What is Aikido?
Aikido
The form of self defense known as aikido was first created in the 20s by Morihei Ueshiba. This man was a professional in martial arts who had knowledge of a variety of different types and used his knowledge to create aikido martial arts. His primary goal was to combine philosophy, spirituality and martial arts. After his passing, his son and then grandson carried on his work and legacy. This form of martial arts was not officially recognized in Japan until 1941, and not known in the West until the 50s.
The first dojo for aikido self defense was opened in France in 1953. A dojo is a school or place of study for martial arts. The United States and Germany were the next countries to open aikido dojos. This type of martial art is unique, because the goal is not to cause harm to the opponent. The goal is to render the opponent helpless, immobilize him so he cannot cause harm. Founder Ueshiba stated that his goal for aikido was to “control aggression without inflicting injury…” so if you are someone who likes the idea of defense without harm consider this form of martial arts.
Main techniques of aikido martial arts include throws and holds. This uses the movements of one’s opponent to increase force while gaining momentum. Surprisingly, there are only around 20 techniques in this form of self defense. However, they can be used in a huge number of combinations. Attacks are sometimes necessary, and they are called atemi. These blows are designed to be very effective because they strike pressure points of the body which cause debilitating pain. Atemis are considered dangerous as some can even be deadly, and are only taught to students who have reached a high level of advancement and understanding.
These atemis are primarily used as a way to render an attacker helpless so the attacked can get away and get help. Sometimes, weapons are used in aikido self defense classes. This may sound like the opposite of the philosophy, but the reason is that some teachers feel the hand hits are similar to sword strikes. The weapons practiced with are a jo, which is a wood stick measuring four feet, and a bokken, a wooden sword. They are used to increase the effectiveness of hand strikes. So, if you are looking for a form of self defense that is based on peace rather than aggression, consider studying the art of aikido.
