Real Aikido
A Serbian self-defence system derived from aikido, created by Ljubomir Vračarević in 1993. It drops the philosophy and adds strikes to sensitive points.
Quick Facts
SerbiaCharacter & Origin
Organisation & Competition
What the style is built from
Editorial rating on a 0–3 scale, based on how much room each area gets in ordinary training.
Catalogs & Databases for Real Aikido
About Real Aikido
Real Aikido is a self-defence system that, according to a 2023 expert article, was created in 1993 in what was then Yugoslavia by Ljubomir Vračarević (1947–2013). Vračarević received a black belt in aikido in 1971 and, by his own account, trained under several Japanese masters. According to the article, he gave himself the title of soke and 10th dan. The World Real Aikido Center is based in Belgrade. According to UNESCO ICM, the system is strongly based on aikido and takes over much of its syllabus and ranking system. Vračarević modified several hundred techniques, dropped elements he considered unnecessary and rejected the philosophical side of aikido. He stressed atemi strikes to sensitive points and quickly subduing the opponent. The article's authors therefore call Real Aikido a brutalised version of aikido. The style does not compete and progress follows coloured belts. It was taught at a Belgrade primary school from the 2003/2004 school year, and in January 2005 the Serbian government announced its introduction as an elective subject with the children's programme Kroz igru do majstorstva. According to the article, it is part of the training of Serbian special forces. We have not found an independent comparison of its effectiveness, and the figures on its spread come mainly from the founder.
History
According to a 2023 expert article by Mijatov and Radenović, Real Aikido was created by Ljubomir Vračarević in 1993 in what was then Yugoslavia. Vračarević received a black belt in aikido in 1971 and, by his own account, trained under Hiroshi Tada, Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Tsutomu Chida, Kenji Shimizu and Gozo Shioda. According to the article, he gave himself the title of soke and 10th dan. On 17 January 2005, the Serbian minister of education and sports Slobodan Vuksanović visited the World Real Aikido Center in Belgrade. According to a government report, it had been taught since the 2003/2004 school year at the Kralj Petar I Karađorđević primary school in Belgrade. Vračarević said at the time that the style was recently recognised as an authentic Serbian martial art, but the report does not say by whom.
How it differs
According to UNESCO ICM, Real Aikido is strongly based on aikido and largely takes over its syllabus and ranking system. It differs in that, according to Vračarević, it rejects the philosophical side of aikido and takes only techniques usable in self-defence. The authors of the expert article therefore call it a brutalised version of aikido, citing strikes against a downed opponent and an attack on the eyes already in lower belt programmes. Because of the similar techniques and name, UNESCO ICM says it meets with criticism from aikido circles. Unlike competitive Tomiki aikido, Real Aikido does not compete according to UNESCO ICM, which does not mention weapons training for it.
Technique
According to the article, Vračarević modified several hundred aikido techniques and left out elements he considered unnecessary. His stated goal was to subdue an opponent in the fastest, most effective and most economical way. Atemi strikes to sensitive points, meant to cause pain and ease a lock or immobilisation, feature prominently. The authors describe differences on specific techniques. Shomenuchi kirikaeshi ends with a punch to the head of an opponent lying on the ground. In irimi nage the opponent's head is fixed and he falls over the thrower's leg, whereas in aikido he falls safely backwards. The yellow belt programme includes defence against a grab of the shoulder, lapel or chest, and the blue belt programme also an attack on the eyes. According to an interview with the founder's daughter, it also includes defence against a knife and a pistol.
Training
For children, the programme Kroz igru do majstorstva was created, in which a pupil should master the basic yellow belt syllabus within one semester. According to a 2005 government report, third-grade pupils at the Belgrade school trained twice a week, and the minister announced seminars for physical education teachers led by World Real Aikido Center instructors. The article says children's exercises use games, for example kneeling aikido practitioners, pushing or a rolling race. According to an interview with the founder's daughter, free sparring is not practised.
Ranks and progression
According to UNESCO ICM, progress follows coloured belts and largely follows the syllabus and examinations of aikido. The article names the yellow, blue and black belt programmes, but we have not found the full order of colours. In the children's programme the basic yellow belt syllabus is spread over one semester. According to a 2014 interview, the kyu and dan system is used.
Today
UNESCO ICM states that Real Aikido has been part of the curricula of Serbian primary schools since 2005, and names the International Real Aikido Federation and the International Federation for Self Defense Real Aikido System as international organisations. According to the expert article, which draws on a 2019 Ministry of Defence source, it is part of the training of Serbian special forces. According to the same article, instructors trained bodyguards and soldiers in Zimbabwe, North Macedonia, Bosnia, Kazakhstan, Slovenia and Russia. The figures on the number of practitioners come only from the founder.
Did you know
Vračarević also appeared in film. In the Yugoslav film Kako je propao rokenrol from 1989 he played a ninja instructor, and in the Serbian film Šejtanov ratnik from 2006 a Real Aikido instructor. According to the expert article, which cites the daily Politika, he trained the personal guard of the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. In 2005 he published the book Realni aikido in Belgrade.
Frequently asked questions
Is Real Aikido the same as aikido?
No. Real Aikido was created by Ljubomir Vračarević in 1993 by modifying aikido techniques. According to the expert article, he emphasised strikes in them and removed the philosophical elements of aikido.
Can you compete in Real Aikido?
No. According to UNESCO ICM, Real Aikido is non-competitive and progress follows coloured belts.
Is Real Aikido taught in schools?
It was taught at one Belgrade primary school from the 2003/2004 school year, and in January 2005 the Serbian government announced its introduction as an elective subject for those interested.
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.