Your Goals in Learning the Aikichun System to Become a Complete Fighter and the Learning Mechanism
Some may find these principles and tips challenging, but those who begin learning the Aikichun system will understand them and use them as a reference.
Aikichun: The Art of Control in Close-Quarters Combat (CQC)
For 20 years, I searched for a martial combat system suitable for prolonged wars and battles, far beyond short matches lasting no more than 30 minutes, where fighters expend all their strength quickly and rely on raw power. I realized that speed, precise planning, effective strategies, energy conservation, and a focus on achieving objectives are the essence of tactical martial combat. Thus, I embarked on a journey spanning over two decades, traveling, researching, and learning from more than 25 masters in various martial arts, seeking a methodology that aligned with my vision. However, I couldn’t find a complete system that met this goal. So, with the support of experts and mentors whose knowledge and guidance I benefited from, I began developing Aikichun. Today, I present a summary of the goals and core principles of this system, which I continue to refine as I remain on a journey of continuous learning and growth.
Aikichun is a revolutionary combat system that redefines close-quarters combat (CQC), drawing inspiration from multiple martial arts. It was developed to bridge the gap between traditional martial arts and real-world engagements, integrating speed, strength, and tactical intelligence to transform you into a complete fighter. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, Aikichun equips you with the tools to dominate any close-range encounter with confidence and efficiency. In this guide, we outline the goals of learning Aikichun, the principles of close-quarters combat, the stages of mastery, and the essential drills to become an unbeatable fighter.
Your Goals in Learning the Aikichun System to Become a Complete Fighter and the Learning Mechanism
To become a complete fighter in Aikichun, you must combine physical strength, tactical intelligence, and mental resilience through the following skills:
- Maneuvering Across Distances: Master attacking and defending at long range (3-4 ranges, approximately 120-160 cm), using kickboxing for evasion and Muay Thai for swift transitions to close range with elbow strikes, alongside Wing Chun techniques, Aikido, and Jiu-Jitsu for control and submission.
- Managing Medium and Close Ranges: Distances are measured in ranges, where one range (from hand to elbow) is about 40 cm, and the second range (from elbow to shoulder) adds another 40 cm. The medium range (2-3 ranges) spans 80-120 cm, while the long range (3-4 ranges) extends to 120-160 cm.
- Control in Close Range (1-2 ranges, 40-80 cm): Dominate close-quarters engagements by mastering the nine principles outlined below.
The Ten Principles of Control in Close-Quarters Combat in the Aikichun System
If you encounter a flaw in close-quarters combat, review these nine principles to identify the deficiency:
- Move Like the Wind: Shift swiftly between 0, 45, and 90-degree angles around your opponent, as if drawing a semicircle around them. Never stand still or remain fixed in one spot unless your opponent is defeated.
- Strike While Defending: In Aikichun, attack and defense are inseparable. Every defensive move is accompanied by an immediate counterattack in the same moment.
- Conserve Your Energy: Evade your opponent’s attacks with minimal energy, redirecting their force to your advantage using principles of motion mechanics, physics, and kinetic geometry learned through Chi Sao.
- Strike Like Lightning: Target 12 impact points (leg, knee, thigh, groin, solar plexus, kidneys, throat, chin, eyes, nose, neck, ear) using your six weapons (hand, elbow, knee, shoulder, head, foot). Strike high and low simultaneously to keep your opponent guessing.
- Break Your Opponent’s Balance: Close the distance (40-80 cm), restrict their movements, and apply pressure to disrupt their thinking. Make them feel like they’re fighting waves in a blender, unable to comprehend what’s happening, attempting to escape the trap you’ve set, but you’ve already achieved your goal.
- Exploit Weaknesses: Every opponent has weaknesses, whether physical (e.g., height, weight, speed) or tactical. Use varied strikes—distraction, impact, or balance disruption—to create more weaknesses, leading to control or ending the engagement. Be merciful to those who pose no serious threat, allowing them to believe they can defeat you until you subdue them, prompting their surrender.
