We agree that Aikido is a martial art. Good. That, at least, gives me a starting point.
This will hopefully help you understand the defenition of martial arts:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_arts
To save some time I´ll just go ahead and quote the introduction:
"Martial arts are systems of codified practices and traditions of
training for combat. While they maybe studied for various reasons, martial arts share a single objective:
to defeat a person physically or to defend oneself from physical threat."
Don´t be sorry.. a throw IS an attack. A throw is an attack even if it is performed on someone while they are trying to hit you, using their own movement against them. Then it´s a COUNTERattack.
Any counterattack is still an attack. Even if you are using your opponents own agression/strenght/momentum to defeat him you are still actively trying to defeat him.
The term is Martial ARTS because that is what they used to call all studies in 15th century Europe (where the term originated). The
arts of War (=Martial arts), The
arts of astronmy, the
arts of philosophy etc. Not because it´s "artsy", as you put it.
Are there any more questions or can we move on to discussing what a douche Steven Seagal is?