The Core of Aikido Techniques – Combining the Physical with the Spiritual

Aikido Techniques: Shiho Nage (2)

Each martial art teaches self-defense techniques in a unique way. Aikido combines self-defense with spiritual development.

Aikido is one of the newer martial arts to emerge from Japan and was developed by Morihei Ueshiba, who is referred to by his followers as O-Sensei.

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

Aikido Techniques: Harmony and Spirit

Thus, Aikido can be loosely translated as “the way of harmony of power or spirit”. Many new male students enter this art because they have seen a movie in which the art is applied in a very spectacular manner. Females often start Aikido because it is a way to achieve women’s personal safety. If you decide to become part of the Aikido family and train seriously, you will 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 harmonization or blending of the motion and energy of the attacker and redirected in the form of a throw or a joint lock. Blending or harmonization of energy is applied instead of meeting force with force head-on. The ultimate objective of these techniques is control of the mind and center of the attacker – 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 self-defense application of this art can then be described as meeting someone with hostile intent and departing as friends.

Aikido Techniques: True Victory

One saying of Master Ueshiba was “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. In many Aikido schools, ki training is an important part of each lesson. We have heard stories of extraordinary demonstrations of strength such as a woman lifting the back of a car to free a child. This invisible inner strength, called Ki, is a form of this energy that many Aikido practitioners strive to develop and refine over time and is a key focus of the spiritual development. Aikido movement and techniques, practiced in their purest form, require relatively small amounts of 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. Zen meditation plays an important role in ki training at many dojos. Kiatsu (pronounced key-yhat-sue) is another spiritual aspect of Aikido that is practiced by some schools and utilized the belief that ki flows freely though a healthy body and that its flow is impeded or stopped in areas that are sick or injured. Ki extension into an injured or diseased 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, which has a physical dimension utilizing throws and joint locks to achieve control of an attack and a spiritual dimension designed to achieve an inner peace by gaining control over one’s self.

Dan Kudo Sensei trains and teaches in Santa Ana, California, located in Orange County, and holds the rank of Yondan (fourth degree black belt).  Click hear to read about kiatsu which is a form of Aikido techniques practiced a higher level.