| A form of relief for stress and a way to manage | | | | peace that is vital in combat.Aikido teaches its students |
| stress is to exercise. Finding a form of exercise which | | | | to remain calm in the face of an assault. Remaining |
| combines exercise together with teachings on being | | | | calm will give you an advantage over the assailant |
| calm and relaxed is invaluable to the person seeking | | | | because you will not be caught off guard and |
| stress relief. Aikido is a modern martial art from Japan | | | | unaware and therefore will not be toppled over or |
| and is often referred to as the art of peace. It | | | | thrown. More advanced techniques teach students not |
| provides an alternative to aggression. Aikido which is | | | | only to fall properly, but also to be able to rebound and |
| also called dojo,teaches students about flexibility and | | | | plan a counter attack. |
| adaptation. | | | | Other than combat and the dojo however, Aikido |
| The aikido practice of being relaxed and calm taught in | | | | masters and instructors help to develop the concept |
| Aikido is central to its principles of spirituality and | | | | of spirituality and character within Aikido students so |
| philosophy. Aikido masters and instructors believe that | | | | that they can apply Aikido principles everyday in life. |
| ki (energy) can only truly flow completely when one is | | | | The practice of Aikido simultaneously promotes better |
| relaxed. | | | | performance in practice combats as well as in |
| Aikido supports flexibility and endurance above muscle | | | | performance in everyday life. Applying aikido |
| and strength building. The belief is that to truly harness | | | | techniques in everyday life is the same as having an |
| the power of ki and allow this energy to flow | | | | unshakable peace and calm that enables you to have |
| completely we must be in a relaxed state. The relaxed | | | | the strength needed to withstand even the toughest of |
| state cannot be built like muscles through exercise. A | | | | life's challenges. Bear in mind that Aikido teaches |
| spiritual journey must be taken upon by an Aikido | | | | students about flexibility, adaptability, calm and clarity, all |
| student to be able to achieve the state of calm and | | | | of which are useful tools in dealing with life. |