What is Aikido? Where and when did it start? Where can I learn?
Aikido is a traditional Japanese martial art, which was developed in the early 20th century, by Aikido’s founder O’sensei – Morihei Ueshiba.
Aikido includes a wide variety of self-defense techniques that originate from the ancient fighting knowledge of Japanese samurai, and also original techniques developed by O’Sensei.
Who invented the art of Aikido?
O-Sensei, the creator of the method, composed Aikido from a variety of traditional Japanese martial arts methods that he learned. Some of those methods and techniques that he learned included deadly techniques that were used by the bodyguards of the Japanese royal family.
Over time and the spiritual development of the founder of Aikido, the approach he chose to instill in Aikido is different from other arts and is based on a philosophy of connection and peace.
Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969) is known for short as “O-Sensei” (the great teacher).
He studied with a number of Japanese martial arts deeply ancient, and then developed his own method by weaving together a variety of techniques, making changes, developments and adjustments to them to suit his worldview.
O-Sensei believed that the path of martial arts leads to a healthier life, in harmony with one’s environment and oneself. And so as he continued to teach Aikido, over the course of several decades, what he taught also changed, and the techniques became more fluid and less “rigid”.
When was the art of Aikido developed?
Morihei Ueshiba (known as: O-Sensei), developed Aikido as an independent method in the 1930s.
Quote from O-Sensei, Morihei Ueshiba – The Aikido key:
“Move like a beam of light:
fly like lightning,
strike like thunder,
whirl in circles around a stable center“
In essence, Aikido is a martial art in which the techniques are performed for self-defense, and contains almost no offensive techniques, although Aikido techniques can be deadly, depending on the method of use and the level of ability of the performer.
Self-defense techniques in Aikido are designed to be performed under control – the goal is to neutralize and restrain the attackers with minimal damage to them (or damage at the discretion of the performer of the technique if necessary).
Aikido techniques are based on escapes, throws, and joint locks. The element The main goal of aikido is to neutralize attackers without using force or with minimal use, while connecting to the attacker’s movement and using the momentum that the attack itself creates in order to neutralize the attack.
Articles and articles on Aikido – click here
Does Aikido include weapons training?
Aikido classes include the use of three traditional Japanese weapons which are an essential part of the Aikido training syllabus:
+ Sword training, which is called Aikiken (“ken” = sword) with a wooden sword “bokken“
+ Stick training, which is called Aikijo (“jo” = medium-length stick)
+ Self-defense training against attacks with a short knife (tanto) and of course against a sword and stick.
Does Aikido have styles?
There are different schools and styles of Aikido that were created by students of O’Sensei who developed their own approach. Among the dominant Aikido styles (in terms of the number of practitioners) are:
Aikikai Aikido
Seidoukan Aikido
Aikido Istha
Kobayashi Aikido
Real Aikido
Yoshinkan Aikido
Shodokan Aikido
The “Aikikai” organization is the main organization for Aikido in Japan and the world, and is associated with the The father founded by the developer of Aikido and run by his grandson today (Moritoru Ueshiba).
Another O-Sensei quote:
“Life is growth.
If we stop growing,
technically and spiritually,
we are as good as dead“
Belts and ranks in Aikido: How long does it take to get a black belt or rank in Aikido?
A black belt in Aikido usually comes not before 4-5 years of continuous Aikido training. You could say that this is the “minimum” period in general, but of course it can be more, depending on the level of investment and perseverance of each practitioner (who is called in Aikido: “Aikidoka”).
In theory, the fastest way to get a black belt is to study with an Aikido teacher or club that holds classes every day, and then practice every day and even twice a day if possible.
In Japan, there is also the possibility of becoming an “uchi deshi” – a student who sometimes lives in the dojo, is responsible for the care and cleaning of the dojo, and participates in all the classes.
There is a respectable amount of teachers For Aikido who traveled to Japan to receive intensive Aikido training for several consecutive years, where they were able to practice Aikido two or three times every day, and thus, gained great knowledge and ability in a relatively “short” time (of several years).
The origin of the name Aikido
O Sensei originally studied the ancient Japanese fighting style called “Daito Ryu”, from a Japanese teacher named Takeda Sokko.
Between the years 1920-1930, O Sensei taught the traditional art of self-defense and combat jujitsu “Daito Ryu” as he learned from his own teachers.
Some say that O Sensei’s students from this period and their successors are more aggressive than what O Sensei taught later – and from them emerged several aikido styles, such as Yoshinkan Aikido, Shodokan Aikido and others.
Following a number of profound spiritual experiences, O Sensei reported that he changed his understanding of martial arts, the way of the warrior, and the world.
The first experience occurred in 1925 when he defended himself from an attack by a Japanese army officer who attacked him with a wooden sword (bokken), and O Sensei successfully dodged it without harming the officer.
In 1942, during World War II, O-Sensei said:
“The way of the warrior has been misunderstood. It is not a means of killing and destroying others. Those who seek to compete and show their superiority over one another are making a terrible mistake. To crush, to wound or to destroy is the worst thing a human being can do. The true way of a warrior is to prevent slaughter or injury – this is the art of peace, the power of love.”
