It’s a bit late, but I’ve been a bit busy.
ASM826 has tested for, and received, his second degree black belt in Wadoki Aikido.
He’s had some commenters that have clearly gone down the path of “I don’t need no fancy Jui-Jitsu, I’ve got a gun!” This has always been something that has puzzled me in the gun community. So many of us on the pro-gun side have fought hard to dispel the “magic talisman of death” belief that some anti-gunners clearly have, that it’s frustrating to run into the “magic talisman of protection” that some on our side have.
I’m not saying that a martial artist can deflect or dodge bullets. A deployed gun is a hell of an advantage. Especially if there’s some distance between you and your foe. Of course, for several reasons, wandering around with a gun in your hand at all times is neither practical or a good idea. Hell, there’s the always ongoing debate about whether simply having one strapped to your hip wear others can see it is a good idea or not. This isn’t even taking into consideration the fact that there are many places where you’re not allowed to go strapped.
I think it’s important to ask the question “if you’re already up close in personal and/or being physically attacked/grabbed/whatever, what do you do?” Sure, “draw and shoot” works if you can manage it, but I can think of a lot of scenarios where that would be a difficult option to pull off.
Remember that a gun is a tool, and martial arts is a bag full of tools. Don’t be the guy that says “I’ve got a hammer, I don’t need anything else.”
*EDIT* Bah, I did something that I know annoys the heck out of me and forgot to check to see who actually wrote the post. It was ASM826, not Borepatch that made 2nd degree. I’ve fixed the post to reflect that.
Might want to check the authorship of the blog post again.
“Posted by ASM826 at 1:41 PM ”
ASM826 is now a co-author at Borepatch.
Bah. Thanks. Fixed.
Hey, you’re talking about me! Sorry it took me so long to find this post.
Neither the Aikido, the gun, or any other thing is foolproof. At most you shift the odds a bit in your favor. I don’t carry a gun thinking I’ll need it today anymore than I put on a seat belt thinking today I’ll have an accident. I don’t practice martial arts thinking today I’ll run into some bozo and have a fight, either.
I work in a place I cannot carry. Would I be able to use the Aikido and Arnis effectively if I needed it? Perhaps. If I never use it in an altercation, I will be fine with that. I study it for a number of reasons that make sense to me. I have a great instructor, it’s a community of people that I like, it’s a fitness workout most nights, it’s a discipline, and so on.