Introduction to Aikido
Aikido was founded by Morihei Ueshiba (known as O-Sensei) in the early 20th century. It draws from Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu, Judo, and traditional Japanese swordsmanship. Ueshiba’s vision was a martial art that could defend effectively without inflicting unnecessary harm — resolving conflict rather than winning fights.
The concept
Aikido is a combination of Judo and Jujitsu focused on using the attacker’s force and momentum to throw them off balance. Instead of meeting force with force, the Aikido practitioner blends with the attack, redirects it, and controls the attacker through joint locks, throws, and pins.
At beginner and intermediate levels, Aikido is purely defensive — receiving an attack and neutralizing it. At advanced levels, offensive applications (atemi/strikes, pre-emptive entries) are introduced, but always in the context of the defensive principle.
Key techniques
- Irimi-nage: entering throw — step into the attack and redirect
- Kote-gaeshi: wrist turn — redirect and throw using a wrist lock
- Ikkyo through gokyo: five foundational arm/wrist controls
- Tenchi-nage: heaven and earth throw — split the attacker’s balance
- Ukemi: breakfalls — learning to receive techniques safely (same as Judo)
What a typical class looks like
- Warm-up and ukemi — rolling, falling, stretching (10 min)
- Technique demonstration and practice: the instructor demonstrates, students pair up and take turns as attacker (uke) and defender (nage) (30 min)
- Weapons practice (optional): wooden sword (bokken), staff (jo), or knife (tanto) (10 min)
- Free practice (jiyu waza): responding to multiple attacks or randori (5-10 min)
- Cool-down and meditation (5 min)
No sport competition
Aikido is unique among major martial arts in that there is no competitive sparring or tournament format. Training is cooperative — partners take turns attacking and defending. This is intentional: the philosophy holds that competition contradicts the principle of mutual benefit and harmony.