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Anonymous
Hey, I'm thinking of taking up Aikido and was wondering if it was any good for fitness. I'm not looking for a crazy workout. Just to keep in shape
>> Anonymous
Nope.
>> Anonymous
Aikido concentrates on using the opponents momentum to guide their attacks against them, requires less force and physical strength than any other form of martial arts

tl;dr: hit the gym
>> Anonymous
I do it. It depends on how hard you work outside of class. The class typically involves you watching the sensei perform a move and then spending 10-20 minutes trying it. Unless you and your partner are familiar with the technique already, you'll be doing it slowly, not enough to really sweat.

Aikido will definitely increase your flexibility, you can work up a decent sweat just stretching (pushing to increase your range of motion). But general fitness...not unless you put effort into it.
>> Anonymous
No, it's not.

You're far, far better off going to the gym working out moderately and eating right.

An example:

I went to the gym for two solid months (4 times a week), did moderate weight lifting and ran two miles every time I went, ate relatively healthy. Lost 10 pounds and a ton of bodyfat and became agile as fuck (intermural floor hockey)

I started doing Aikido three times a week and Kendo once a week, which effectively ended my gym time (college otherwise). Did this for a year, now I'm out of shape again. Gained about 10 pounds, lost a ton of muscle, and get blown up after about 5 minutes of the same kind of running I used to do for floor hockey. I'm fuckin out of shape.

Stick with the gym, BJJ if you HAVE to do a martial art, take Aikido as a hobby if anything.