| Aikido incorporates a wide range of techniques | | | | neutral (neither pulling nor pushing) grab or hold. |
| that use principles of energy and motion to | | | | The speed of an attack may vary depending on |
| redirect, neutralise and control attackers. Because | | | | the experience and level of the "Nage" (the |
| aikido techniques allow practitioners to move | | | | partner who executes the throw or technique). |
| considerably during their execution, as well as for | | | | Whether the attack is fast or slow, the intention |
| other reasons, some believe aikido is particularly | | | | to strike or control (if grabbing or pinning) should |
| suited to multiple-attacker circumstances. | | | | remain. |
| However, like all martial arts claims, this is | | | | Aikido attacks used in normal training include |
| debated. At its highest level, aikido can be used to | | | | various stylised strikes and grabs such as: |
| defend oneself without causing serious injury to | | | | - shomenuchi (a vertical strike to the head), |
| either the aggressor or the defender. If | | | | - yokomenuchi (a lateral strike to the side of the |
| performed correctly, size and strength are not | | | | head and/or neck), |
| important for efficiency in the techniques. Aikido is | | | | - munetsuki (a straight punch), |
| considered one of the most difficult of the | | | | - ryotedori (a two handed grab), |
| Japanese martial arts in which to gain proficiency | | | | - katadori (a shoulder grab). |
| since it has such great demands physically and | | | | Many of the -uchi strikes resemble blows from a |
| mentally. | | | | sword or other weapon. Kicks are sometimes |
| Aikido Training | | | | used, but are not usually part of basic curricula. |
| The methods of training vary from organisation | | | | Most aikido techniques can also be applied to a |
| to organisation and indeed even between different | | | | response to an attack, e.g. to a block, and some |
| dojo in a single organisation but typically, a class | | | | schools use this as the "basic" form of a given |
| basically means that the teacher shows | | | | class of technique. Beginners also tend to work |
| techniques or principles and the students imitate. | | | | with techniques executed in response to a grab. |
| Training is done through mutual technique, where | | | | Grabs are considered good for basic practice |
| the focus is on entering and blending (harmonising) | | | | because the connection with uke is very clear and |
| with the attack, not on sparring or competing | | | | strong, and it is easier to "feel out" body |
| with the attacker's power. | | | | mechanics and lines of force. |
| Uke, the receiver of the technique, usually initiates | | | | There is also the matter of atemi, or strikes |
| an attack against nage or tori, who neutralises it | | | | employed during an aikido technique. The role and |
| with an aikido technique. The uke and the nage | | | | importance of atemi is a matter of some debate |
| have equally important roles. Uke's role is to be | | | | in aikido. Some view atemi as strikes to "vital |
| honest and committed in attack, to use positioning | | | | points" that can be delivered during the course of |
| to protect oneself, and to learn proper technique | | | | a technique's application, to increase effectiveness. |
| through the imbalanced feeling created by Nage's | | | | Others consider atemi to be methods of |
| technique. Nage's role is to blend with and | | | | distraction, particularly when aimed at the face. |
| neutralise Uke's attack without leaving an opening | | | | For instance, if a movement would expose the |
| to further attacks. | | | | aikido practitioner to a counter-blow, they may |
| Simultaneously, Nage will be studying how to | | | | deliver a quick strike to distract the attacker or |
| create a feeling of being centred (on balance) and | | | | occupy the threatening limb. |
| controlled in application of the aikido technique. | | | | Atemi can be interpreted as not only punches or |
| Therefore, students must practice both positions | | | | kicks but also, for instance, striking with a |
| in order to learn proper technique feeling. | | | | shoulder or a large part of the arm. Some throws |
| When O-Sensei taught, all his students were uke | | | | are arguably effected through an unbalancing or |
| until he deemed them knowledgeable enough of | | | | abrupt application of atemi. Many sayings about |
| the technique to be nage. Movement, awareness, | | | | atemi are attributed to Morihei Ueshiba, although |
| precision, distance, and timing are all important to | | | | their precise content varies considerably based on |
| the execution of techniques as students progress | | | | the one doing the telling. |
| from rigidly defined exercises to more fluid and | | | | Aikido Weapons |
| adaptable applications. Eventually, students take | | | | Weapons training in aikido usually consists of jo |
| part in jiyu-waza (free attack) and/or randori | | | | (short-staff) and bokken (sword) and/or tanto |
| (multiple attackers), where the attacks are less | | | | (knife). Both weapons-taking and |
| predictable. Most schools employ training methods | | | | weapons-retention are sometimes taught, to |
| wherein uke actively attempts to employ | | | | integrate the armed and unarmed aspects of |
| counter-techniques, or kaeshi-waza. | | | | aikido. For example, a technique done with a |
