The term Aikido literally means “the way of harmony with Ki” but there are many other interpretations possible. It is a Japanese martial art that was developed by Morihei Ueshiba . He came to this martial art by combining his martial studies, philosophy and religious thoughts. His goal was to develop a martial art that would not only allow the practitioners to defend themselves but also not to injure the attacker. Aikido is the sport in which the movement of the attacker is used to go with the movement instead of against it. This requires little physical energy because the aikidoka uses the momentum of the attacker in combination with stepping and turning movements. These techniques are supplemented with various throws and locks. Aikido can be classified under wrestling.
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 connection with the Omoto-kyo religion. In the first documents, Ueshiba calls the martial art aiki-jujutsu. Many of Ueshiba's older students have a different view of Aikido, depending on the period in which they were his students. 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, there is both a physical and a mental aspect to the training. The physical training in Aikido is diverse, with attention paid to both the general physical condition and the condition. Since a large part of Aikido consists of throws, the student first learns how to roll and fall properly. The specific techniques for attacking include both holds and strikes. The techniques for defense consist of throws and locks. After the student has mastered the basic techniques, lessons in weapons can be started.
Roles of uke and nage
Aikido training is primarily focused on two partners performing pre-arranged patterns called kata . The basic pattern is where the receiver of the technique (uke) attacks the thrower (nage) who then neutralizes the attack by applying an aikido technique. Both parts of the technique are essential to aikido training. Nage is taught to bend with the attacker and control the attacking energy while uke is taught to be calm and flexible when at a disadvantage. This receiving of a technique is called ukemi. Uke is constantly trying to find balance and cover up weak spots while nage uses position and speed to keep uke off balance and vulnerable. In more advanced training uke may sometimes use reversal techniques to regain balance.
Initial attacks
Aikido techniques are aimed at blocking an attack . In order to learn this well, students must also know what a good attack is. Although there is no intensive training for different attacks, the most common ones are covered well. Many strikes in Aikido are actually meant to represent a strike with a sword. Other techniques that resemble punches are reminiscent of a movement made with a stabbing weapon. There is not much training for kicks because kicks, and especially high kicks, were not performed on the battlefield in feudal Japan of the past.
Some basic strokes 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 thrust: a thrust to the chest
- Face punch: a punch to the face
Beginners practice holds in the beginning so that they can feel the energy of the opponent. Some holds are derived from historical events such as being held while trying to draw a weapon. A technique could then be used to break free and then unbalance the opponent.
The grips below are examples of this.
- One-handed grip: one hand grabs a wrist
- Two-handed grip: both hands grasp a wrist
- Two-handed grip: both hands grasp both wrists
- Shoulder grab: a shoulder is grabbed
- Breast grab: grabbing the breast or the clothing around the breast
Basic techniques
The techniques below are commonly used throws and holds. The exact terminology may vary between different 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 another hand to the wrist to move the uke toward the ground
Second technique
A wrist clamp that rotates the arm
Third technique
A rotating wrist clamp
Fourth technique
A shoulder control where both hands grab the forearm
Fifth technique
The wrist is grabbed and then rotated to apply downward pressure to the elbow
Four way throw
The hand is pressed behind the shoulder so that the shoulder joint is fixed
Forearm clamp
A clamp in which the forearm is clamped
Breath throw
A commonly used term for techniques that do not use a clamp
Incoming throw
Throws where the nage comes in run on the uke
Heaven and earth throw
Nage takes one hand low and the other hand high, thus unbalancing uke
Hip throw
Nage lowers his hip below uke's so he can be thrown over the hip
Figure Ten Throw
A throw where the arms are held together
Spinning throw
Nage grabs the arms and brings them behind the shoulder and then pushes forward to throw
Weapons
In Aikido, training with weapons is also done. For example, training with the short stick, wooden sword and knife is done. Nowadays, some schools also teach how to deal with a situation in which a firearm is drawn. There are also schools that do not train with weapons at all because they are completely against it. The opposite of this style is the Iwama style, in which a lot of time and attention is given to the wooden sword and the short stick.
Multiple attackers
Within Aikido, one also trains to defend oneself against multiple attackers, the so-called taninzudori or taninzugake. Sparring with multiple attackers is an important part of many exams and is a mandatory part if one wants to achieve a higher degree. It is about the person being able to intuitively execute movements in an unstable environment. Strategic choice of techniques is an important part of the training. For example, a ura technique can be used to neutralize the current attacker, but one can still stand with one's back to the next attacker so that he can continue his attack unhindered.
Mental training
Aikido training is both mental and physical with emphasis on relaxing the body and mind, even when in a dangerous situation. This is necessary to enable the practitioner to react confidently in a fight. Morihei Ueshiba once said that “one must be prepared to take 99% of the attack and look death in the eye” in order to perform the technique without hesitation.