Aikido

Aikido can best be described as a rare form of Japanese martial arts. Aikido Techniques were first started and put together by a man by the name of Morihei Ueshiba. Ueshiba designed Aikido Techniques based on his study of various martial arts and upon his own personal and religious beliefs and ideas. Aikido Moves focus not just on self defense or on “beautiful” fighting but on channeling and finding the “life energy” that resides in every person and living object. Practitioners refer to this divine energy as the “way of the harmonious spirit.” One of the most interesting things about this practice is that the fighters do not want to hurt or injure their opponents in any way. In fact, doing so would be adverse to the philosophical ideas behind the practice. Instead, opponents focus on redirecting attacks.

Aikido is divided into three forms of Aikido Techniques or Aikido Moves. These are initial or starting attacks, basic techniques, and implementations. The starting attacks moniker is actually misleading, because this form or part of the technique actually focuses on defending against first attacks. One opponent performs a strike or a grab and the other opponent then figures out the best way to stop the attack and redirect the energy imposed by the attack to the opponent. Ways of doing this include the front of the head strike, the side of the head strike, the chest strike, the face strike, the single and two handed grab, the shoulder grab, and the chest grab.

Basic Aikido Techniques are also combative in nature but focus on throwing and/or pinning the opponent so as to stop the directed energy. Aikido Moves that fall into this Aikido category include the first technique, the second technique, the third technique, the fourth technique, the fifth technique, the four direction throw, the forearm technique, the breath throw, the entering throw, the heaven and earth throw, the hip throw, the ten throw, and the rotary throw.

The final stage of Aikido, the implementations, involve forward or omote body motions and backward or ura body motions, meant to stabilize and/or signal an end to the practice of Aikido Techniques. It is only when all three of these stages of the art are combined that the practice is truly complete. The founder believed that the fighting or art must combine all three forms in equal amounts to better understand the life force within and to reach harmony both within oneself and with the universe. These thoughts draw from many different eastern religions as well as from the own personal convictions of the art’s founder. Those interested in learning more about the practice are encouraged to first study its beliefs and fundamental values before they begin practicing it physically.