Aikido(合気道)
Morihei Ueshiba,Founder of
AikidoThe picture below shows a version of the "four-direction throw" (shihōnage) with standing attacker and seated defender (hanmi-handachi). The receiver of the throw (uke) is taking a break fall (ukemi) to safely reach the ground.
Aikido (合気道 ,
aikidō) is a Japanese martial art developed by
Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs.
Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying (with) life energy"or as "the Way of harmonious spirit."
Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to defend themselves while also protecting their attacker from injury.
Aikido is performed by blending with the motion of the attacker and redirecting the force of the attack rather than opposing it head-on. This requires very little physical energy, as the
aikidōka (
aikido practitioner) "leads" the attacker's momentum using entering and turning movements. The techniques are completed with various
throws or
joint locks.
Aikido can be categorized under the general umbrella of
grappling arts.
Aikido derives mainly from the martial art of
Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu, but began to diverge from it in the late 1920s, partly due to
Ueshiba's involvement with the
Ōmoto-kyō religion.
Ueshiba's early students' documents bear the term
aiki-
jūjutsu. Many of
Ueshiba's senior students have different approaches to
aikido, depending on when they studied with him. Today
aikido is found all over the world in a number of styles, with broad ranges of interpretation and emphasis. However, they all share techniques learned from
Ueshiba and most have concern for the well-being of the attacker. This attitude has been at the core of criticisms of
aikido and related arts.
Etymology and basic philosophy
The word "
aikido" is formed of three
kanji:
合 -
ai - joining, harmonizing
気 -
ki - spirit, life energy
道 - dō - way, path
The term dō connects the practice of aikido with the philosophical concept of Tao, which can be found in martial arts such as judo and kendo, and in more peaceful arts such as Japanese calligraphy (shodō), flower arranging (kadō) and tea ceremony (chadō or sadō). The term aiki refers to the martial arts principle or tactic of blending with an attacker's movements for the purpose of controlling their actions with minimal effort. One applies aiki by understanding the rhythm and intent of the attacker to find the optimal position and timing to apply a counter-technique. Historically, aiki was mastered for the purpose of killing; however in aikido one seeks to control an aggressor without causing harm. The founder of aikido declared: "To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace." A number of aikido practitioners interpret aikido metaphorically, seeing parallels between aikido techniques and other methods for conflict resolution. These kanji are identical to the Korean versions of the characters that form the word hapkido, a Korean martial art. Although there are no known direct connections between the two arts, it is suspected that the founders of both arts trained in Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu.
History
Aikido was created by
Morihei Ueshiba (植芝 盛平
Ueshiba Morihei, 14 December 1883–26 April 1969), referred to by some
aikido practitioners as
Ōsensei ("Great Teacher").
Ueshiba envisioned
aikido not only as the synthesis of his martial training, but also an expression of his personal philosophy of universal peace and reconciliation. During
Ueshiba's lifetime and continuing today,
aikido has evolved from the
koryū (old-style martial arts) that
Ueshiba studied into a wide variety of expressions by martial artists throughout the world.
Initial development
Ueshiba developed
aikido primarily during the late 1920s through the 1930s through the synthesis of the older martial arts that he had studied.The core martial art from which
aikido derives is
Daitō-ryū aiki-jūjutsu, which
Ueshiba studied directly with
Takeda Sokaku, the reviver of that art. Additionally,
Ueshiba is known to have studied
Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū with
Tozawa Tokusaburō in
Tokyo in 1901,
Gotōha Yagyū Shingan-ryū under
Nakai Masakatsu in
Sakai from 1903 to 1908, and
judo with
Kiyoichi Takagi (高木 喜代子
Takagi Kiyoichi, 1894–1972) in
Tanabe in 1911.
The art of
Daitō-
ryū is the primary technical influence on
aikido. Along with empty-handed throwing and joint-locking techniques,
Ueshiba incorporated training movements with weapons, such as those for the
spear (
yari), short
staff (
jō), and perhaps the
bayonet (銃剣 ,
jūken). However,
aikido derives much of its technical structure from the art of swordsmanship (
kenjutsu).
