Of Course Aikido Works in MMA

If you want to see my whole exchange with Oliver, watch it here: https://youtu.be/fpGQ5kYatDw To learn more about Oliver Enkamp and his pro MMA career check out his social media here: www.oliverenkamp.com/ @oliverenkamp on Instagram and www.facebook.com/oliverenkampMMA for Facebook

Hey I know that guy!! 😎

We honestly need more martial artist content creators like you. Extremely open minded and willing to explore every aspect objectively. I've known you since years ago but back then your content doesn't really interests me. But as time progress I was mistaken, your content is the perfect content for every martial artists willing to explore the wide world of martial arts. Much respect for you for providing us with knowledge like this.

This is an awesome collab!

I absolutely appreciate your effort to understand martial arts that you even flew to stockholm just for one meeting, and then sharing it with the rest of us. You're not like the guys praising their own traditional martial arts saying it is too deadly for practical use, or other guys who belittles every traditional martial arts. You sir should be the very definition of a true martial artist.

On the next episode: Proof that MMA works in Aikido

This was really useful! One of the most important lessons for any practitioner of any martial art, is to have the curiosity, willingness and humility to be willing and able to learn from others. Great collaboration!

I've been periodically checking up on you within the last few years, and I just wanted to say your progression is inspiring! I love how you accepted that aikido isn't traditionally practical in an mma match, but acknowledged that it still has its uses!

Glad to see this. My first exposure to Aikido was in a training session with mixed styles and I thought it was amazing. The techniques I learned were very helpful in improving my combat capability. I was surprised to find out awhile afterwards that everyone clowned on Aikido and I didn't understand why. Your journey helped me make sense of all of that. You see, my training partners main martial art wasn't Aikido, my main martial art wasn't Aikido, so I was exposed to it through a filter as a refinement tool rather than a complete martial art. This created a situation where I was only exposed to its benefits without facing the problems that it gets criticized for.

This is what I thought you would do originally when you were trying to make Aikido "effective". Learning and cross training in different Martial Arts to modify Aikido Techniques or fill in the gaps of Aikido but keeping the philosophy of combat of Aikido intact. Like how that former Aikidoka that transitioned to BJJ, for him he still practices Aikido because he keeps the Aikido mindset in BJJ.

I've always believed that Aikido was created as a supplement to previously known arts, and watching this lends credence to the thought

This is fitting given how O'Sensei integrated multiple styles into Aikido, even over time. It reminds us that martial arts, like languages, can adapt and grow with time and exposure to other styles and people.

One of my favourite of your videos. Though I'm not an Aikido guy, I had a similar experience leaving tai chi for a few years and exploring other martial arts, then coming back with a completely fresh head and different set of reference experiences. Looking forward to seeing where this goes next!

Oliver has been super helpful in your Aikido rediscovering journey this time.

You know, Rokas… You could be the star that brings aikido back to the game, and for that I think you should go for the Japanese jujutsu, the father of aikijujutsu, and therefore, of aikido. Then you would find the original way of fighting, with sparring, ground techniques and some striking. I like you searching for answers in karate and MMA, I think you're in the right path. I really wish we could talk about aikido in a serious way 20 years from now, after you. I really want to say "Rokas' aikido is no Muay Thai or BJJ, but it's a hell of a martial art" in the future

This was good content. Walking through the principles in a different context than what is usually taught in Aikido. You sir are a gentleman and a scholar.

Glad you arrived!!! Been waiting long for this... like i shared long back on your videos!!!

I always like to watch Oliver explaining stuff! He feels really direct to me, which is something I really appreciate in a teacher! Nice collaboration video, I really enjoyed all the one you did with the Enkamp Brothers!

I remember when I started my cross training it was in boxing where I found the most similarities with Aikido. Good to see you are finding those connections, keep up the work.

This is my favourite Martial Arts Journey video. I love discussing practical uses of different martial arts with other practitioners. This took it up a notch getting to learn from a professional MMA fighter and aikido practitioners which are rare in my social circle. Keep up the great work!