Some Info About Aikido
"Aikido" commonly translated as "The Way of the Harmonized Spirit." Aikido was developed by Morihei Ueshiba from Japan in early 1900s but it is now practiced all over the world. Basically it is an adaptation of an older art, named Daito-Ryu Jujitsu.
Aikido Techniques
Aikido techniques rely on a calm mind, relaxed body, and accurate positioning rather than strength. Techniques are created from the attacker's own energy and momentum. Spherical movements are used to redirect this energy. Which means that the practitioner does not meet force with force when using Aikido. Instead, they will use the power of the attacker's aggression against them, redirecting the energy into a locking, throwing or pinning technique.
As such, Aikido is mostly used for self-defense and self-improvement. However, the techniques themselves can be incredibly effective if used appropriately. The challenge is that they take a very long time to learn and master.
A common list of Aikido techniques are kotegaeshi, shihonage, kokyunage, iriminage and tenchinage. In each case, the defender (or tori) will evade the attack and then manipulate the balance of the aggressor in a way that benefits them. Aikido techniques can be quite harmless or brutally lethal, depending on the type of attack and the type of defense.
The philosophy
The Aikido techniques are so challenging to learn and revolve around blending or yielding with an attack, thus practitioners must allow each other to attempt them, rather than fighting as a training method. This leads to an atmosphere of peace and introspection, which is one of the great draws of Aikido.
