What is Aikido?

Aikido is a ‘modern’ Japanese martial art developed during the early 20th Century by O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba, from his extensive experience in the ancient Samurai arts of Ju-Jutsu, swordsmanship and wooden staff.
The name Aikido is composed of three Japanese words: ai, meaning harmony: ki, spirit or energy: and do, the path, the system, or the way. Aikido is the way of the spirit of harmony.

Martial arts are studied for self-defense and self-improvement, but Aikido is different from other martial arts in that the practitioner seeks to achieve self-defence without injury to the attackers. The basic movements of Aikido are circular in nature; most attacks are linear. The Aikidoka harmonizes with, rather than confronts, an aggressive line and converts it into a circular motion that renders attackers helpless.

Various wristlocks, arm pins, or unbalancing throws are employed to neutralize aggressors without serious injury, and have therefore been adopted into the training regime of many police forces throughout the world.