Aikido in its present form is a pretty new creation within the martial arts tradition. Aikido was founded in Japan in the early 20th century and is attributed to Morihei Ueshiba. Ueshiba was introduced to the traditional martial arts as a child by his father Yoroku. He is known to have studied some martial arts disciplines, such as ju-jistu as well as ken-jutsu and the art of the spear. In 1912 Morihei relocated to Hokkaido, where a improbable meeting with a man named Sokaku Takeda altered his life.
Takeda was a master of daito-ryu-aiki-ju-jitsu, a style that had began in the 6th century and had been passed down through the military and perfected by brothers of the Aizu clan, becoming known as the Oshi-Kiuchi, or “striking arts.” The young Ueshiba quickly became intrigued by the martial knowledge of Takeda and studied under him until 1919.
Upon return to his native Tanabe because of the death of his father, Morihei met the charismatic founder of an esoteric belief called Omoto-Kyo - and spent the next 6 years as a disciple, wandering through Asia. In 1927, Morihei set up the Kobukan dojo in Tokyo and began teaching an combination of the martial disciplines he had learned from his training Takeda, combined with the knowledge he had learned from Omoto-Kyo.
This new art he called Ueshiba-aiko-bugo. Morihei eventually opted for the name aikido. This word is a combination of three concepts: Ai meaning harmony, Ki: meaning spirit and Do: meaning way. As with many other disciplines, aikido is viewed not only as a system of self defense, but also as a way of self-cultivation and advancement. Today there are diverse systems of aikido, but traditional aikido has no tournaments, competitions or contests. Physical strength isn’t required, so age is no hindrance. According to its founder, the goal of aikido is not the defeat of others, but the defeat of the negative characteristics that occupy one’s own mind and stop its effective functioning.
Since the primary goal of aikido is harmonization, its focus is neutralizing an aggressor with a throw, joint manipulation that will completely incapacitate them. The prevailing thought is that if you are attacked by force and counter with force, a collision of energies happens which causes disharmony, and in that case the strongest force wins. If, however, you meet that attacking force with an absorbing movement and direct it to the point of imbalance, before applying force of your own, you are in effect, preventing disharmony or redressing an imbalance. This is the fundamental thought and underlying philosophy of aikido. Aikido does uses a variety of martial arts equipment for training. Young aikido practicioners wear a uniform much like the typical karate uniform worn today.
Abiding by the directive from hombu (headquarters) in Japan, adult students do not wear colored belts while training, although the kyu (student) grading system is still in effect. It is acceptable for children to wear colored belts. The student system begins at 6th-kyu which calls for the wearing of a white belt with one red stripe. Children then move through a number of colored stripes and belts until they reach 1st-kyu. This is the final kyu rank before they are ready to attempt their black belt test (1st dan). When students pass the examination for their 1st dan (shodan), they are entitled to wear a hakama (a divided pleated skirt). This is considered an honor and the grade is recorded at hombu. Students also receive a membership card, an international yudansha record book and a certificate sighed by the founder’s son, Doshu.
Individuals train in aikido for many different reasons: as a way of becoming physically fit, as self defense or to understand something of the Japanese culture. It is up to each person to choose which facet of the style to concentrate on. In addition to the development of strength, endurance and suppleness practitioners find out how to tap their inner strength to find an energy that is far greater than muscular power alone. And to use this inner strength at will. Breath techniques are studied to facilitate mind and body coordination. Practitioners also come into are exposed to other Japanese practices such as shiatsu (finger therapy) a form of complete body massage and iaido (Japanese sword drawing). Both of these disciplines are (in harmony with|complementary to} the study of aikido and are occasionally studied together.
