Has there ever been a wrestler anywhere, Japan or otherwise, male or female, that used Aikido as part of their in-ring style or as part of their gimmick?
For those unfamiliar with it, Aikido is a martial art that focuses heavily on defense, with lots of counter-moves, turning someone’s attack into a throw, lock, takedown, or grapple, often with a lot of circular motion and momentum-redirection. It’s often portrayed as a “pacifist” art, although you can do someone a lot of harm with this style if you know what you’re doing.
Since it’s so grappling-throw intensive, it seems like it would be great for adaptation into a pro-wrestling context. Has anyone ever done this?
Heck, if I ever get to play Nathan Paoletta’s awesome game in the near future, I may make this a cornerstone of my character’s schtick.