| The name aikido is formed by the combination of | | | | multi-disciplinary form of martial arts. |
| three characters in the Japanese language. Ai, | | | | Yet despite his know how, he remains dissatisfied. |
| which means joining; ki, which means spirit and do, | | | | He felt that there is still something missing. It was |
| which means way. These three words actually | | | | then that he turned to the religions. He studied |
| summarize the essence of aikido as a form of | | | | under a spiritual leader, Onisaburo Deguchiof the |
| martial art— the joining of the spirit to find the | | | | sect Omoto-kyo in Ayabe. Deguchiof taught him |
| way. It was only in the period from 1930s to the | | | | to take care of his spiritual growth. He then |
| 40s that the name aikido was officially accepted | | | | combined his spiritual beliefs and his mastery of |
| as the name of the martial arts form. | | | | the different martial arts. Aikido was born. |
| Aikido uses techniques that do not damage or kill | | | | His association with this charismatic spiritual leader |
| unlike other forms of martial arts. The | | | | Deguchiof also paved the way for his introduction |
| movements and skills being taught are just meant | | | | to the elite political and military people as a martial |
| to divert attention or immobilize people. This is | | | | artist. Because of this connection, he was able to |
| perhaps the reason why most people prefer | | | | establish aikido and even transferred the teachings |
| aikido, because of it's focus on peace and | | | | to students, who have in turn developed their |
| harmony as opposed to aggression and conflict. In | | | | own styles of movement in aikido. |
| fact, aikido developer Morihei Ueshiba believes that | | | | Aikido is a combination of the different styles of |
| to control aggression without causing any injury is | | | | jujitsu as well as some of the techniques of |
| the art of peace. | | | | sword and spear fighting, of which Ueshiba is an |
| Ueshiba, who is also called Osensei, which means | | | | expert. To get an overall picture, aikido combines |
| Great Teacher, created aikido from the principles | | | | the joint locks and throws techniques of jujitsu |
| of Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu. He incorporated the | | | | and the movements of the body when fighting |
| techniques of the yari, the spear; the juken, which | | | | with sword and spears. |
| is a bayonet; and the jo, which is a short | | | | Oriental in origin, it was brought to the west by |
| quarterstaff). But what ultimately separates aikido | | | | Minoru Mochizuki when he visited France in 1951. |
| from other forms of martial arts is the fact that | | | | He introduced the aikido techniques to students |
| its practitioners can attack while empty-handed. | | | | who are learning judo. In 1952, Tadashi Abe came |
| Practitioners need no weapons for protection. | | | | to France as the official Aikikai Honbu |
| As a young child, he was much into physical | | | | representative. Then in 1953, Kenji Tomiki toured |
| fitness and conditioning. This is because of his vow | | | | through the United States while Koichi Tohei |
| to avenge his father's death. Eventually, his | | | | stayed in Hawaii for a full year where he set up a |
| studies and activities brought him to the discipline | | | | dojo. Aikido then spread its influence in United |
| of the different martial arts. He studied all. He | | | | Kingdom two years after and in 1965, it reached |
| even has certificates, fencing, fighting with spears, | | | | Germany and Australia. At present, aikido has |
| etc. He has learned it all. This is perhaps the | | | | centers all over the world. |
| reason why aikido is such a diverse and | | | | |