Aikido
From Karate, Kungfu, Wrestling, Mixed Fighting Information Source
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Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba in the early to mid-20th century (1920s-1960s). The art of Aikido not only teaches combat techniques, it also teaches its students the importance of spiritual and philosophical development.
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Etymology and Meaning
The word aikido in Japanese is made up of three characters, called kanji. The first is "ai", which means "to come together" or "to harmonize." The second kanji is "ki", which means "energy" or "spirit." The third and last character is "do", which means "the way of." When put together as "aikido" it means "the way of harmonizaing with the spirit of the universe."
History
Aikido was officially founded in 1942. Ueshiba learned many different arts, but especially Tenji Shinyo Ryu Jujutsu and Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu. These are the basis for Aikido.
Techniques
Aikido primarily uses the attacker's force against him to throw him to the ground. Joint locks are also widely used. There are no kicks and few hand-strikes. Most techniques are designed to control rather than hurt an attacker.
Training
Each class begins with exercises and stretches to relax and prepare the body. Warm-ups generally end with ukemi (correct falling) practice, including forward and backward rolls. Ukemi practice permits each student to learn Aikido safely. The instructor then starts the training by demonstrating a technique to be applied against a certain attack. The class divides into pairs, the partners alternating between being uke (attacker) and nage or tori (defender). Partners depend on each other to safely and smoothly complete each technique. In this way confidence and continuous movement are developed. There should be no struggling or resistance. Several techniques are studied in every class. As students advance, the number of techniques and the level of difficulty is increased.
Rankings
The majority of Aikido styles use the system of colored belts common to modern Japanese martial arts. This grading system was created by Jigoro Kano, founder of Judo. Students are promoted through a series of kyū ("grades"), followed by dan ("degrees"). The majority of Aikido organizations use only white and black belts to distinguish between skill levels, but some use colored belts for kyū levels. Requirements for promotion, the number of levels of rank, and the exact testing procedures vary widely among the different styles. Thus, a rank in one style is not necessarily equivalent to the same rank in another.
Styles/Schools
There are several major styles of Aikido. The largest by far is Aikikai, the original style and organization of the Ueshiba family, now headed by O-Sensei's grandson, Moriteru Ueshiba. Others are Yoshinkan and Yoseikan. A controversial offshoot is Shodokan Aikido (not to be confused with Shotokan or Shudokan, both styles of Karate), which includes regulated competitive combat in its training. Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido stresses ki development more than any other style and is governed by The Ki Society.
While the above styles were founded by students of O-Sensei and are true styles of O-Sensei's art, other martial arts use the name Aikido but are not derived from the teachings of Ueshiba. These include Korindo Aikido, Nihon Goshin Aikido, and the Serbian-based martial art known as Real Aikido.
The Ki
The study of ki, derived from the Chinese word qi, is a critical component of Aikido. Ki is very similar to the English term "spirit," which is often employed in explaining this concept. The precise meaning and role of ki within Aikido is much debated. Ueshiba himself appears to have changed his views on the subject over time. For example, Gozo Shioda's Yoshinkan Aikido, which largely follows Ueshiba's teachings from before World War II, deals with ki mostly in physical terms. Shioda believed that the secret to ki lies in timing and the application of the whole body's strength onto a single point of the opponent's body. Over time, Ueshiba's focus moved on to the achievement of spiritual goals, and many of his later students teach ki to their own students from this perspective. In Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido, students are ranked separately in Aikido and ki development.
Philosophy
Morihei Ueshiba always sought to combine his Shinto spiritual beliefs with his martial arts training. Ueshiba believed that the foremost struggle in every man and woman was not physical combat against others, but rather one's internal conflict with the forces that cause a person to fall out of harmony with the universe. Thus he called his new art "Aikido," the "Way of Harmony."
| Japanese Martial Arts | |
|---|---|
| Aikido | Aikijutsu | Atemi Jitsu | Battojutsu | Bojutsu | Dai Jutsu Do | Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu | Goshin Jujitsu | Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu | Iaido | Jodo | Judo | Jujutsu | Juttejutsu | Kashima Shinryu | Kendo | Kenjutsu | Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo | Kyokushin | Kyudo | Naginata Do | Nanbudo | Ninjutsu | Shidokan | Shinkendo | Shintaido | Shoot boxing | Shooto | Shorinji Kempo | Shugijutsu | Sumo | Taido | Tantojutsu | Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu | Yabusame | Yagyu Shingan Ryu | |
