Blimey hurdfdurf, you are either a lifelong and very experienced martial artist.......or a complete antagonist who like many others has missed the point.
Being pedantic, martial arts that end in the word 'do' were 'developed' as a journey for the individual, a path of self-discovery if you like. They almost ALL have their basis in combat/self-defence, but in an [arguably] more civilised age, have evolved into something more philosophical, with less emphasis on besting someone physically.
That said, every martial/combat art i've studied; Wado-ryu karate, goya-ra-ryu karate, Shaolin kung fu, kick/thai boxing, ninjitsu, aikido, aiki-jujutsu, iaijustu and kendo have all offered something that i firmly believe would be helpful in a 'street' situation.
Have you truly tried all those martials arts that you seem to flame to an extent that you feel you can truly comment on them?
I partially agree with you on the tae kwon do aspects of kicking and little upper body defense/attack. As a kick-boxer i never really had problems beating tkd oppoents in cross-discipline tourneys. However i know tdk exponents who have developed such lightning leg speed/power that getting near them is risking being sent into a coma.
Boxing absolutely does have its merits for stamina, but is only reliant on hands. As for starting a fight with a kick? Anyone trained in such arts is likely to.....i would. A low kick to an unprotected shin could end the fight there and then.
As for aikido, i've seen it demonstrated countless times to be effective, however, the emphasis has been more on the aiki-jutsu style technique which is brutal battlefield stuff and designed to down to the opponent with little chance of them getting up. Still....the techniques are often the same, its the 'intent' that determines the outcome.
Your comment about the "can't go full speed as it cna hurt you" is absolutely true. Why is that hard to believe. If a full on lock/throw were applied in a class and the recipient had his/her arm broke, do you think they'd come back for more? There'd be no students left. Aikido actually bases its power on the aggressors own power. Some people flower it up with bs, but brass tacks, it can be very effective.
