breathingcarbon

It's inspired this young Ebola survivor to want to become a doctor, so that's something at least.

If someone is pointing a gun or weapon at you, you're defending yourself. An offensive move would be pointing a gun or weapon.

The answer to your questions "what's the point" and "why not learn something useful" depend on your frame of reference. If the point is to fight, then sure, boxing or some other art may be more fitting. But perhaps the point is to avoid conflict, in which case aikido might be more fitting. It's all relative.

Nothing? Maybe you learned nothing from aikido, but that's a reflection on you, not the art itself.

First of all, thank you for the work you have been doing, it's fantastic.

It sounds like this situation has decimated an already fragile country. Do you have a sense of what will be needed to rebuild society, the economy etc. after this outbreak is contained?