interposed knowledge of Aikido. It is advisable to have learned all the defensive strategies needed for self-defense before going into any street fight. These defense techniques include joint-locks, throws, and strikes. Keep in mind that Aikido teaches you techniques that will help you defend yourself without hurting the attacker. If you’d prefer taking down or hurting your attacker during a street fight, you should consider other combat sports and self-defense systems like boxing and karate. 

Do Any MMA Fighters Use Aikido?

The former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion, Nick Diaz is one of those MMA fighters that have mastered Aikido, karate, and wrestling techniques. Also, other popular MMA fighters have strong Aikido background. They include Jason Delucia and Daniel Cage. Delucia is the one who developed his own version of  “Combat Aikido”. 

Is Aikido Really Useless?

No! Aikido isn’t really useless. It is a useful martial art that can still help you defend yourself in a real-life fighting situation. Once you’ve mastered the required techniques, you’ll be able to shield off any attack from your opponent. 

Closing Thoughts

The differences between boxing and Aikido are clear enough. Boxing remains an Olympic sport where and techniques are used to defeat your opponent, while Aikido is a non-Olympic sport that focuses on the redirection of momentum and strength of your opponent without the impact of a kick or punch. So, basically, practicing Aikido isn’t really impacted by your physical strength, size, and age. We’ve come to the final chapter of this informative article. We hope you were able to find good and reliable resources in your quest to know the differences between Aikido and boxing. If you have any questions or comments about the article topic, don’t hesitate to contact us. Thanks!

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