WHAT IS AIKIDO ?

Aikido is a martial art created in Japan. Translated, it means “Way of harmonizing with the energy” (AI-harmony, KI-energy, and DO-way). Under this name, the founder Morihei Ueshiba officialy established this martial art in 1941-2, using the knowledge from previously mastered martial arts.
Regarding the technical part, the biggest influence in creating aikido had the martial art “Daito ryu aiki jujutsu”. Morihei Ueshiba learnt Daito Ryu from Takeda Sokaku, who was the first to teach this medieval samurai martial art outside the Takeda clan.

On the other hand, the ideological part of aikido was build up under the influence of the religion beliefs from Omoto kyo (a Shinto sect), hence the idea for not harming the opponent.

After the passing of the founder, many offshoots have been formed. Almost all of his distinguished students founded different aikido schools with various names. Today, the most widely spread branch in the world is the institution formed by the founder himself, called Aikikai. This institution represents the mainstream and since the leadership is a matter of succession, the present doshu (leader of the way) is Moriteru Ueshiba, the grandson of the founder.

The techniques in aikido have been created on the principle of using the momentum of the attacker. It means that the attack can not be confronted (blockades and punches), but must be avoided with evasive moves. With this moves we strive to put our body in the right position so that the opponent can be brought off balance and in that way make him easy to be overpowered. It takes a long term practice for one to be able to do this. In our club this is practiced in coordination with the methodology available for all ages, created by Ikeda sensei. The effects from the trainings have multiple usages (are useful, helpful) both for the physical and the mental health.

The self-defence is something that goes without saying when martial art is mentioned, but aikido is specific because the one who practices aikido should be skilful not only at defending him/her self, but also in doing so, being able not to hurt the attacker, thus getting a very valuable choice. At the same time this is one of the major pluses because of which the aikido is so popular in present times.

Because of the influence that Shinto religion had for its creation, lots of people think that aikido is just its manifestation (expression), but that isn’t true and its expansion through out the entire world is a proof of that. Religion is something which is completely separated from the aikido.