Demonstration of performances. An excerpt from the book “Traditional Aikido” by M.Saito

There are no matches in Aikido. Instead, its exercises are occasionally demonstrated for public assessment of skills acquired in day-to-day practices. Until a decade ago*, Aikido was barred from public view for fear that its techniques may be stolen. The situation has changed now. Public demonstrations provide an extremely valuable opportunity to popularize Aikido.

The Founder would not unveil Aikido to the public in former days. His sentiment in those days, as I recall it, was not a mere apprehension that Aikido’s techniques may be stolen as a result of their public debut. Uppermost in his mind was probably the fear that that techniques may be subjected to warped interpretations with the popularization of Aikido and handed down to posterity as such. It is important for us to remember this at a time when Aikido has become accessible to the public.

The instructors are therefore called upon to observe carefully how their trainees perform at public demonstrations and use their findings for future guidance. Bearing the Founder’s concern regarding public demonstrations in mind, prospective trainees are also urged to engage in harder training so as to be able to demonstrate their accomplishments to the public.

*The book was published in 1976