| Aikido is one of the oldest form of martial | | | | "universe" can be achieved through actual |
| arts. Founded by Morihei Ueshiba, aikido came | | | | experiences and everyday life. |
| about through the studies of many different | | | | |
| kinds of traditional martial arts. In fact, | | | | Aikido's movements and techniques are |
| is often perceived as a form of exercise or a | | | | circular. When a circle is created in aikido, |
| dance because of some of its forms. It is | | | | the person is said to be protected from a |
| also viewed by some quarters as some form of | | | | collision from an opposing force. A firm |
| martial mesmerism. | | | | center, however, is needed to create this |
| | | | circle. |
| Aikido is even confused with Daito Ryu | | | | |
| Aikijutsu, it is different in its essence. | | | | An example of a firm circle is a spinning top |
| Still, its founder attributed his creation of | | | | that turns at fast speed. Without a firm |
| aikido to the way, his master Sokaku Takeda, | | | | center, the speed of movement will only |
| grandmaster of Daito Ryu, opened his eyes to | | | | create imbalance. The stillness of the |
| the nature of Budo. | | | | spinning top while in speeding motion is what |
| | | | is called sumikiri in Aikido language. This |
| What is aikido? | | | | is achieved only by what Aikido founder calls |
| | | | "total clarity of mind and body." However, |
| Despite its many perceived forms, aikido is a | | | | this is not so easily achieved. It takes a |
| Budo or martial arts. It is the refinement of | | | | long time of study and practice in order to |
| the techniques that are being taught in | | | | find this intense concentration and |
| traditional martial arts and is combined with | | | | centeredness. To learn more, you can visit: |
| a philosophy that calls on for the power of | | | | |
| the spirit. In its essence, it is a blending | | | | Training is important in aikido as well as |
| of the body and the mind. | | | | concentration because while it may be easy to |
| | | | create a centered being when inside a martial |
| Its philosophy is basically derived from the | | | | arts gym, the same cannot be said of |
| belief that deceptions and trickery or brute | | | | situations and circumstances outside. It will |
| force will not make us defeat our opponents. | | | | not be easy to keep one's composure when |
| Instead, concentration that involves the | | | | faced with extraordinary circumstances. This |
| spirit will be enough to strengthen us. | | | | is actually one of the goals of Aikido |
| | | | training. It aims to teach its practitioners |
| Aikido is also used as a way to discover our | | | | to maintain their composure and their |
| true paths so that we can develop our | | | | centeredness even in panic situations such as |
| individuality. It also teaches its | | | | danger and calamities. |
| practitioners to unify their body and their | | | | |
| mind so that they will become in harmony with | | | | One method taught in aikido is to breathe |
| the "universe" and with nature. Their power | | | | with what is called the seika tanden point. |
| and their strength will come from this | | | | This is the part of the body that can be |
| balance and harmony. | | | | found two inches below the navel. Controlled |
| | | | breathing is one key to being one with the |
| The word "universe" in aikido is not some | | | | universe and to center oneself with nature. |
| obscure concept that one cannot achieve. It | | | | When a person learns to do this, he or she |
| is actually quite concrete and is even within | | | | will feel extraordinary calmness that they |
| the grasp of the person. In aikido, | | | | can use in the practice of aikido. |