Random Facts Central

Aikido is a modern martial art that is founded by spirituality and philosophy influenced by the Omoto-kyo religion associated with the Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba. The etymology of the word Aikido stems from three Japanese characters. The meaning could be interpreted as practicing the art of peace.
The Aikido way is to align body and mind with the spirit or ki and it said that the only way to be able to do this is through cultivating a relaxed state.

Although spiritual and philosophical development is important in Aikido training, it has to be put to practical means and examples in actual practice of Aikido techniques and methods.Aikido training usually consists of two parties.

This concept of uke and nage can be likened to the Chinese yin and yang because in Aikido, uke and nage are not separate entities.

Furthermore, in Aikido training, the receiver or uke usually initiates an attack against the nage whose aim is to neutralize the assault with an Aikido move or technique.This way, both the uke and nage learn from each other and the Aikido training is not successfully executed without oneness between the two.

Such fundamentals are the principles of adapting, flexibility, calmness and blending. In the case of uke and nage, Aikido training teaches uke to be more flexible and relaxed so that nage will not be able to catch them unaware and throw them off balance.

This is called randori and is a vital and required lesson to be learned in higher levels of Aikido training. The Aikido training for multiple attacks is done “freestyle” where a person can further expand their knowledge by practicing and performing Aikido techniques beyond the structured environment of the uke and nage.

Aikido is a martial arts form that requires constant practice and dedicated study for it does not only teach you self-defense, it also teaches you discipline.

Here are some tips in choosing a good aikido school.

Although all aikido training schools will be teaching the same set of tricks and techniques, there are schools that will give you better training. In fact, they can even give you tips and advice on aikido training. Another way is to ask martial arts teachers.

There are a few moves that can be considered to make up the fundamentals of Aikido. Here are three examples of the moves that you can use in order to disarm your opponent.

Kotogaeshi — this is what is called in the English as the wrist return.

Iriminage — called the entering-body throw, here the practitioner or the nage will move into the space where the uke or the opponent is.

Kokyunage — this is the breath throw, a term that refers to the various types of “timing throws.”

When an attacker is approaching, the person only has a split second to decide whether to dodge or block the move of the opponent. In a fight, the person can make a counter attack in the hopes that the individual will be subdued. Successfully doing that so it looks easy is the true secret of the martial arts.

Aikido is a martial art in which the person blocks the moves of an opponent by using the hands. This martial art cannot be learned by merely watching others do it in the movies or in television.

The person must first become a student in order to be called a master.

It only takes a split second whether someone comes out as a victor or a loser in combat. Such things also happen in competition which is why it is best for the student to be familiar with the various aikido moves at all times.For instance, in Ai hanmi Iriminage a person grabs the attacker by the neck and forces the opponent to the ground.

In Ai hanmi Kokyuho, this is similar to the first with the difference of extending the arm a little farther in order to achieve maximum effect. Not all the aikido moves being taught however, are just to block and the make the person fall to the ground. Find out about using aikido moves in combat in this article.

Atemi are feints or strikes that are used as attacks against the vital points o the body. This movement is meant to cause much damage; so it is rarely being used in aikido.

Another form of strikes that can be used in aikido is the kick. This is however not used as often. One of the most common attacks used is Called Shomenuchi in aikido language, it is characterized by a vertical knife strike to the head of the opponent. They are the most common weapons of Aikido.

However, there are also actual weapons used in the dojo.

You will be taught to use both armed and unarmed forms of combat and self defense. For unarmed attacks, you have at your disposal a variety of throws, strikes, joint-lock techniques, vital points and even those so-called mystery attacks wherein you attack the opponent without laying a hand on him or her.

However, in general most Aikido classes are conducted with exclusive training with the use of the jo or staff, tanto or knife and the bokken or sword. These three serve as the main weapons used in Aikido. Through weapons training, an Aikido practitioner will be able to measure the distance between attacks.

Hard style Aikido?

Within the world of Aikido a variety of styles exists.

Aikikai is a style led by O-sensei’s decendants and remains to be the largest Aikido organization. Meanwhile, Yoshinkan was founded by Gozo Shioda and is known for its rigid practice of being precise or accurate. The Shodokan Aikido use to train with sparring and rule based competitions.

However, outside observers sometimes view Yoshinkan Aikidokas or those that practices Aikido as having too automatic or too rigid movements because of their strict adherence to the techniques and in the correct execution of each movement.

This is why Yoshinkan is sometimes referred to as the “hard-style”. Another distinguishing factor in Yoshinkan is the positioning of the Aikidoka’s feet and hips.

Dojo is the Japanese term for a formal training structure for martial arts, it is where to practice your Aikido. A modern day Aikido dojo however loses most of its formality.

Some of the modern Aikido dojo that are run by small groups of individuals who want to remain authentic to the spirit of the traditional dojo, students conduct a cleaning ritual after each training session.

Most traditional dojo observes a set pattern of precise entrances that need to be adhered to by the students depending on their rank. Students will commonly enter the dojo from the lower left corner while instructors will enter from the upper right corner.

Since the development of Aikido from the hands of its founder Morihei Ueshiba, it has gone through drastic changes. If you are into aikido and already been enrolled in one of the classes, you must familiarize yourself with everything that you need to know about the martial art.

