Aikido as a martial art begins with the notion that one can be attacked by multiple parties from any direction at any time. Universal and continuous awareness is trained from the start. Training includes use of peripheral vision as well. Balance is needed to execute techniques and falling is taught to minimize impact and injury. These aspects - awareness, balance and safe falling - are key ingredients to prevent accidents and reduce risk of injury in the event one occurs.
The practice is designed to start where you are and build up your condition from there. We are taught to train at the ability of our partner, so no one is forced to take on more pressure than they are comfortable with. Train is done in a relaxed manner, which benefits health in more ways than merely exercise. The legs are engaged powerfully at all times while the upper body is often relaxed. As a result, leg strength is gained throughout the practice. Arm strength develops through training in weapons. Cardio vascular improvement and core strength take place through taking falls. To the extent someone needs to build themselves more first up, tai chi training uses the Traditional Chinese Meridian System to improve health
Inherently arising from the practice of martial arts are certain existential questions. In a conflict, who is it that lives and who is it that dies. Through investigation we discover our enemy is not the attacker, but our own fear or other destructive emotions. By learning to conquer this enemy within, we gain great efficacy in self defense, improve health and manage conflicts naturally. We understand that we and our enemy are the same, and the need for conflict dissolves. The student may choose their own path to answering these questions, but their importance in training is fundamental. Benefits may then become apparent in our outside relationships.
No martial art can claim their training is the same as a violent attack. No one trains by fighting to the death, and that is the only way to replicate such violence. All martial arts use a system designed to teach skills which can then be applied. The first skill is awareness so as not to be where the violence occurs. Traditional Aikido teaches roughly 250 basic techniques against strong resistance. At 3rd dan level, focus turns heavily to applying them in motion to develop timing skills. The art is stress tested with multiple attacks. Control is emphasized throughout to minimize risk of injury.