| "True victory is self-victory." | | | | aggressors without injury. Aikido is a 100% defensive |
| - Morihei Ueshiba | | | | martial art. The so-called "attacks" taught in Aikido are |
| What is Aikido? | | | | merely for purposes of learning to defend against |
| Aikido is a powerful martial art developed throughout | | | | those attacks rather than for the purpose of injuring an |
| the mid 20th century by a Japanese named Morihei | | | | opponent. |
| Ueshiba. Aikido differs from most other martial arts in | | | | Spectators often describe Aikido as looking very |
| that the practitioner seeks to achieve self-defense | | | | dance-like. This quality is essential to the safe and |
| without injury to attackers. Furthermore, there are no | | | | effective practice of Aikido. Aikido's techniques can be |
| tournaments or sport applications in Aikido. Therefore, | | | | so devastating that if the two Aikido practitioners do |
| Aikido is non-competitive. | | | | not harmonize their respective movements with such |
| Generally speaking, Aikido is most often practiced with | | | | a dance-like quality carefully, injury could easily occur. |
| a partner where one person functions as an attacker | | | | Students quickly discover that the strength of Aikido |
| and the other person practices defensive Aikido | | | | lay not in muscular force, but in flexibility, timing, control, |
| techniques. About half of the techniques involve joint | | | | and modesty. |
| locks which enable the "attacker" to be moved to a | | | | Watching two experienced Aikido students or masters |
| pinning position where they can be held without injury. | | | | practice together can be an awesome site. An acute |
| Other techniques involve throwing the partner. An | | | | observer will notice a distinct, but subtle harmonizing |
| Aikido student spends much time learning how to fall | | | | energy forged between the two of them. This |
| safely. Proper falling is a fundamental component to | | | | harmonizing energy, or connection, is highly sought |
| the practice of Aikido. | | | | after by Aikido practitioners and, when experienced, |
| The basic movements of Aikido are circular in nature. | | | | has the potential to transform the lives of Aikido |
| Most attacks are linear. An Aikido student harmonizes | | | | participants. This transformation takes place not only in |
| with, rather than confronts the linear attack and | | | | one's ability to defend oneself physically, but also in |
| converts the energy of that linear attack into a circular | | | | every other aspect of one's life. The uniqueness of |
| energy that, ultimately, renders the attacker or | | | | Aikido makes it possible to experience deep levels of |
| attackers helpless. | | | | mental relaxation, emotional calmness, acute |
| Instead of using potentially crippling kicks or punches, | | | | concentration and peak physical fitness in our daily |
| the Aikido student trains to apply various wristlocks, | | | | lives. Aikido is the education and refinement of the |
| arm pins, or unbalancing throws to neutralize | | | | spirit. |