The term Aikido literally means “the way of harmony with Ki,” but many other interpretations are possible. It is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba. He developed this martial art by combining his martial arts studies, philosophy, and religious ideas. His goal was to develop a martial art that would not only enable practitioners to defend themselves, but also avoid injuring the attacker. Aikido is a martial art in which the attacker’s movement is used to move with it rather than against it. This requires little physical energy because the aikidoka uses the attacker’s momentum in combination with entering and turning movements. These techniques are complemented by various throws and locks. Aikido can be classified as grappling.
Aikido is largely derived from the martial art Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu, but began to diverge from it around 1920. This was partly due to Ueshiba’s association with the Omoto-kyo religion. In his earliest documents, Ueshiba referred to the martial art as aiki-jujutsu. Many of Ueshiba’s senior students have different views of Aikido, depending on the period during which they studied under him. Today, Aikido can be practiced all over the world. This martial art has many styles, but they are all derived from the techniques developed by Ueshiba.
Aikido training
In Aikido, as in almost all other Japanese martial arts, training involves both a physical and a mental aspect. Physical training in Aikido is diverse, focusing on both general physical fitness and conditioning. Because a large part of Aikido consists of throws, students first learn how to roll and fall properly. Specific attack techniques include both grips and strikes. Defensive techniques consist of throws and locks. Once students have mastered the basic techniques, they can begin weapons training.
Roles of uke and nage
Aikido training is primarily focused on two partners performing predetermined patterns, known as kata. The basic pattern is for the recipient of the technique (uke) to attack the person applying it (nage), who then neutralizes the attack by applying an aikido technique. Both parts of the technique are essential to Aikido training. Nage learns to yield to the attacker and control the attacking energy, while uke learns to remain calm and flexible when at a disadvantage. Receiving a technique in this way is called ukemi. Uke is continually working to regain balance and cover weak points, while nage uses positioning and speed to keep uke off balance and vulnerable. In more advanced training, uke may sometimes apply reversal techniques to regain balance.
Initial attacks
Aikido techniques are intended to ward off an attack. To learn this properly, students must also know what constitutes a good attack. Although different attacks are not practiced intensively, the most common ones are covered thoroughly. Many strikes in Aikido are actually intended to represent a sword strike. Other techniques that resemble punches evoke a movement made with a stabbing weapon. Kicks are not practiced extensively because kicks, especially high kicks, were not used on the battlefield in feudal Japan.
Some basic strikes are:
- Front-of-the-head strike: a vertical knife-hand strike to the head
- Side-of-the-head strike: a diagonal knife-hand strike to the side of the head or neck
- Chest strike: a strike to the chest
- Face strike: a strike to the face
Beginners initially practice grips primarily so they can feel the opponent's energy. Some grips are derived from historical situations, such as being held while attempting to draw a weapon. A technique could then be used to break free and subsequently unbalance the opponent.
The grips below are examples of these.
- One-handed grip: one hand grips a wrist
- Two-handed grip: both hands grip one wrist
- Two-handed grip: both hands grip both wrists
- Shoulder grip: gripping a shoulder
- Chest grip: gripping the chest or the clothing around the chest
Basic techniques
The techniques below are commonly used throws and locks. The precise terminology may differ between organizations and styles, but the terms below are used by the Aikikai Foundation.
First technique
A movement in which one hand applies pressure to the elbow and the other to the wrist to bring the uke to the ground
Second technique
A wrist lock that rotates the arm
Third technique
A rotating wrist lock
Fourth technique
A shoulder control in which both hands grip the forearm
Fifth technique
The wrist is grabbed and then twisted, applying downward pressure to the elbow
Four-direction throw
The hand is pressed behind the shoulder, immobilizing the shoulder joint
Forearm lock
A lock in which the forearm is immobilized
Breath throw
A commonly used term for techniques that do not use a joint lock
Entering throw
Throws in which nage moves in toward uke
Heaven-and-earth throw
Nage grabs one hand low and the other hand high, thereby unbalancing uke
Hip throw
Nage lowers their hips below uke’s so that uke can be thrown over the hips
Figure-ten throw
A throw in which the arms are held together
Turning throw
Nage grabs the arms, brings them behind the shoulder, and then presses forward to throw
Weapons
Weapons are also used in Aikido training. Practitioners train with the short staff, wooden sword, and knife, among other weapons. Today, some schools also teach how to handle a situation in which a firearm is drawn. Other schools do not train with or use weapons at all because they are firmly opposed to them. The opposite of this style is the Iwama style, which devotes considerable time and attention to the wooden sword and short staff.
Multiple attackers
Within Aikido, practitioners also train to defend themselves against multiple attackers, known as taninzudori or taninzugake. Sparren with multiple attackers is an important part of many examinations and is mandatory for achieving a higher rank. The aim is for the person to be able to perform movements intuitively in an unstable environment. Choosing techniques strategically is an important part of the training. For example, an ura technique can be used to neutralize the current attacker, but this may leave one with their back to the next attacker, allowing them to continue their attack unhindered.
Mental training
Aikido training is both mental and physical, with an emphasis on relaxing the body and mind, even when faced with a dangerous situation. This is necessary to enable the practitioner to respond confidently in a fight. Morihei Ueshiba once said that “one must be prepared to absorb 99% of the attack and look death in the eyes” in order to perform the technique without hesitation.
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