A 4-PART PRESCRIPTION FOR GROWING TRADITIONAL MARTIAL ARTS IN THE AGE OF MMA
There has been much clamor in the aikido world about a recent study suggesting that practice of the traditional martial art is shrinking in the modern world. Based on Google Trend data, the Aikido Journal published a special report on the art’s demographics, and it too indicated a dramatic decline in aikido in America.
The take-aways are several. One is that aikido in the United States is not popular among the younger generations, especially in comparison with Europe. A mere 4.8 percent of aikidoka in the United States are in their 30s, while more than 80 percent are age 40 or older. Evidence of gender and ethnic asymmetries are also cause for concern.
As in many other fields of human endeavor, while there are some conservative views on how to cultivate aikido, others push for a more progressive approach that is based on adaptation to a changing world. Conversations on this issue are not new, but they tend to raise questions rather than suggest solutions, and consequently there is little consensus on how to move forward.
As if this was not bad many dojo will not reopen soon and some have closed for good. But beyond that, if we are seriously concerned about the future of aikido — and, by extension, the future of all traditional martial arts — the current slowdown is a precious opportunity to reflect on how to restart on the right foot.
