What Is Aikido?

Doshu seminar - 10th IAF Congress Tanabe Japan

Doshu seminar - 10th IAF Congress Tanabe Japan

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This noncompetitive Japanese martial art aims to harmonize energy with that of a partner or opponent in order to achieve both physical and emotional mastery through peaceful resolution. Aikido literally means the path to the coordination of body, mind, and spirit. Aikido is a defensive system of continuous, circular motions, combining many of the fluid, dance-like movements of t’ai chi along with more subtle, stylized techniques. When practiced properly, successful defense is achieved through minimal action. Originally seen as a combination of religion and martial arts, aikido was created by Morehei Ueshiba in the early twentieth century.

The movements in Aikido are not designed to stop attacks or to conflict with them. The principles of Aikido are such that all movements are allowed to continue and complete themselves. An aikidoist blends with the movement of an attack and redirects it to a conclusion.

Aikido is based on principles of correct movement rather than on strength, it can be practiced by persons of all ages and physical abilities.

  1. Photo from www.aikikai.si/en/ [↩]

  • Canadian Aikido History


    Takeshi Kimeda is credited with introducing Yoshinkan Aikido to Canada on his arrival in 1964 in Toronto, Ontario. Kimeda, presently ranked 7th dan, systematically built up a network of dojos in the Toronto, Hamilton and Windsor areas. This development was enhanced by the arrival of Mitsugoro Karasawa, now a 6th dan, in 1970.

  • Aikido, the Art


    Aikido is performed by blending with the motion of the attacker and redirecting the force of the attack rather than opposing it head-on. This requires very little physical energy, as the aikidōka (aikido practitioner) “leads” the attacker’s momentum using entering and turning movements. The techniques are completed with various throws or joint locks. Aikido can be categorized under the general umbrella of grappling arts.

  • Aikido World Headquarters


    AIKIKAI FOUNDATION Aikido World Headquarters
    17-18 Wakamatsu Cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-0056 Japan
    Phone: (+81) 3-3203-9236, Fax: (+81) 3-3204-8145
    Site: http://www.aikikai.or.jp/

  • Aikido Pros


    Aikido is a good, viable self-defense. It is probably better for self-defense than any of the empty-hand martial arts that are commonplace including TKD, karate, hapkido, jujitsu, and judo. It has been reported that some old-school judo teachers have told their students that for real self-defense do aikido but for sport do judo.