![\"Portrait](\"https:\/\/remoteaikidodojo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/kenji-tomiki-a0970277-4540-48f2-b30a-b411ffc8b2e-resize-750.jpeg\")
Shodokan Rules<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Shin Shin Toitsu Rules<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n The simple existence of these competitive styles, and the accompanying rules, start to cast doubt on the quote. They are an undeniable, immediate, and obvious example of aikido having rules. There are many others though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you acknowledge it or not normal aikido training is very structured. You can walk into almost any aikido dojo in the world and know exactly what training will look like. There will be some gentle variations along the curve of standardisation but for the most part, it\u2019s all the same. The point here is that you cannot turn up to class and do whatever you like. There is a definite learning structure and accepted system of training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Often, you find these rules written down. Most dojo have an etiquette\/ dojo rules section somewhere on their website or brochure. You are expected to follow these rules. They help provide structure to the training and prevent needless injury.<\/p>\n\n\n Typical examples include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Training in aikido is not a free for all, you cannot simply do what you like. There are rules to training and you have to follow them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All of the above is true, there are very obvious rules in aikido. However, it\u2019s slightly disingenuous to use those arguments against this quote. To be fair, the context of the quote is almost always used in relation to a physical confrontation outside the dojo and normal training. A street fight is what\u2019s usually meant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This quote is very popular in that context. If you spend any time on martial arts forums on the internet you\u2019ll go about 5 minutes before you hear somebody say, \u201cThere are no rules on the streets.\u201d The problem with that, and it\u2019s identical for aikido, is that there are a great many rules that apply to real world violence.<\/p>\n\n\n The first thing to realise is that while the potential is there, the vast majority of street altercations do not end in death or serious injury. In most cases, all combatants leave relatively intact. If there are no rules at all, then it\u2019s likely that wouldn\u2019t be the case. Fights end, seemingly, because they either get broken up, or someone \u2018loses\u2019, meaning someone \u2018won\u2019. The winner may have decided to stop attacking for some reason. Perhaps the other person ran away, or capitulated. Bystanders may have interfered to break the fight up. Regardless of the reason, the fighters reach a point where at least one\u00a0has decided, \u2018enough\u2019. The fight ends because a stopping point has arrived. There were rules that helped them arrive at this point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When we consider the rules of a street fight we can break them down into two distinct categories. Written and unwritten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Portrait](\"https:\/\/remoteaikidodojo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/koichi-tohei-1967.jpg\")
It Is Not a Free For All<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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What They Really Meant<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nStreet Rules<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Written Rules<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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