| Aikido refers to a Japanese martial art which was | | | | areas of focus: Stances, Footworks, Attacks and |
| started by a Japanese martial arts expert named | | | | Throws. |
| Ueshiba Morihei. The name Aikido comes from the | | | | 1. Stances |
| Japanese words ai meaning unity or harmony, ki | | | | A stance refers to pose with or without a weapon. A |
| meaning vital breath or energy and do meaning way. | | | | strong physical posture works hand-in-hand with a |
| This type of martial arts concentrates on controlling | | | | strong psychological attitude. The basic posture is the |
| vital energy (ki) in the stomach of the body in order to | | | | Mutual Stance where the uke (individual who gets hit |
| defeat the challenger. | | | | or thrown) and the nage (person who hits or throws) |
| The art of aikido focuses on attacking an opponent by | | | | both have the exact foot forward. Next is the middle |
| way of specific nerves which when pressed can | | | | position where the fighter's hands or weapon is |
| defeat the enemy without the risk of causing death. | | | | positioned with the person's body. Another stance is |
| Aikido is centered chiefly around two classifications of | | | | the lower position stance where the hands or the |
| movements: movements of control (katame-waza) | | | | weapon is lowered. |
| and movements in which the challenger is thrown | | | | 2. Footworks |
| (nage-waza). These two classifications include over | | | | The first is the 'Entering Footwork' where the fighter |
| seven hundred various moves most of which are | | | | enters the space of the enemy's body. The fighter |
| stemmed from kata. Kata describes movements to | | | | must position himself in such a way that challenger is |
| free oneself from an opponent's grip, exerting force on | | | | forced to cease attacking. Physically it means entering |
| the limbs to throw the enemy on the ground and to | | | | in a way to avoid attack. Spiritually it describes |
| prevent the challenger from moving. These | | | | penetrating a viscious attack. |
| movements are the basic movements that make up | | | | 3. Attacks |
| the self defense strategies of aikido. | | | | Grips and holds are the key attacks. Grabs are |
| Aikido concentrates on achieving harmony among ki | | | | categorized as collar grabs, shoulder grab, elbow grab, |
| and tai (the body). To attain this, an exercise is done to | | | | cross-hand grab and strike to the head. Also in this |
| extend the ki. Focus is placed on the belly in an | | | | group are neck strangle, strikes to the chest, stomach |
| attempt to feel the energy breath of the body coming | | | | or to the top of the head. Straight punch, rear choke |
| out via the arms. The objective is to realize energy | | | | and striking the side of the head also falls under |
| between movements and breath while learning to | | | | attacks. |
| preserve it. Training is very important in aikido and so | | | | 4. Throws |
| too is focus. | | | | Throws are not simple calls for much energy from the |
| Aikido can be exciting and requires a lot of strictness | | | | nuke and the sage. The key throws are bending drop |
| but one must understand to apply the various | | | | throw, entering throw, arm-entwining throw, rotary |
| techniques. As a matter of fact, the distinction | | | | throw, breath throw, hip throw, writ turn-out throw as |
| between triumph and defeat most often is determined | | | | well as others. |
| by the accurate carrying out of the techniques. The | | | | There are many other techniques to utilize to supply |
| success of the techniques depends on a calm and | | | | comprehensive protection and are based on these |
| relaxed body, clear mind and proper positioning. | | | | basic techniques. The aikido movements were utilized |
| The basic movements that should be taught in aikido | | | | by American actor Steven Segal in his movies Above |
| are accurate footwork, rolling, falling and basic | | | | the law and Hard to Kill. |
| exercises. Pertaining to techniques, there are four main | | | | |