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Aikido Techniques - Physical Application-Spiritual Focus

Author: Dan Kudo
Date Posted: January 09, 2009

The various martial arts teach defensive techniques in their own special way. Aikido combines the physicality of self-defense techniques with an additional level of mental and spiritual development.

A newer Japanese martial art, Aikido was developed by Morihei Ueshiba, who is referred to by his followers as O-Sensei. The name of the art gives us some insight as to its nature.

- Ai (pronounced ayee), denotes Harmony or Love.
- Ki (pronounced key) denotes energy or spirit.
- Do (pronounced doh) means the study or way of.

Thus, Aikido is often translated as "the way of harmony of power or spirit". Male students often become interested in this art because they have seen a movie, which portrays the art in a visually aggressive and spectacular form. Females often start this art because it is a way to learn about women's personal safety. Becoming part of the Aikido family and training seriously, will permit you to learn that the concept of personal defense as well as harmony can be applied to our daily lives. It can become a philosophy of life whose goal is the enhancement of all relationships.

The self-defense techniques, which are the physical manifestation of the art, focus on the blending and redirection of the movement of the attacker in the form of a throw or a joint lock in order to achieve control- ideally with little or no physical harm. Therefore, a key characteristic of this art is resolution of conflict with little or no violence if such physical conflict can be avoided. The ultimate scenario can be thought of as meeting someone with hostile intent and controlling the interaction in a way that results in a friendship.

O-Sensei was fond of saying that "true victory is victory over one's self". The spiritual dimension of the art is the development of inner calmness, or self-control, which leads to a desire to resolve conflicts peacefully. Many of us have heard stories of extraordinary strength such as a woman moving a heavy object to free a child. This invisible inner strength, called Ki, is a form of this energy that many Aikido dojos work to enhance as a key focus of spiritual development. Aikido movement and techniques, practiced in their purest form, require relatively little physical effort and are associated with relaxed, fluid movements. There are several videos on YouTube of O-Sensei demonstrating Aikido techniques in a seemingly effortless manner (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-dYF-QpLXA). Zen meditation plays an important role in ki training at many dojos. Kiatsu (pronounced key-yhat-sue) is another spiritual dimension of the art that is taught in some dojos. It focuses on the belief that ki flows freely though a healthy body and that its flow is impeded in areas that are sick or injured. Ki extension into an injured area, may help to stimulate the person's own ki movement and thus help them to begin the healing process on their own.

In summary, Aikido is a martial art possessing a physical dimension utilizing joint locks and throws to achieve control of an attack and a spiritual dimension designed to achieve an inner calmness, which promotes control over one's self.

About The Author

Dan Kudo has been a practitioner of Aikido for thirty-seven years and teaches the art in Santa Ana, CA and holds the rank of Yondan (fourth-degree black belt). His interests also include other sports such as skiing and flyfishing as well as music, photography, and videography.rnHe provides martial arts information in the form of articles and web pages for everyone to enjoy free. Check out this page for more on Aikido and martial arts.

Article Source: JKD Street Combat - online collection of Aikido articles.

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