Greetings toribashers. My name is monkeyishi. I am opening this thread to provide a place for questions reguarding akido. I can not train you as my computer is dead but ill do my best to help.

Good to see someone who had experience in aikido willing to give some tips and help to people. So i guess i will start the question by asking how to counter a knee?

Depends on what you know about you know about the one who is throwing it. If they throw it on the same side. Create space by moving your pelvis to wards the corner behind you on the opposite side that they threw the knee from. Keeping your ankle relaxed to keep ground control. I throw a knee shield up. It gives me the option to kick ,leg sweep or stomp down for a lift. I personally prefer to leg sweep it lets me attack and it gets my leg back towards the ground.
If they throw on both sides youll .need to figure out what makes them throw on a side then its the same principles as before. Create space, maintain ground control, set up counter.
Or you can also throw a knee. Aim for the hip of the grounded leg.

When dueling in a mod like ABD, being offensive is good and if things go the wrong way it is not difficult to correct. I'd go defensive if they go for a suplex opener, or offensive if they play a way you're experienced with. But play how you're comfortable, you can't win them all

Taking the initative is always advisable. Especially if you havent versed them before. Like mcnuggets said play how you are comfortable. The better you get at your play style the easier it is to put them in a position you are farmiliar with and they are not. Ideally youll be able to flow back and foward between the two.
Also if neither a counter or an offensive action be an option. In these i work for position. I work for a safety position like a step crab,or a tripod if i am already safe i want to work on getting my cog close to and under my opponent's cog.

Im not sure how to get kick decaps. I find punches and knees more reliable. Before dueling i would scout out the metagame. I would try to have an answer to the three most comon oppeners. If you win and you wernt sure how save the replay. See what went right for you. As you figure out counters to common situations you'll see patterns emerge. As you see these patterns you can become more of a counter fighter. Finding good people to play against is a must. And if you save close losses you can go back later to see if you can figure out a counter.

Improvement. Playing a bit of single player every so often will also help. It help you put the skills you learn in multiplayer together to make your game plan. If you have the time play in the ufc octogon for 1000 frames 10 frames per turn 30frame dq. Alternate between tori and uke. Teaches you fine control of your tori. And the types of attacks that end a stable top control. Also look for inspiration from real world martials.

Depends on how diamond plays. I can give yu a better answer if you can describe the play style. With the information at my disposal i would say using solid fundimentals. Ask your self. Am i stable?Are they stable? Am i set up for an attack? Will this attack end with me in top control or a safety position? Work your way though these questions if its a no. Make it a yes. This will help keep you alive long enough for them to mess up enough for you to capitalise on.