Aikido - History

Aikido (合気道 Aikidō, also 合氣道 using an older style of kanji), literally meaning 'harmony energy way', or with some poetic licence, 'way of the harmonious spirit', is a gendai budo — a modern Japanese martial art. Practitioners of Aikido are known as aikidoka. It was developed by Morihei Ueshiba (植芝盛平) (also known by Aikidoka as o-sensei (翁先生) over the period of the 1930s to the 1960s. Technically, the major parts of Aikido are derived from Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu (大東流合気柔術), a f ...

Including:

• Aikido - History
• Aikido - Technique
• Aikido - Training
• Aikido - Clothing
• Aikido - Spirituality
• Aikido - Ki
• Aikido - Body
• Aikido - Mind
• Aikido - Styles
• Aikido - Aikidoka

Read more here: » Aikido: Encyclopedia - Aikido

The name aikido is formed of three Japanese characters, 合気道, usually romanised as ai, ki and do. These are often translated as meaning union, universal energy and way, so aikido can be translated as 'the way to union with universal energy'. Another common interpretation of the characters is harmony, spirit and way, so Aikido can also mean 'the way of spiritual harmony'. Both interpretations draw attention to the fact that aikido's techniques are designed to control an attacker by controlling and redirecting their energy instead of bloc ...

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Aikido, Aikido - History, Aikido - Technique, Aikido - Training, Aikido - Clothing, Aikido - Spirituality, Aikido - Ki, Aikido - Body, Aikido - Mind, Aikido - Styles, Aikido - Aikidoka

Read more here: » Aikido: Encyclopedia II - Aikido - History

Aikido incorporates a wide range of techniques which use principles of energy and motion to redirect, neutralise and control attackers. One of the central martial philosophies of aikido is to be able to handle multiple-attacker circumstances fluidly. Randori, practice against multiple opponents, is a key part of the curriculum in most aikido schools and is required fo the higher level belts. Another tenet of aikido is that the aikidoka should gain control of their opponent as quickly as possible, while causing the least amount of damage possible to either party. If performed correctly, size and strength are not important ...

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Aikido, Aikido - History, Aikido - Technique, Aikido - Training, Aikido - Clothing, Aikido - Spirituality, Aikido - Ki, Aikido - Body, Aikido - Mind, Aikido - Styles, Aikido - Aikidoka

Read more here: » Aikido: Encyclopedia II - Aikido - Technique

The ending "do" in the word aikido indicates a spiritual path, unlike the ending "jutsu" in the word aikijujutsu, which indicates a system of techniques. Many people see this difference as important as well as regarding iaijutsu and iaido, jujutsu and judo, and kenjutsu and kendo. Others see this distinction as a historically incorrect and somewhat unnatural division. For example, literally, do refers to a path and jitsu to a technique: therefore, some argue, aikido involves both ...

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Aikido, Aikido - History, Aikido - Technique, Aikido - Training, Aikido - Clothing, Aikido - Spirituality, Aikido - Ki, Aikido - Body, Aikido - Mind, Aikido - Styles, Aikido - Aikidoka

Read more here: » Aikido: Encyclopedia II - Aikido - Spirituality

Aikido training is for all-around physical fitness, flexibility, and relaxation. The human body in general can exert power in two ways: contractive and expansive (aikidofaq.com). Many fitness activities, for example weight-lifting, emphasize the former, which means that specific muscles or muscle groups are isolated and worked to improve tone, mass, and power. The disadvantage of this, however, is that whole body movement and coordination are rarely stressed. Thus, while muscle size and power may increase, there is no emphasis on the ways in ...

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Aikido, Aikido - History, Aikido - Technique, Aikido - Training, Aikido - Clothing, Aikido - Spirituality, Aikido - Ki, Aikido - Body, Aikido - Mind, Aikido - Styles, Aikido - Aikidoka

Read more here: » Aikido: Encyclopedia II - Aikido - Body

The major styles of aikido each have their own Hombu Dojo in Japan, have an international breadth and were founded by direct students of Morihei Ueshiba. Although there has been an explosion of "independent styles" generally only the first five listed have been considered major. Iwama Ryu is a debatable sixth as, although its influence is major, it has until recently been part of the Aikikai (see below). Aikikai is the largest aikido organization, and is led by the family of the founder. Numerous sub-organisations ...

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Aikido, Aikido - History, Aikido - Technique, Aikido - Training, Aikido - Clothing, Aikido - Spirituality, Aikido - Ki, Aikido - Body, Aikido - Mind, Aikido - Styles, Aikido - Aikidoka

Read more here: » Aikido: Encyclopedia II - Aikido - Styles