What Is Aikido Martial Arts?

Aikido is quickly becoming one of the most popular martial arts in the nation. The art is designed to aid people of all sizes and ages in defending themselves. Aikido is particularly popular with women and children, due to the fact that the martial art's techniques are meant to use attackers' force against them.

Aikido was developed during the early 20th century by Japanese martial artist Morihei Ueshiba. When translated from Japanese to English, Aikido means "the way of the harmonious spirit," or "the Way of unifying with life energy." Ueshiba's goal in developing the martial art was to provide his students with a means of protecting themselves, while also preventing any serious injury to their opponent.

Aikido is taught as both a means of self-defense and a central philosophy for students to base their lives around. The goal of the techniques learned in this martial art are meant to alter the flow of an opponent's momentum, as opposed to the approaches found in other arts that attempt to defeat attacks directly. Most of the techniques taught in Aikido are grabs and throws, although striking is not uncommon.

Aikido training is based around the concepts of blending and adaptation. Students are taught to recognize and react to a variety of techniques found in Aikido as well as other martial arts. The typical form of training consists of an attacker, known as a uke, and a defender, known as a nage or tori. The uke attempts to attack the nage or tori, who then applies the appropriate technique used to counter the attack.

Aikido also includes training on the following subjects:

Weapons - Practioners are taught to use the staff, sword, and knife.

Multiple Attackers - Students of Aikido are required to undertake training in facing multiple opponents in the higher ranks of the art.

Mental training - Aikido teaches that its practitioners need to reach a calm emotional state, regardless of the situation they find themselves in, in order to properly choose and apply techniques.