What is Aikido?
Aikido is a modern Japanese Fighting Art. The beginnings are found at the turn of the Century as Morihei Ueshiba mixed many aspects of his diverse Martial Arts background and changed the face of Martial Arts as we know it today into the form of Aikido. The goal of Aikido is a simple one: To protect ourselves in the face of aggression and to take the energy of an attacker and turn this energy against them. By the use of a throw, pinning or a joint lock down we bring the aggressor into a situation during their attack where a new attack cannot be started again. Aikido does not have a great deal of offensive movements but rather concentrates on the defensive role, which will lead you to a confrontation with yourself and through this you will discover more about your strengths and what you still need to find out about yourself. Simply put, Aikido is about self-development. A journey of 1,000 miles will always begin with the first step. Start your journey today.
Philosophy
Aikido is a Martial art that promotes peace and for those who would like to discover a way of Harmony in their world. As a goal we are not trying to learn tricks to injure the person attacking us but to bring this attacker with all of his/her aggression to a clear understanding that we are not a victim of there aggression and it will not be tolerated by neutralizing their attack through Aikido’s principles. But we should also understand that Aikido is still a Martial art and that the movements we use, could cause grave injuries or even kill a person, which by all means does not coincide with the true ideas of Aikido. Morihei Ueshiba, said,” it is not the goal of martial arts to destroy your attacker but to use your mind to defeat them so that the attacker gives up on there own. Maybe meaning, ”The best Sword fight is the one you win without pulling your Sword”.
Equipment
The dress is a normal or heavy-duty Judo uniform. This uniform was brought into existence at the end of the 19th century from Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo. Advanced students wear a type of pant skirt over their normal uniform pants called a Hakama. Many styles of Aikido today allow their students to wear a Hakama at the first Black Belt Level (this is niether right or wrong). It used to be that all Aikidoka wore a Hakama from the beginning regardless of rank. This changed during the Second World War when the materials for many pupils were too expensive. They asked to be allowed to practice with O´Sensei´s permission without a Hakama. Therefore, it’s common in many Dojos today for the pupils to train without a Hakama. In our case until the blue belt is reached (2. Kyu).
Aikido training takes place to a large extent without weapons/practice weapons. However, there are three weapons we use, the bokken (wooden sword), Jo (short wooden staff) and Tanto (wooden knive), which play an important role in our training. There are many movements and techniques in Aikido with the empty hand that derive from weapon techniques. For example, sword techniques bring us closer to the courses of motion we need during unarmed techniques and greatly improve our knowledge of the techniques of Aikido. They also help to forge a deeper understanding of where the movements originated from in Aikido.
Practice
Generally, two partners practice together. One person takes the role of the aggressor (Uke) and the other person the role of being attacked (Tori). Tori performs a technique with Uke. There are usually two or four repetitions of the respective technique and then the partners change roles as Uke and Tori. The attacks predominantly consist of impacts, levers, grabs and strangleholds. The technique at the beginning are divided into three phases. Receiving the attacking energy, the continuation of the energy up to the loss of the equilibrium (of Uke) and the conclusion technique, which can consist of a throw and/or a restraining joint lock. Receiving the attack is practiced in several ways in Aikido. Tori (the defender) can use an evasive action (''tai sabaki'' - "move in different directions") and/or use the movement of omote or ura in different positions toward the front or to the back of the attacker (Uke) using the energy of the attack. This throws the timing of the attacker off by the continuation of the approaching energy as Tori determines direction and breaks the equilibrium of Uke for a throw. Impact and impact techniques also include Strikes (Atemi) to vital points of the body. Some exercises include techniques against several partners attacking at the same time called Randori and exercises where the attacker freely selects his method of attack known as Jiyuwaza.
Aikido Teens
Aikido is different than Judo, Karate or Taekwondo. Its main purpose is for defense, without major attention paid to punches and kicks. Aikido is characterized by avoiding, leading, throwing or holding. There are no competitions in Aikido because one does not harbor the idea of attack in Aikido. Aikido is free from aggression in form so to speak. In our children group, Aikido techniques are learned somewhat playfully. Most learn better I find in this atmosphere. The benefits for children are better concentration, coordination, balance, speed and last but not least to meet a confrontation without aggression. As in most Martial Arts, fairness plays a big role in Aikido and a certain measure of discipline is likewise learned. In order to facilitate the needs of the children learning Aikido, we recommend an age to start at around 10 years old. Due to its complexity and its very fine and delicate courses of motion it is often hard for younger children under 9 years of age to learn Aikido. It’s not impossible, but we find younger children have different needs in Martial Arts. In our group of young people at present boys and girls between the ages of 10 to 15 years old are training in the Japanese self-defense art of the Aikido. A free trial hour is always available. I often get inquiries from parents, who would like to send their children to us in the children’s group. I would love to teach all of them, but as a Registered Nurse which is my main profession, I frown upon parents that try to bring their 4-year-old child to sign up, in our view the child is just to young. I frown more so maybe over the people who would take your money to teach a 4-year-old child. However, the age requirement is not strict, but depends on the maturity of the child. Watch a youth class and if you (and your child) are still interested, then ask me for a free trial training. Although the learning process has a lot of games and fun, we require a minimum of attention and the ability to concentrate. This is to ensure that the training is not just seen and used as a pastime, but to have real training success through progress. Older children can integrate themselves quickly and easily and even participate in adult training starting at age of 15.