Just as a general rule , in any martial art , it is very much more difficult to employ effective techniques in order to establish control without death or permanent injury . If you face a lethal threat it is foolhardy to risk your life and your loved ones safety in order to spare your assailants . This assumes you have exhausted all possibility of avoidance and have not brought on the violence by your own stupidity .
I've always admired the ideals of Aikido , which at the very core seeks to preserve the adversary . But the physical skill and spiritual practices necessary for realization of this high ideal require an extraordinary level of commitment .
