Aikido

2004-01-15
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Martial arts > Japanese >

Grappling and throwing arts. Focuses on relaxation.

Strong philosophical component, breeding a mindset which searches for alternatives to combat in the real world. For the most part there is no sparring and no competition in most training. Strong indication of health and well-being benefits among practitioners. Low-stress environment.

Strongly differing variations.

Although well-respected, it's street efficacy is (rightly) questioned.

Founded by Morihei Ueshiba.

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  • Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu is a parent art.

  • Aiki may also be interpreted as "accommodation to circumstances." This latter interpretation is somewhat nonstandard, but it avoids certain undesirable metaphysical commitments and also epitomizes quite well both the physical and psychological facets of Aikido.

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Table of Contents [hide]

Introduction ∞

Of all the popular martial arts out there, Aikido has intrigued me the most. It is so widely known that even I knew of it and most of its principles. I was very surprised to feel the extent of the passion of its practitioners, and even more so to find an abundance of really excellent writing (online).

Source unknown, slightly modified:

Aikido emphasizes evasion and circular/spiral redirection of an attacker's aggressive force into throws, pins, and immobilizations as a primary strategy rather than punches and kicks.

Although Aikido is a relatively recent innovation within the world of martial arts, it is heir to a rich cultural and philosophical background. Aikido was created in Japan by Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969). Before creating Aikido, Ueshiba trained extensively in several varieties of Jujitsu, and in swordsmanship. Ueshiba also immersed himself in religious studies and developed an ideology devoted to universal socio-political harmony (Omoto-kyo). Incorporating these principles into his martial art, Ueshiba developed many aspects of aikido in concert with his philosophical and religious ideology.

Aikido, as Ueshiba conceived it in his mature years, is not primarily a system of combat, but rather a means of self-cultivation and improvement. Aikido has no tournaments, competitions, contests, or "sparring." Instead, all Aikido techniques are learned cooperatively at a pace commensurate with the abilities of each trainee. According to the founder, the goal of aikido is not the defeat of others, but the defeat of the negative characteristics which inhabit one's own mind and inhibit its functioning.

At the same time, the potential of Aikido as a means of self-defence should not be ignored. One reason for the prohibition of competition in Aikido is that many aikido techniques would have to be excluded because of their potential to cause serious injury. By training cooperatively, even potentially lethal techniques can be practised without substantial risk.

It must be emphasized that there are no shortcuts to proficiency in Aikido (or in anything else, for that matter). Consequently, attaining proficiency in Aikido is simply a matter of sustained and dedicated training. No one becomes an expert in just a few months or years.

  • Relaxation

    • One cannot throw unless relaxed.

  • Non-dissension; not to resist your opponent's strength but to use it.

Articles ∞

Resources ∞

Last updated 2023-04-25 at 05:14:50

6 comments

6 comments on “Aikido”

  2. [[Aikido]] had its articles moved to [[Aikido articles]], and a few items were ported over to it.

    2020-05-21 - finished porting all of those articles into their own pages and now I'm using tags to bind them together, and not manual lists like what MediaWiki required.

    Reply

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