Which Art is Better, Karate Or Aikido?

I know, the question is a bit bogus, as one should beto a wrist twist, try a hard middle block, slide in and turn
comparing arts such as Karate and Aikido merely sothe waist. As you turn the waist, bring the arms up to
as to make them compliment each other. Thus, witha short position and catch the elbow, shove your
that statement made, let us discuss how the fist shouldshoulder in and go with the flow. Go ahead, try this
wiggle into the glove. No pow and bam, just an honest,technical adaptation with a friend, even gaze at a little
up front viewpoint for your edification andyoutube to get the idea of the arts involved, and you
enlightenment.are going to find an instant blend of karate, even the
Karate is commonly touted as a linear martial arts, andhardest of karate, like Kyukoshinkai, with even the
Aikido is supposed to be designed for circularpurest of Aikido, even the soft taught by Morihei
techniques. Yet, if one seriously analyzes arts such asUyeshiba.
Karate one will see that perfection of linearity is loose,Now, the above being detailed, the big weakness of
at best. If Karate was truly linear, considering how theKarate is that it is limited, in most modern formats, to
bones, joints, muscles and so on all depend on eachdestruction. It has been tailored for tournament, gloves
other, the body would probably explode, or, at leastput on for more violence, and given over to fighting for
degrade from stress.fighting sake. But while there is an art to destruction,
On the other hand, if Aikido tried to adhere to thethe true art is in control.
perfect circle and only the perfect circle, except in theThus, a study of Aikido, tempered by the things I have
most theoretical of philosophies, the art would notwritten here, will enable you to confront the fiercest
work. And, to be honest, Aikido is not the usual choiceviolence, and alter that violence into the simplest of
for down and dirty combat. While Aikido is pure andworkable techniques. You kick, you punch, then you
wonderful, and can evolve the practitioner in verysimply embrace your opponent and go with the flow.
spiritual senses, one should use a martial art like KarateA last word on this subject, don't mistake the throws
to enter the fight, then look to aikido to control the fight.of Aikido for those throws espoused by such arts as
Think about it this way, a fight is the collapse ofjudo or jujitsu. While techniques of the jujitsu methods
distance. The length of the arm, and the circle beingare quick and workable, we want to move from hard
made, the lever of the extend arm is too long.to soft in a conceptual sense, and a certain amount of
However, if you want magic, use karate to kick, punch,hard is still needed to make most ju techniques work.
find yourself on the inside as the distance collapses,That all said, I wish you the best with this new art you
and then use a shorter lever.are creating, whether you call it...karido...aikate...your
Instead of stepping in and tying a three foot arm circlechoice.