As someone once said, much in life is accomplished simply by showing up. Most aikido practitioners suggest that for a student to advance in aikido, he or she should practice at least twice a week. Make your training your own responsibility. Just like in any martial art training, Aikido requires attention and dedication from you.

Although instructors and senior students will be there to guide you, they wouldn’t be the one responsible for your improvement. Learn more about teaching, training and exercising Aikido here.

Due to the dynamic nature of Aikido, most experts say that there are no definite “styles” or “techniques” in practicing the martial art. The aikido founder reiterates this principle over and over again because the techniques of aikido, when applied without care, can damage or kill instead of diverting or immobilizing the opponent. The techniques of Aikido are of a very dynamic nature.

Although most people say that there should be no superior or inferior technique, only the student or the individual practicing it can truly tell which technique works well for him or her.

The “ki” in Aikido is basically the same thing the Chinese call “chi”, but with a slightly different emphasize, it could be said to be the underlying principle of everything in Aikido. In quantum physics, one of the foremost theories that promises to revolutionize how we see the world is the theory of strings.

Although no direct correlation has ever been claimed between string theory and that of the principles of ch’i prevalent in the East, they share the same premise in the most basic sense that it is said that there is a basic energy substance that underlie everything. The concept of ch’i or qi in Chinese and ki in Japanese, is very much relative to the type of school that teaches it. Some say that ch’i is a force separate from matter as we know it. The principle of peace and relaxation taught by Aikido presupposes the fact that the ki flows more smoothly and strongly when it is uninterrupted.

The modern martial art from Japan called Aikido is often referred to as the “art of peace” because it espouses a quick peaceful end to any form of aggression. The lessons learned are also stuff you should be able to employ in everyday life.

The reason why being relaxed and calm is taught in Aikido practice is because at the heart of its principles of spirituality and philosophy, Aikido masters and instructors believe that the ki or ch’i or energy can only truly flow in its complete potential energy when one is relaxed.

It is believed to be superior to muscle and physical strength, which sometimes hinders the ki. In fact, in Aikido, instead of muscle and strength building, flexibility and endurance is part of the Aikido martial art training.

Traditionally, martial art systems were created as a documented practice of training for combat mode in the ancient eras. Aikido is different, it is a very relaxed martial art. At the heart of it, the Aikido spirit is about cultivating relaxation and a serenity throughout everyday life to be able to harness this virtue in actual physical combat.

This spiritual and philosophical basis of the Aikido spirit that cultivates relaxation and the peaceful control of aggression, is attributed to the founder’s background in Omoto-kyo religion. It is in this relaxed state that the Aikido practitioner is able to perform difficult throws and maneuvers as taught by the martial art.

With the visible convergence of East and West cultures, more and more people are discovering and rediscovering new means self-discipline especially in the field of martial arts. Wrapping your head around the ideas of the Aikido martial arts isn’t always easy for the average “westerner”.
“Do not fight force with force,” this is the most basic principle of Aikido.

Technically, aikido was stemmed out and developed mainly from “daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu” while incorporating several training movements similar to the “yari” or “spear, “jo” or a short “quarterstaff” and from “juken” or “bayonet”. Although these jujitsu movements are prominent while practicing the martial art, many practitioners agree that strongest influences of aikido is that of kenjutsu.

If you are interested with aikido but do not have the time and money to go to a dojo and enroll for an aikido class, then you should find other means to do so. Being a limitless source of any information, browsing the Internet for various aikido video clips can give you better options and the specific details you would want to learn.

Usually, aikido video clips contain loose form training or popularly known as “ki nagare.” Here, the aikido practitioners are just playing around even and after the martial art presentation. Amateurs who document the practitioner’s lessons and stunts during practice usually take these aikido video clips.

The self defense aspect

After all the talk about Aikido’s peacful nature, any reader would probably ask him or herself how the practical and physical self defense comes into the picture - how to use Aikido in combat. As with everything else, there are a few things you need to understand first. Most Aikido classes start by teaching things from a “hand grasp attack” and most beginners feel that this is highly unrealistic - “In the street I would never…”.The objective of this kind of exercise is for the person to be able to the various techniques with the least amount of effort unlike before.

The things done in practice such as the holds, grips and falls can never be compared with what happens in the streets. They are only intended as a means of learning something on a general level, in order to then apply it as needed.

The new category of Sports and Recreation here at Random facts central opens today with a new portal on Aikido.

Aikido is a martial art that can be learned by almost anyone regardless of gender or age. There are no sharp offensive punches or kicks normally associated with other martial arts, but it can still prepare anyone both physically and mentally to respond to various situations.

Self defense is something everyone needs to learn, perhaps more so right no than ever before. Having a small knife or pepper spray can help bit if the odds are too many, then it is time to use hand to hand combat.

Some say that Aikido, being a rather complex art, is no good for practical self defense while other maintain that it can indeed offer something of value for learning self defense. Among the major styles of Aikido it is really only the one created by professor Tomiki that has an element of competition integrated in the curriculum. The competition just like in Karate, Tae Kwan Do or Judo is between two people and the player who successfully strikes the other opponent gets earns a point. In contrast to most other martial arts competitions the contenders take turn being the attacker, emphasizing the defensive nature of Aikido technique.