Aikido is a Japanese martial art that is based on the principles of harmony and peace. It combines the traditional techniques of many older martial arts, including jujutsu and judo, with an emphasis on redirecting an attacker’s strength and momentum against them to achieve a win-win situation.
Aikido was founded by Morihei Ueshiba, also known as O-Sensei. His goal was to create a martial art that preserved an opponent’s physical and mental integrity, rather than destroying it.
The art teaches a variety of throwing, joint-locking and pinning techniques that are easy to learn and require little physical strength to perform. It also teaches courtesy and respect to others, as well as proper form.
Its primary focus is on redirecting the attacker’s energy and momentum to your advantage, using balance, positioning, timing, and the correct execution of techniques. This is a fundamental principle of Aikido and one that can be learned by people of all ages, physical abilities and strength levels.
In addition to the physical aspect of training, aikido emphasizes a number of important psychological and emotional aspects. For example, it stresses the need to develop a sense of self-discipline, which is vital to overcoming aggression.
Practicing Aikido can be enjoyable and challenging for all ages and ability levels. In fact, it’s an ideal martial art for women because it requires little to no strength to perform and allows you to redirect an attacker’s force to your advantage.
Aikido is a system of Japanese martial arts developed by Morihei Ueshiba in the early 20th century. It combines the traditional techniques of many other older martial arts, including jujutsu, judo and kenjutsu, with an emphasis on redirecting an attacker’s energy and momentum against them to achieve a win-win scenario.