Aikido

*AIKIDO -

Aikido is a Japanese martial art founded in the 1920’s by Morihei Ueshiba, a lifelong student of “budo” (the warrior’s path) and a person with strong philosophical and spiritual interests.

Ueshiba conceived of Aikido as an alternative to the aggressive and violent martial arts of his day.  He envisioned the purpose of martial arts in the modern world differently.  Rather than creating a sport for the young, with contests and competition, Ueshiba created an art for all ages, to be studied and refined throughout one’s life.

His own words best reflect this essential difference between Aikido and other martial arts such as karate and judo:

“The source of budo is God’s love and the spirit of loving protection for all beings…. True budo is to accept the spirit of the universe, keep the peace of the world, correctly produce, protect and cultivate all beings in Nature.” (from Abundant Peace, by John Stevens)

Aikido is all about energy. In its essence, an Aikido practitioner will connect with attacking energy, and then redirect or neutralize that energy. In the process, the attacker will find his balance lost and his attacking energy used to defeat him. The defender’s intent is not to harm the attacker, but to change his behavior.

Aikido movements use many circular movements such as pivots to redirect energy. Since it is based on two-handed Samurai sword movements, there are no kicks and no damaging punches.

Aikido movements train the entire body to work as a unit. Movements are both energized and relaxed.  Advanced training focuses on sensing and responding quickly to the attacker’s energy.

The Practice
The philosophy and techniques of Aikido are learned through persistence and practice. The techniques are “simple” but not “easy.”

Aikido’s techniques use throws and pins that look similar in some respects to judo. The practice of these two arts is very different, however.  Aikido is neither a sport nor competition. Aikido stresses cooperation and being “centered.”  This emotional preparation for physical action is essential to Aikido in that aggression is avoided or redirected rather than confronted and defeated.
The spirit of Aikido is to reconcile with an aggressor, not destroy them.

The Process
The typical Aikido class consists of a brief martial arts ceremony of greeting, warmup exercises, practice of techniques, a short lesson in Japanese martial arts history or etiquette, and a final, short closing ceremony. The typical Aikido class thereby provides an individual with a practice “laboratory.“

This laboratory is an environment in which a person can confront him or herself in an experience requiring hard physical work, keen mental concentration and immersion in traditions and customs that are different from those of modern America.

The lessons of cooperation, emotional openness, physical fitness and self defense are ones that are as important today in the United States as they were for Morihei Ueshiba in 1925 in Japan.

Yoshinkan style of Aikido -
One of Ueshiba’s earliest and gifted pupils was Gozo Shioda, the founder of the style of Aikido, Yoshinkan Aikido, practiced in our dojo. Shioda contributed much to the popularity that Aikido has enjoyed since World War II.

One of Sensei Shioda’s outstanding students was Takashi Kushida, who in the early 1970s moved to the United States to teach Aikido.  The senior instructors of our school were students of Sensei Kushida.

Gozo Shioda was born in 1915. From the age of 18 he studied Aikido under Sensei Ueshiba. For a period of eight years he dedicated himself solely to the practice of Aikido as a “live-in student.” Even as a student he displayed the clear cut technique and extraordinary vigor he displayed in the latter years of his life.

Shioda recognized the genius of his teacher but also saw the confusion that frequently resulted from Ueshiba’s teaching style. He therefore conceived of a system of instruction based on a strong physical sense of the “basics”. He organized and refined the relatively loose movements common to most Aikido forms into a set of “classical forms,” each with a strong emphasis on good posture, minimal use of upper-body strength and sharp focus of power.

In 1955, Yoshinkan Aikido was established and “Soke” (founder) Gozo Shioda was placed in charge.

In the Yoshinkan style, we have established movements and patterns that people all over the world try to follow. We also have a vocabulary that allows us to teach beginning students in such a way as to help them learn the difficult lessons of balance, center line and extension of power.

Our emphasis is on the process of acquiring basic skills, postures, body movements and attitudes that then allow us to do powerful applications of technique that stand up to the physical challenges of actual aggressors.

*AIKIDO: CHILD/ PARENT CLASS -

Kids: Work on cooperation and self confidence

Parents: Join the fun – get off the sidelines

Aikido is a different martial art. We believe you become what you practice, so we practice non-aggression and cooperation, along with self defense.

Children from age 6 up can work with parents and other children. Aikido uses traditional Japanese movements of the ancient Samurai warriors in a spirit of self discipline, helpfulness and cooperation.

As a family, learn beautiful, efficient movements – not fighting.

Note: A child may also enroll in this weekly class without parent participation.