With the changes he made to the art he taught,
O Sensei Ueshiba called the martial art he taught by several different names over the years:
– Aiki-Jitsu
– Aiki-Budo
In 1942, upon joining the organization for the promotion of Japanese martial arts Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, he received the name AIKIDO (Aikido) – this term was actually an invention of another teacher martial arts master Minoru Hirai (Minoru Hirai), who studied many fighting styles and developed his own fighting system, which he taught.
And when he met O-Sensei Ueshiba, the two became friends and they discovered that they both had similar insights into martial arts and self-defense, and both made similar changes to what they taught such as an emphasis on circular movements and more.
Minoru Hirai called his method Korindo Aikido, is a method that contains several principles similar to Morihei Ueshiba’s Aikido but is actually a separate fighting method that includes a large number of traditional Japanese weapons and different techniques.
What does the name of the martial art “Aikido” mean?
The phrase “Aikido” can be interpreted as “the way of harmony”.
“Ki” – is the life force or breath. Ki is at the center, perhaps at the heart of Aikido – both in theory and in word.
When the name of the system is divided into syllables it is pronounced Aikido.
AI = Harmony / Connection
KI = Spirit / Energy
DO = Way / Path
+ Click here for Aikido lessons for beginners
Aikido for beginners – what to expect?
Aikido classes always begin with a bow, with students sitting in a row in a traditional seiza (kneeling) position.
The teacher (the sensei) enters and bows to the shomen (an area where there is usually a picture of the founder of aikido and teachers of the teacher you are training with).
The teacher then sits down in front of the students a few meters away, then all the students bow together to the teacher and the teacher also bows towards the students with the greeting “Onigai Shimas” – which means “Let’s learn together”.
Then, all joints and the body are warmed up, followed by practicing forward and backward rolls. If you don’t know how to roll, don’t worry!
Aikido classes for beginners are the right place to learn to roll properly, safely and easily.
It is recommended to come in comfortable and flexible clothing. In aikido training (like most martial arts), you should not practice with jewelry on your body.
What does Aikido training look like…
The art of Aikido is usually practiced with a partner, in scenarios where one of the trainees functions as the attacker (“Uke“) and the other person practices defensive Aikido techniques in response to the attack (“Tori“).
Many of the techniques involve joint locks that allow the attacker to be moved into a position where he can be held or restrained. Other techniques in Aikido include throwing the partner.
For new Aikido students, it is customary to spend time learning how to fall and roll safely, as during Aikido training they are expected to roll hundreds or thousands of times, falling correctly is a fundamental component of Aikido practice.
The basic movements in Aikido are circular. Aikido practitioners try to blend in harmony with the attack coming at them and not collide with it, but to convert the energy of that attack into a circular motion using a technique that ultimately renders the attacker or attackers helpless and under the control of the attacked.
Aikido techniques can be very destructive, so if Aikido practitioners do not flow in harmony with their movements in a quality that sometimes resembles a couple’s dance, injury can easily occur. Thus, students quickly discover that the power of Aikido does not come from muscle power, but from timing and control.
The movements in Aikido maintain a stable center while simultaneously performing rotating and circular movements that are used to blend in, control, and overcome opponents. This principle of movement allows Aikido to defend itself against a larger and stronger opponent.
Aikido – Who is it for?
Aikido is an excellent martial art, great for women and men!
Not only is Aikido a martial art with very high numbers of women, there are a good number of female instructors and you can train in mixed groups or even find groups only for women.
Aikido for children is a great way to learn Japanese values, self-defense, great respect for others, and cooperation.
In many aikido groups you can see practitioners aged 50+, 60+ and above, who train happily and enjoy…
Celebrities who practice Aikido
- Steven Seagal – The 90s action movie star holds a black belt in a variety of Japanese martial arts. The martial art for which he is best known is Aikido. In all of Steven Seagal’s movies, you can see many Aikido techniques **Watch the video**
- Sean Connery – The star of the first James Bond movies holds a second black belt (Nidan, 2nd dan) in Aikido
- Jerry Seinfeld – The famous actor/comedian said he trained in Aikido and recommends that anyone considering marriage do so as well
- Joan Baez – The veteran folk singer holds a 2nd dan – second black belt In Aikido
Aikido – A Quick Summary
The central element that is sought in Aikido today, as taught by the creator of the method, O’sensei – O’sensei Morihei Ueshiba, is neutralization without the use of force.
Aikido has a wide variety of self-defense techniques, mainly locks, throws, and holds.
Aikido also includes learning and using traditional weapons such as a stick – jo, and a wooden sword – bokken, and dealing with weapons.
The practitioner of Aikido is called: “Aikidoka”.
Except for very exceptional cases, there are no competitions or tournaments in Aikido.
Basic Aikido Terms
Names of basic Aikido techniques:
Ikkyo – First self-defense technique taught in Aikido
Nikyo – Second self-defense technique taught in Aikido
Sankyo – Third self-defense technique taught in Aikido
Yonkyo – Fourth self-defense technique taught in Aikido
Gokyo – Fifth self-defense technique taught in Aikido
Names of basic Aikido throws:
Shiho Nage – Four-way Throw
Irimi Nage
Kokyu Nage
Koshi Nage
Relevant links:
Japanese words that are important for anyone learning Aikido to know:
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