Aikido – The Art of Harmony

Morihei Ueshiba founded aikido as a martial art in 1925. His philosophies of peaceful resolution of conflict and the holistic development of the individual led to a large following among people from many cultures, even today.

In aikido, the practice of blending with an opponent’s force to control it rather than fighting against it provides a safe way for men and women of all ages to train physically. The training builds stamina, flexibility and muscular development without excessive emphasis on strength. Students become more aware of their natural tendency to overreact to opposition and learn techniques that do not rely on brute force to succeed.

Aikido draws heavily on the Japanese art of daito-ryu aikijujutsu, which blends empty-handed throwing and joint-locking techniques with weapon training such as spear (yari), staff (jo) or sword (katana). However, it also has roots in various feudal warrior arts including kenjutsu and unarmed combat systems developed into distinct styles called ryu by the military requirements of feudal Japan.

Aikido students strive to harmonize their own minds and bodies, as well as with their training partners and the universe around them. This centering or centeredness is known in Japanese as having a strong ki (the kanji was used for k until 1946; the Chinese term yuan qi is more familiar in this context). It brings one to a state of calm awareness and harmony with self, training partners and the world at large. The centered person is resilient, yet expresses a soft and adaptable strength.