Ueshiba moved to
Hokkaidō in 1912, and began studying under
Takeda Sokaku in 1915. His official association with
Daitō-
ryū continued until 1937.However, during the latter part of that period,
Ueshiba had already begun to distance himself from
Takeda and the
Daitō-
ryū. At that time
Ueshiba was referring to his martial art as "
Aiki Budō". It is unclear exactly when
Ueshiba began using the name "
aikido", but it became the official name of the art in 1942 when the Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society (
Dai Nippon Butoku Kai) was engaged in a government sponsored reorganization and centralization of Japanese martial arts.
Me,my two
sensei and my host brother.
We love Aikido
This is my Aikido group
This my Aikido group
As you can see the above picture,we don't use any colour belt because in Aikido when we practice it, we practice equality but we know the different ("kyu/grades") between us by the swiftness of our movement and techniques.
In Aikido we do not practice alone but with our partners(Uke and Nage)
Roles of uke and nage
Aikido training is based primarily on two partners practicing pre-arranged forms (kata) rather than freestyle practice. The basic pattern is for the receiver of the technique (uke) to initiate an attack against the thrower (投げ nage, also referred to as 取り tori, or 仕手 shite, depending on aikido style), who neutralises this attack with an aikido technique.Both halves of the technique, that of uke and that of nage, are considered essential to aikido training. Both are studying aikido principles of blending and adaptation. Nage learns to blend with and control attacking energy, while uke learns to become calm and flexible in the disadvantageous, off-balance positions in which nage places them. This "receiving" of the technique is called ukemi. Uke continuously seeks to regain balance and cover vulnerabilities (e.g., an exposed side), while nage uses position and timing to keep uke off-balance and vulnerable. In more advanced training, uke will sometimes apply reversal techniques (返し技 ,kaeshi-waza) to regain balance and pin or throw nage.
Ukemi (受身) refers to the act of receiving a technique. Good ukemi involves a parry or breakfall that is used to avoid pain or injury, such as joint dislocations or atemi.
Initial attacks
Aikido techniques are usually a defense against an attack; therefore, to practice aikido with their partner, students must learn to deliver various types of attacks. Although attacks are not studied as thoroughly as in striking-based arts, "honest" attacks (a strong strike or an immobilizing grab) are needed to study correct and effective application of technique.
Many of the strikes (打ち ,uchi) of aikido are often said to resemble cuts from a sword or other grasped object, which may suggest origins in techniques intended for armed combat. Other techniques, which appear to explicitly be punches (tsuki), are also practiced as thrusts with a knife or sword. Kicks are generally reserved for upper-level variations; reasons cited include that falls from kicks are especially dangerous, and that kicks (high kicks in particular) were uncommon during the types of combat prevalent in feudal Japan. Some basic strikes include:
Front-of-the-head strike (正面打ち ,shōmen'uchi) a vertical knifehand strike to the head.
Side-of-the-head strike (横面打ち ,yokomen'uchi) a diagonal knifehand strike to the side of the head or neck.
Chest thrust (胸突き ,mune-tsuki) a punch to the torso. Specific targets include the chest, abdomen, and solar plexus. Same as "middle-level thrust" (中段突き ,chūdan-tsuki), and "direct thrust" (直突き ,choku-tsuki).
Face thrust (顔面突き ,ganmen-tsuki) a punch to the face. Same as "upper-level thrust" (上段突き ,jōdan-tsuki).
Beginners in particular often practice techniques from grabs, both because they are safer and because it is easier to feel the energy and lines of force of a hold than a strike. Some grabs are historically derived from being held while trying to draw a weapon; a technique could then be used to free oneself and immobilize or strike the attacker who is grabbing the defender. The following are examples of some basic grabs:
Single-hand grab (片手取り ,katate-dori) one hand grabs one wrist.