- Control the Ground: If you fall, use ground-fighting techniques to dominate your opponent. Employ Jiu-Jitsu ground skills with hand and elbow strikes, using the ground as a weapon—slam their head, arm, or body against it as if it were a wall.
- Use Everything: Master tools (stick, dagger, knife) and clothing for immobilization or distraction. Everything around you is an extension of your primary weapons; a knife is an extension of your hand but used differently.
- Be a Ghost, Stand Like a Tree, Advance Like a Train: Disappear from your opponent’s line of sight (offline) with vertical and horizontal movements, stand firm like a tree when needed, and attack like an unstoppable train, rendering their attacks ineffective. Make them regret every move, as each action opens a “gate to hell” until they stop, cover their face, and hesitate to move.
- Be Calm and Fluid Like Water: Maintain calmness and flexibility, avoiding recklessness that can be exploited. Use your opponent’s momentum against them, making them feel like they’re fighting water—unable to control it, overwhelmed by waves crashing against them, as Bruce Lee said, “Be like water.”
Table of the Ten Principles
| No. | Principle | Brief Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Move Like the Wind | Shift swiftly between 0, 45, and 90-degree angles around the opponent. |
| 2 | Strike While Defending | Every defense is paired with an immediate counterattack. |
| 3 | Conserve Your Energy | Evade with minimal energy, redirecting the opponent’s force. |
| 4 | Strike Like Lightning | Target 12 impact points with your six weapons. |
| 5 | Break Your Opponent’s Balance | Close the distance and restrict their movements. |
| 6 | Exploit Weaknesses | Use distraction or pain to gain control. |
| 7 | Control the Ground | Dominate the opponent in ground fighting. |
| 8 | Use Everything | Master tools, clothing, and disabling the opponent’s weapons. |
| 9 | Be a Ghost, Stand Like a Tree | Disappear from sight, stand firm when needed, and attack powerfully. |
| 10 | Be Calm and Fluid Like Water | Stay calm, avoid recklessness, and use the opponent’s momentum. |
Steps to Master Aikichun
To master Aikichun, progress through these four stages:
- Understand the Movements: Grasp the basic movements and their applications across distances (close: 1-2 ranges, medium: 2-3 ranges, long: 3-4 ranges). Importance: Builds the theoretical and practical foundation for techniques.
- Practice Drills Imaginatively: Perform techniques alone statically, then add movement. Importance: Enhances coordination and muscle memory.
- Train with a Partner: Apply drills with a partner to improve timing and precision. Importance: Simulates real-world engagements.
- Apply Scenarios: Integrate drills into realistic scenarios. Importance: Develops reflexes in complex situations.
Stages of Mastering Any New Technique or Movement
For any new movement, follow these four stages:
- Start with Correct Form and Extreme Slowness: Ensure proper form while moving slowly.
- Maintain Correct Form with Smoother Movement: Keep accuracy while increasing fluidity.
- Maintain Correct Form with Fluidity and Speed: Ensure smoothness without interruption and increase speed.
- Maintain Correct Form with Fluidity, Speed, and Power: Combine accuracy, smoothness, speed, and strength.
Aikichun Drills: Sharpening Skills
Drills are the foundation of mastering Aikichun, divided into four types:
- Strength, Speed, and Resilience Drills: Enhance physical endurance, hand, and leg strength.
- Goal Achievement and Evasion Drills: Focus on precision, blocking, attacking, and moving simultaneously.
- Problem-Solving Drills: Designed for advanced learners to address tactical challenges and avoid distractions that cause loss of focus.
- Adrenaline Control Drills (High Pressure): Train to fight under stress and fear with varying difficulty levels to ensure skill application under pressure.
Become an Exceptional Warrior with Aikichun
Aikichun is not just a combat system; it’s a comprehensive martial system that evolves daily, combining physical strength, mental sharpness, and spiritual resilience. By mastering its ten principles, following the learning stages, and committing to the drills, you’ll transform into an unbeatable fighter who moves like a ghost, stands like a tree, and attacks like a train. Start today and forge your legend in the world of close-quarters combat.
Presented by Mohammed Al-Faiz, Founder of the Aikichun System for Tactical Close-Quarters Combat