| O-Sensei did not allow competition in training | | | | straight punch may be done with a tanto or jo |
| because some techniques are considered too | | | | thrust instead, or a grab technique may be |
| dangerous and because he believed that | | | | illustrated as a way to draw/strike with a weapon |
| competition did not develop good character in | | | | while being grabbed. |
| students. Most styles of aikido continue this | | | | Many schools train using versions of Morihiro |
| tradition although Shodokan Aikido started with | | | | Saito's weapons system: aiki-jo and aiki-ken. The |
| competitions early on. In the Ki Society there are | | | | system contains solo kata with jo, and paired |
| forms (taigi) competitions held from time to time. | | | | exercises for both jo and bokken. In other lines |
| Aikido Defence | | | | of aikido, paired training with bokken in kata |
| Aikido techniques are mostly based on keeping | | | | derived from old sword schools is common. |
| the attacker out of balance and locking joints. | | | | Quite a few aikido teachers have also developed |
| Much of aikido's repertoire of defences can be | | | | weapons systems on their own, such as Mitsugi |
| performed either as throwing techniques | | | | Saotome's "two sword aikido". Kazuo Chiba sensei, |
| (nage-waza) or as controls (katame-waza), | | | | of the San Diego Aikikai, has developed a |
| depending on the situation. | | | | weapons curriculum which, while firmly based on |
| Entering, irimi, and turning, tenkan, are widely used | | | | the principles of Aiki, is not found in schools |
| Aikido concepts, as is striking, atemi. The use of | | | | outside of the Chiba lineage. Chiba sensei, also an |
| striking techniques is dependent on the | | | | expert in Iaido, developed and teaches Batto-ho, |
| organisation and, to some extent, the individual | | | | "sword-drawing method," which is based on Iaido, |
| dojo. Some dojo teach the strikes that are | | | | "the Way of sword drawing" and other traditional |
| integral to all Aikido techniques as mere | | | | forms of Japanese sword work. In Chiba's schools |
| distractions, used to make the application of an | | | | Batto-ho is studied in large part for the same |
| Aikido technique easier, while others teach that | | | | reasons as weapons work with bokken and jo: |
| strikes are to be used for more destructive | | | | for what it reveals about the roots of Aikido as a |
| reasons. O-Sensei himself wrote, while describing | | | | martial art. |
| the Aikido technique Ikkyo, "...first smash the | | | | Aikido Clothing |
| eyes." (This might well refer to the fact that the | | | | Aikido uses a keikogi similar to most other |
| classic opener for Ikkyo is a knife-hand thrust | | | | modern budo arts; simple trousers and a |
| towards the face, to make uke block and thus | | | | wraparound jacket, usually white. In some places |
| expose his or her arm to the joint control - thus, | | | | a keikogi of karate cut is preferred, in others |
| as though moving to smash uke's eyes.) | | | | most people use judo keikogis. Keikogi made |
| Manipulation of uke's balance by entering is often | | | | specially for aikido exist, but usually not in the |
| referred to as "taking uke's centre". It is | | | | lower price ranges. Many dojos insist that the |
| sometimes said that aikido contains only defence, | | | | sleeves are cut short to elbow length, to reduce |
| and the attacks that are performed are not really | | | | the risk of trapped fingers and injuries in grab |
| aikido. From a historical perspective this claim is | | | | techniques to the wrist. |
| questionable, but many if not most aikidoka have | | | | To the keikogi adds the traditional garment |
| the defence techniques as the focus of their | | | | hakama, wide pleated trousers. The hakama is |
| training. | | | | usually black or dark blue. In most dojos around |
| Aikido Attacks | | | | the world, the hakama is reserved for |
| In the early days when O'Sensei began teaching | | | | practitioners with dan (black belt) ranks, but some |
| his new art of Aikido, new students were | | | | dojos ask everyone to wear a hakama. Systems |
| expected to be already proficient in another | | | | also exist where hakama is never worn, worn |
| (generally a striking) martial art. Due to this, | | | | from a specific kyu rank, and others where |
| attacks per se are generally not focused on in | | | | women are allowed to wear it earlier than the |
| contemporary Aikido dojos. Students will learn the | | | | men. |
| various attacks from which an Aikido technique | | | | The belt, obi is wrapped twice around the body |
| can be practiced. | | | | similar to in karate or judo. Although some |
| Although attacks are seldom studied to the same | | | | systems use many belt colours similar to the |
| extent as in arts of more aggressive nature, | | | | system in judo, the most common version is that |
| good attacks are needed to study correct and | | | | dan ranks wear black belt, and kyu ranks white - |
| effective application of technique. "Honest" attacks | | | | sometimes with an additional brown belt for the |
| are considered important. An "honest" attack | | | | highest kyu ranks. In some dojos it is common to |
| would be an attack with full intention or a strong | | | | have the same colour belt at different levels. |