Aikido Fighting Games

Are there aikido fighting games? Aikido has long been criticized for lacking realism in training. In response to this, a form of Aikido known as Shodokan Aikido practices in a more competitive format holding regular competitions and focusing more on free form sparring. The training requires a balance between sparring and the more standard training of aikido, along with a well-developed set of training drills both specific for sparring and for general aikido development.

There are two forms of competition, tanto or toshu. Toshu involves barehanded sparring, and both aikidoka (competitors) are expected to perform techniques on one another and attempt to resist and counter each other's techniques. In tanto, competitions each participant plays a designated role of attacker or defender. The attacker attempts to stab the defender with a training knife (usually rubber or stuffed) while the defender attempts, with any of seventeen basic aikido techniques, to throw or perform joint-locks on the attacker. The roles switch, with competitors having the same amount of time with and without the knife.

During competition one can earn credits as well as penalties. The goal is to earn as many points as possible while earning as few penalties as possible.

Credits

•  Tanto tsukiari - 1 point - Awarded for a successful tanto strike. For the strike to count, the tanto must land on the upper half of the torso. The arm must be extended, and the attacker must be moving forward, finished with good balance. Glancing hits do not count. Obviously, this does not apply to toshu randori.
• Yuko - 1 point - Awarded for a balance break, or for making your opponent retreat out of the designated area.
• Wasa-ari - 2 points - Awarded for a full throw or lock, but losing good posture and balance.
• Ippon - 4 points - Awarded for a full throw or lock, keeping good posture and balance.

Penalties

• Shido - 1/2 point - Awarded to the opponent when a competitor commits minor violation. Shido are only counted in pairs.
• Dogi-mochi shido - Grabbing hold of the gi.
• Taisabaki shido - Failure to dodge properly, e.g. by swatting the knife away instead of moving out of its path.
• Tanto shido - Failure to mind the knife: tanto may receive a tanto shido if he or she drops or loses control of the knife; toshu may receive a tanto shido if he or she allows the tanto to be pressed against their body for three seconds.
• Chui - 1 point - Awarded to the opponent when a competitor commits a major violation. In American tournaments, 2 chui end the match.