Aikido

Aikido, sometimes translated as “the way of harmonious spirit,” was developed in the early twentieth century by Morihei Ueshiba. Ueshiba (called O-Sensei, or “great teacher” by practitioners of Aikido) wanted to create a way to keep himself and his loved ones safe from attack without resorting to violence.

The goal of Aikido is to protect not only yourself, but also your attacker, and in so doing to protect both of you from the psychic damage of harming another person. Thus, the emphasis of Aikido is on redirecting and dissolving an attacker's force rather than countering it with one's own.

Physically, Aikido differs from other martial arts in that it contains few strikes, instead utilizing a wide range of throws and pins. It also differs in that it is a noncompetitive art. There are no Aikido tournaments and practitioners do not compete with their partners; rather the emphasis is on mutual learning and growth.

The techniques studied in Aikido, while practical methods of self-defense, are also metaphors for the conflicts (both physical and otherwise) that we face in daily life, and regular Aikido practice strengthens the body and the mind, better preparing us to face hardship in life outside the dojo.

Further Information