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What Is Aikido?
Aikido is a Japanese martial art created in the 20th century
by Morihei
Ueshiba.
The name Aikido
is composed of three Japanese words: Ai,
meaning harmony, Ki,
spirit or energy, and Do,
path, system, or way. Aikido is the way of the spirit of harmony. (The
ligatures below depict the Japanese Kanji for Ai, Ki, and Do.)
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Martial arts are studied for self-defense and
self-improvement but in Aikido the practitioner seeks to achieve
self-defense without injury to attackers. The basic movements of Aikido
are circular in nature; most attacks are linear. The Aikidoist harmonizes with, rather than confronts,
an aggressive line and converts it into a circular motion that renders
attackers helpless.
Instead of using potentially crippling kicks or punches,
the Aikidoist trains to apply various
wristlocks, arm pins, or unbalancing throws to neutralize aggressors
without serious injury.
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Aikido is not a sport. There are no competitive
tournaments. The Aikidoist betters his or her
self without belittling others and, because Aikido seeks to cause no
harm, techniques can be practiced at full strength without fear of
injury. Aikido is the most recently developed of the traditional Asian
martial arts, holds the most modern outlook and is proud of its high
ideals.
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