What is Aikido?

Aikido (Ai – harmony; ki – spirit; do – the way of) is a modern martial art
invented by Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969) based on several traditional
schools.  Morihei Ueshiba Sensei (teacher) was a genius of martial arts
and is normally referred to as “O-Sensei,” the Great Teacher or Great
Master.  His training hall (dojo) in Tokyo, Japan, called Aikido
Headquarters or Hombu Dojo, continues as the center of expertise for
Aikido worldwide.  

Aikido is popularly practiced in Japan and around the world, and it offers
another path of self-improvement and enlightenment through the martial
spirit and way of life.  In contrast to Judo (grappling and throwing), Karate
(striking), and Kendo (fencing), Aikido is not a sport.  Instead, it derives its
spiritual and physical strength from the concept of perfecting oneself
through technique and the Aikido approach of harmony.  By the way, the
traditional martial arts (ko budo) did not have competition either, because
this would have compromised practice of the more lethal and effective
techniques, as well as caused injury to the practitioners – whose family,
town, or kingdom depended on their being healthy and strong for
defense.   

Because Aikido is not a sport, it does not have limiting rules that are
typically made for safety of the practitioners, instead following the natural
movements of the human body.  Thus, almost its throws, joint locks, and
strikes are in agreement with the natural movement of the human body
and, therefore, increase strength rather than work against natural motion
and harm the body.  The Aikido practitioner never presents an opening for
attack and does not assume threatening postures.  Aikido is well suited to
civilian defense.  In Japan, its basic locks and hold-downs are taught to
the Japanese police.  

As a system in harmony with nature, Aikido practitioners like to believe
that the number of techniques is infinite – in any case, a very large
number.  The full regimen of Aikido encompasses:

Tai jutsu – body arts (or empty-hand techniques)

Jo jutsu – staff or stick arts

Ken jutsu – sword arts

Advanced practitioners also train in knife taking.  

Tai jutsu is the physical base of Aikido training.  Jo and ken techniques
are practiced to extend the tai jutsu physical, mental, and spiritual
experience by introducing different distances, timing, reflexes,
techniques, and perspective on life and death.  In addition, there are tai-jo
relations, tai-ken relations, and jo-ken relations.  All of these obey Aikido
principles.  

Aikido can be practiced mentally, with or without physical training.  Its
principles are based on ai (harmony, love), on ki (natural movement,
perfection of oneself, expansion of one’s spirit), and on do –the correct
way – correct thinking and technique, center-to-center relations, and
respect for and helpful behavior toward one’s colleagues – rather than
concern for winning and losing.  The goal of Aikido is to improve the spirit
and oneself, not to defeat an enemy.