International Okinawan Shorin - Ryu
Seibukan Karate Do, UAE

What is Aikido
 

'ai' harmony

'ki' spirit/power

'do' way/path

Aikido (the way of harmonizing the energy of the universe) is first and foremost a martial art but it is also much more. At its most basic level Aikido is a system of throwing, joint-locking, striking and pinning techniques, coupled with training in the use of sword, staff and knife techniques. Aikido was founded by Morihei Ueshiba in the early twentieth century and has now grown to be one of the world’s most popular martial arts.

As a form of Budo (the martial way), Aikido is more than a fighting art. It is a path of personal discovery and character improvement. The path on which you have taken the first steps is different for each person but if you train hard you will see improvements in many areas of your life. Some of the benefits include increased physical fitness, improved self-confidence and a greater awareness of yourself and your boundaries as well as those of people around you.

The most fundamental concept of Aikido is that of ‘harmonising’ with an attacker. In practical terms, a practitioner of aikido will use the force of an attack against their aggressor to apply a lock, throw or pin. When pulled the Aikidoka (practioner of Aikido) moves forward in the direction of the attack. When pushed, the Aikidoka pivots out of the way. In this way, Aikido redirects the force of the attack until it is no longer a threat. In this weakened position, the attacker then becomes susceptible to various forms of controls (ways of directing an attacker to a final pin), or throw.

Underpinning this theoretical basis is a number of principles and methods, all integral to cultivating a greater understanding and means of applying this fundamental principle.

The first of these methods is the appropriate roles of both ‘shite’ and ‘uke’. In traditional aikido training, shite and uke are training partners, not opponents. As a ‘pair’, both will work with each other, fostering an atmosphere suited to the application and research of often dangerous locks and throws. Such a high level of co-operation helps you to reconceptualise an attack - from a hostile and destructive force to a positive facilitator of your aikido technique. The attack becomes a positive means to your ends.

Another of the methods used is ‘Shuchu-ryoku’ - or focused power. This is the ability to focus your power into one point. Using the power of the hips, legs, knees, abdomen, etc, harnessed together to focus your energy towards one aim. The power generated is greater than the power of the muscles alone. It is the aikidoka’s ability to generate such power that enables a smaller and comparatively weaker person to apply techniques on larger and stronger opponents.

Breath power or ‘kokyu-ryoku’ results from the alignment of feeling (sensitivity), breathing and rhythm, allowing the Aikidoka to read uke's movement and lead them. It is not necessary to do any special training in order to develop breath power, you will develop it through consistent training.

Aikido is very different from the better known Japanese martial arts like Karate, Jiu-Jutsu, etc. It is a ‘soft’ martial art. The word soft can often be misleading. All it means is that it does not use the strength and power that a Karate or Kobudo technique requires for execution. Instead, Aikido relies on the power of the aggressor, and gently uses that force against him to defeat him.

That makes it ideal for anyone and everyone, especially women and children, to be able to learn and apply the principles and concepts of Aikido. These simple yet effective techniques can be utilised effectively against larger adversaries, and without relying on the use of any real power or strength.

It is the art of non-resistance. Aikido stresses on being in harmony with the enemy. That means there is no opposition to the attacker’s movement. Instead, the Aikido student goes along with the opponent, largely in a circular motion, and executes a lock, break or throw that disarms or immobilizes them.

The founder of Aikido, the late Morihei Ueshiba Sensei, always emphasized that the Aikido student is like the eye of a storm: remaining calm within, while there is turmoil all around.

Aikido has been made popular on screen by Hollywood actor Steven Seagal in his movies.