Aikido: The Art of Peace.
What Is Aikido?
Aikido is a modern Japanese martial art created by Morihei Ueshiba (1883 – 1969) – known as O’Sensei (Great Teacher) or Kaiso (Founder). After training in various traditional Japanese martial arts including Judo, swordsmanship (Kenjutsu), and most importantly Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu, Ueshiba unified his martial training, philosophy, and religious beliefs to create Aikido. Aikido emphasises the redirection of force to neutralise aggression. It is a uniquely peaceful martial art.
Aikido has been described as “moving meditation” and is known as “the art of peace.” The non-aggressive philosophy of Aikido can be applied in all aspects of life. Training in Aikido cultivates the mind, body, and spirit.
There is no competition in Aikido. Training, while challenging and rigorous, is conducted in a cooperative spirit. An Aikidoist does not strive to overpower an attacker with force, but rather to be in harmony with their surroundings.
‘Aikido‘ is constructed from three characters:
- 合(ai): to join or unify
- 氣(ki): life energy, spirit
- 道(do): way, path
Aikido techniques are divided into two basic categories based on their termination: pins and throws. While Aikido utilizes strikes and punches in application, they serve to unbalance the aggressor so that they may be pinned in a joint lock or thrown into a roll or fall.
How can peaceful people benefit from training in Aikido?
Aikido is a peaceful, graceful art. Practicing Aikido will foster a calm disposition, peaceful intentions, and a desire to avoid and contain conflict.
Aikido is strictly for self-defense, rather than for attack. Aikido allows one to defend themselves against one or multiple attackers without causing serious injury, by using the opponent’s own energy to neutralise them. Training in Aikido improves physical fitness, enhances one’s cardio-vascular capacity, and increases physical strength and flexibility. Aikido builds self-confidence and self-respect, improves mental discipline, and helps one gain respect and compassion for others. Most importantly, Aikido is fun!