Both-hands grab (諸手取り ,morote-dori) both hands grab one wrist.
Both-hands grab (両手取り ,ryōte-dori) both hands grab both wrists. Same as "double single-handed grab" (両片手取り ,ryōkatate-dori).
Shoulder grab (肩取り ,kata-dori) a shoulder grab. "Both-shoulders-grab" is ryōkata-dori (両肩取り)
Chest grab (胸取り ,mune-dori) grabbing the (clothing of the) chest. Same as "collar grab" (襟取り ,eri-dori).
Basic techniques
The following are a sample of the basic or widely practiced throws and pins. The precise terminology for some may vary between organisations and styles, so what follows are the terms used by the Aikikai Foundation. Note that despite the names of the first five techniques listed, they are not universally taught in numeric order.
First technique (一教 ,ikkyō) a control using one hand on the elbow and one hand near the wrist which leverages uke to the ground.This grip also applies pressure into the ulnar nerve at the wrist.
Second technique (二教 ,nikyō) a pronating wristlock that torques the arm and applies painful nerve pressure. (There is an adductive wristlock or Z-lock in ura version.)
Third technique (三教 ,sankyō) a rotational wristlock that directs upward-spiraling tension throughout the arm, elbow and shoulder.
Fourth technique (四教 ,yonkyō) a shoulder control similar to ikkyō, but with both hands gripping the forearm. The knuckles (from the palm side) are applied to the recipient's radial nerve against the periosteum of the forearm bone.
Fifth technique (五教 ,gokyō) visually similar to ikkyō, but with an inverted grip of the wrist, medial rotation of the arm and shoulder, and downward pressure on the elbow. Common in knife and other weapon take-aways.
Four-direction throw (四方投げ ,shihōnage) The hand is folded back past the shoulder, locking the shoulder joint.
Forearm return (小手返し ,kotegaeshi) a supinating wristlock-throw that stretches the extensor digitorum.
Breath throw (呼吸投げ ,kokyūnage) a loosely used term for various types of mechanically unrelated techniques, although they generally do not use joint locks like other techniques.
Entering throw (入身投げ ,iriminage) throws in which nage moves through the space occupied by uke. The classic form superficially resembles a "clothesline" technique.
Heaven-and-earth throw (天地投げ ,tenchinage) beginning with ryōte-dori; moving forward, nage sweeps one hand low ("earth") and the other high ("heaven"), which unbalances uke so that he or she easily topples over.
Hip throw (腰投げ ,koshinage) aikido's version of the hip throw. Nage drops his or her hips lower than those of uke, then flips uke over the resultant fulcrum.
Figure-ten throw (十字投げ ,jūjinage) or figure-ten entanglement (十字絡み ,jūjigarami) a throw that locks the arms against each other (The kanji for "10" is a cross-shape: 十).
Rotary throw (回転投げ ,kaitennage) nage sweeps the arm back until it locks the shoulder joint, then uses forward pressure to throw.
For those who would like to see more Aikido in action you should watch Steven Seagal movies such as:
Shadow Man,Into The Sun,Today You Die,Submerged,Out Of Reach,Above The Law,Hard To Kill,Under Siege,Under Siege 2,Out of Justice,Marked For Death,On Deathly Ground,Fire Down Below,The Glimmer Man,Exit Wounds,The Patriot,Out For A Kill,The Foreigner,Half Past Dead,Belly Of The Beast and many more.
Mostly in the movie that he acted he uses lots of Aikido techniques to bring down the opponent and the opponent that he throw or flip is not just any stunt man.They are a part of Steven Seagal students in Aikido.In an International Aikido Federation,Steven Seagal is one of the top "shihan".
This is also another of my host brother "Greg Spaleta" from Canada.
~Yeah~
Together with my family
This is Chiyuki from Osaka
Saint Francis Institution
The front view from the inside of the building
Chan Sui Ki Block
This photo was took during our 
This photo was took after our concert...Miss the fun time with you guys!
