Frequently when people rant about #aikido, wrist locks are mentioned (debating their usefulness etc). I feel that's odd given that out of 22 techniques that I can name from aikido (plus numerous variations of each), there is a grand total of 3–4 which I would classify as wrist locks. There is an additional 5–6 which I would consider having some level of wrist control (but without a lock, and the focus elsewhere).
Describing aikido as a wrist lock art really misses the point.
It is true that wrist grabs attack forms feature commonly in #aikido when training, especially at lower levels. People joke about that too. Worth keeping in mind:
* Many, or even most knife attacks start with a wrist grab (indeed the most dangerous situation I've been in started from a wrist grab)
* Wrist grabs are a good tool to study body mechanics as you can execute in slow motion
* Wrist grabs appear commonly in weapon retention situations
* Later, practise in other attacks increases
Kristoffer Lawson
Pointless Speculations