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O Sensei strongly believed in non-resistance and the partnership between the Uke and Nage, so he purposely did not include a competitive element in Aikido. This allows students to relate much more effectively and much more naturally with people. He is quoted to have said,
"We pray incessantly that the fight will not take place [with an opponent]. For this reason, we strictly forbid aikido contests."
However, some Aikido schools, such as Tomiki, have adopted competitions to give students a chance to show their skills and improve their techniques. There are four types of competition: Kata, Ninin-dori, Tanto Randori, and Randori Kyoghi. Participants are judged on their rhythm, coordination, and ki extension.
Kata
Competitors choose a defensive sequence to demonstrate. Usually this involves
complicated kneeling and standing positions. Each pair is graded by five
judges on their ability to coordinate their movements and perform smoothly,
showing their skill.
Ninin-dori
Three competitors take turns as the defender against the other two. The
free-style event lasts three minutes, and the judges evaluate the variation
of techniques and attacks used, the speed, and the participants' reactions.
The ways in which the defender responds to the attackers are important-his
actions must be continuous and he should never allow both opponents to
attack him at once.
Tanto
Randori
The two participants each defend themselves from a knife (usually made
of rubber). One acts as the armed attacker, while the unarmed other demonstrates
his skill in maintaining good posture, avoiding attacks, and reacting
quickly. Scores are made when the attacker strikes anywhere in the target
area, located between the shoulders and above the waist. In the end, the
player with the most points wins.
Randori
Kyoghi
The two unarmed competitors (of the senior grades) try to defeat each
other using only aikido techniques. The player who scores twice before
time is announced is the winner. Success in this competition is determined
by a person's ability to coordinate his movements with another's; he should
easily avoid attacks and know which techniques to use for countering them.
Participants must be in continuous motion during the entire competition.
Note: Competition-oriented schools are not representative of mainstream Aikido.
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