What form of defense does aikido teach you, like does it defend you from punching or what?

Akido is an defensive martial art form. It focuses on using your opponents energy against them. It uses leverage for throws and has little to know strikes that i know of. Ofcorse it teaches you how to defend from strikes its a martial art. I would compare it to Judo.|||Many of Aikido%26#039;s movements come from kenjutsu.





Aikido has specific strikes and strike defenses but is geared towards learning to defend against general motion





A previous answerer described the 3 basic attacks I would like to add





Shomen uchi - basic vertical / linear motion


Shomen uchi defenses train how to defend angainst any simular motion. Out side of the dojo or 17th century Japan, or Austain Powers Judo chopping you no one is likely to attack you by raising their hand over their head and bringing it down on you





However, Shomenuchi defenses can be used against any liniar atack -


jab


front kick


elbow


ect





The same is true for Yokomenuchi defenses vs any circular attack and Tsuki defenses for any lower liniar attack|||aikido teaches you defense against 3 types of strike. The strikes are delivered from over one arms length away.





Shomen strikes... in this strike the attacker lifts his hand over the centre of his head and brings it down onto the centre of yours. This strike is based on where the attackers hands would be if he was swinging a sword. It%26#039;s usually blocked forearm to forearm and/or a sidestep. All aikido techniques are designed to leave the attacked on the floor and you giving an arm lock (there%26#039;s only one move i can think of that doesn%26#039;t end with an arm lock ... irimi nage)





Yokomen strikes... The attacker swings his hand from the side of his face in arc to the side of your face; sometimes with a pretend dagger. It%26#039;s 50/50 whether you block it or sidestep it





Tsuki strikes. It like a direct thrust to your stomach with a knife or fist. It%26#039;s always side stepped.





The other half of Aikido is against any form of grab you can imagine.





Sometimes the technique allows you to punch back but only for distraction. There%26#039;s no defense taught against kicks. There%26#039;s no defense against boxing jabs. If your attacker can jab you then you%26#039;ve allowed them too close.





|||Aikido teaches defense against punches, kicks, bearhugs, headlocks,and all forms of grabs.





Aikido will also teach defense against the knife, stick, club, sword, spear, and gun.





Aikido will also teach you how to use a knife, stick, spear, and sword.





And Aikdio will teach you how to defend against multiple attacks.|||The way aikido defends against a punch is by teaching you not to be where the punch is.