The Beginnings Of Aikido

The term ‘Aikido’ is produced by the combination of three characters in the Japanese language. ‘Ai’, which means ‘joining’; ‘ki’, which signifies ‘spirit’ and ‘do’, which which means ‘way’. These three words in fact actualy do encapsulate the essence of Aikido as a type of martial art: ‘the joining of the spirit to find the way’. It was only in the period from 1930′s to the 1940′s that the name Aikido was officially accepted as the name of this martial art type.

Aikido employs techniques that do not fatally injure or kill unlike different types of martial art. The techniques and skills being taught are just intended to distract attention or stop people. This is possibly the reason why most people prefer Aikido, because of its focus on peace and harmony as opposed to violence and conflict. In fact, Aikido developer, Morihei Ueshiba, is of the conviction that to have power over anger without causing any harm is the art of peace.

Ueshiba, who is also called Osensei, which signifies ‘Great Teacher’, formed Aikido from the doctrine of Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu. He incorporated the methods of the ‘yari’, the spear; the ‘juken’, the bayonet; and the ‘jo’, which is a short quarterstaff. But what ultimately distinguishes Aikido from other types of martial art is the fact that its proponents can strike while empty-handed. Proponents require no arms for their protection.

As a young child, he was greatly into physical fitness and conditioning. This was because of his oath to avenge his father’s attackers. Eventually, his studies and actions brought him to the discipline of the various martial arts. He studied several of them. He even has qualifications for fencing, fighting with spears, etc. He has learned it all. This is perhaps the reason why Aikido is such a disparate and multi-disciplinary form of martial art.

Yet despite his knowledge, he remained discontented. He felt that there was still something lacking. It was then that he turned to the religions. He studied under a religious guide, Onisaburo Deguchi of the sect named Omoto-kyo in Ayabe. Deguchi trained him to take care of his psychic development. He then pooled his spiritual beliefs and his mastery of the different martial arts and Aikido was formed.

His involvement with this charismatic spiritual leader Deguchi also paved the path for his introduction to the elite political and military personnel as a martial artist. Because of this association, he was able to launch Aikido and even pass on his teachings to students, who have, in turn, created their own styles and techniques in Aikido.

Aikido is a combination of the diverse styles of jujitsu as well as some of the ways of sword and spear fighting, of which Ueshiba was an expert. To get an overall picture, Aikido combines the joint locks and throws of jujitsu and the movements of the body necessary when fighting with swords and spears.

Oriental in origin, it was brought to the West by Minoru Mochizuki when he visited France in 1951. He introduced the Aikido techniques to students who were studying judo. In 1952, Tadashi Abe came to France as the official Aikikai Honbu spokesperson. Then in 1953, Kenji Tomiki toured throughout the United States while Koichi Tohei stayed in Hawaii for a full year where he set up a dojo. Aikido then spread its influence in the United Kingdom two years after and in 1965, it reached Germany and Australia. At present, Aikido has centres all over the world.

If you want to learn more details about Aikido, rush over to our web site now http://aikido.the-real-way.com Free reprint avaialable from: The Beginnings Of Aikido.