An art influenced by the religion of Omoto-Kyo, founded by the philosophy and spirituality that influences the religion is the martial art of Aikido. The founder of Aikido is Morihei Ueshiba. By itself the word Aikido is derived from three Japanese words that mean joining, spirit and way or Ai, Ki and Do. An easier way would be to say it is the joining of the spirit in the Aikido way.

Aikido states that the best way to align the mind, body and spirit is by relaxing the mind. Once the mind is relaxed the body and spirit join because there are no thought or other external things in your mind to interfere. This unique combination of being one and being at peace is where the martial art gets its name of being an art of peace. Ueshiba, the founder was a pacifist and Aikido was taught by him as a way to end aggression by peaceful means or so it is thought.

Aikido involves a definite philosophical and spiritual development but this has to be incorporated by the actual execution of the techniques and methods of Aikido. The art of Aikido has two players. The first is the one who is receiving the moves called the uke and the one who is giving the moves and techniques that are being taught is the nage.

Uke and nage can be compared to the Chinese yin and yang concepts because like yin and yang, uke and nage are also part of a whole and two different things. It is based on the give and take theory. Among the different techniques taught by Aikido one of the first is the art of throwing and falling safely. Nage has to ensure that uke does not sustain any injury and learns to land safely.

In the training of Aikido it is the uke or the receiver who initiates an attack on the nage and it is the nage who will then try to defend himself and neutralize the said attack using an Aikido technique or move. Both nage and uke teach each other and the training is not complete if oneness is not achieved by both. This is the basic give and take theory or ki that Aikido is teaching.

These are the basic aspects of Aikido which include flexibility, calm, blending and adapting. The uke is taught to be relaxed and flexible so that he is not caught off guard by nage and thrown off balance. Nage, at the same time is learning to adapt and blend so that the energy emanating from the uke can be controlled and lowered. This is for two players but Aikido teaches and trains for multiple attackers too.

The higher levels of Aikido involve the training in something called the Randori. This is the training given for multiple attackers. Here the training is conducted freestyle which means it is away from the controlled situation that the uke and nage practice in. Here all the techniques and moves of Aikido are incorporated to enhance knowledge. Aikido has various other training methods other than the two mentioned and all of them follow the same values.

Originally posted 2008-09-18 15:33:18. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Come nightfall and you are wary of going back home alone in the dark. One reason for this is the thought that if while walking alone you are surrounded by some people whose intentions are not the best for you. Calling for help is one option but you may or may not get help or you could offer money to the rogues and hope they leave you alone. But sometimes there are thugs who don't want only money. Here, for your self defense a pepper spray might buy you some time but you may still be out numbered.

Martial arts is an art that is best suited for these situations and if you are in a job where you may face walking alone in the dark then you must try and learn the art of martial arts. Here Aikido is an option because the aim behind Aikido is not to inflict damage but only to defend oneself effectively.

Aikido is a martial art form from Japan and it is a lot like Judo and Karate. The arms are used in Aikido to block any offensive attack and the idea is to redirect the same force back to the opponent thereby disabling his attack and protecting you. In simpler terms it would be something like catching a ball thrown at you with one hand and you throw it back to a third. Aikido martial arts involve swift movements and the best example of this is seen in movies starring Steven Segal.

Aikido was invented in the 1930s and as students learnt this art a number of dojos sprang up where this was taught. Within Aikido there were a number of different techniques that made their appearance like Yoshinkan, Yoseikna and Aikikai. Aikido is not just about doing drills and sparring with a partner at a dojo. Its worth is realized only in actual combat and this is best exemplified by the tournament called the Tomiki Aikido.

While the other martial arts have got their place in the Olympics, Aikido is yet to get the same honor. But local dojos and university clubs do hold regular competitions. These are between two fighters and points are earned on the basis of a successful strike to the opponent.

In Aikido one has a form of martial arts where anyone regardless of age and gender can join. Signup with a dojo near your residence, master the basic techniques properly and then all you need is practice to improve your skills. To become a good fighter you have to go though the learning stage which may involve a lot of falling. It is only with practice that you will be able to hone your skills.

The Tomiki Aikido is a monthly event held in most states and if you feel you are ready then it would not hurt to participate in this event. There may be announcements by concerned clubs on the website or then there may be a notice on bulletin boards so look for the announcement and see if you can sign up for it.

By nature, Aikido is not a violent form of martial arts. It is primarily for self defense and by learning this art one can be both mentally and physically prepared for any situation. Aikido involves no offensive punches or sharp kicks.

There should be no compromise on self defense. Pepper sprays and other little tricks may save you from a single attacker or at best two. Of course you won't get attacked today or even tomorrow but it will save you from becoming a statistic on the list of crimes if you can successfully defend yourself.

Originally posted 2008-09-19 15:35:35. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Uniforms are an integral part of any sport and Aikido is no exception. Most martial arts use a uniform called the Keikogi which means a uniform for training and Aikido uses a uniform called the Aikidogi.

Every martial arts has its own terminology for the type of uniform that is worn while training. So if for Aikido it is the Aikidogi then for Jiujitsu it's Jujutsugi and for Karate it is Karategi. For Judo, it's Judogi and for the Ninjutsu arts it's called the Shinobi-iri and Shinobi shozoku, for Kendo the uniform is called Kendogi. These uniforms are also referred to as just ‘gi' or ‘dogi'.

For Aikido the uniform is Aikidogi and this comprises a pair of simple trousers and a upper garment like a white jacket which is also known as Uwagi. But even the wrap around jackets that are used for Judo and Karate can be used while training for Aikido. Judo jackets are made for handling a lot of stress that comes due to the throwing and seizing aspects of the sport.

Now Aikido also has some amount of throwing and Keikogi type of grabbing so Judo jackets are advised. Most Aikido uniforms are stitched in such a way so as to be able to withstand the wear and tear that it will endure. There is no possibility of special or personalized Keikogis but those that are made for Aikido will have reinforced patches for the knees.

Slightly longer jackets mean the they can be tucked into the hakama. The short sleeves are emphasized because the Aikido techniques require that there are a lot of wrist grabs and twists. Heavy tightly woven terrycloth is used generally for making the Uwagis but canvas can also be used like it is for the Uwagi for Judo. Both are considered strong enough to tolerate the throwing and grappling that comprises the Aikido training.

Now the hakama is a dress or a skirt look alike which is added to the main uniform and the reason for this is that the feet movements must be hidden form the opponent. These are generally indigo or black in color and only the Aikidokas who have reached the rank of Dan are allowed to wear this.

In the martial arts arena the ranking system used is that of ky and dan. But every style has its own requirements, some styles use colored belts to represent the ky and there are schools where the hakama is worn irrespective of rank. Some other styles require that only females can wear them.

Remember that your Aikidogi must be the exact size because too small means you cannot move freely and too big will mean that you have extra fabric coming in your way. Aikido has lots of pulling, throwing, stretching, sliding and jumping so your uniform has to be of a cloth that can withstand all this. Extra padding on the knees and double stitching will take care of the strength. It may cost a bit more but it will serve its purpose and you will not have to spend money buying uniforms repeatedly.

Originally posted 2008-09-15 15:28:31. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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To the world, Asia has made the contribution of martial arts. Bruce Lee is the best example of this. He was first a martial arts master and then a Hollywood star. Martial arts have always been a favorite with movie makers and even now there are films like House of Flying Daggers and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon to name just a few.

Japan is where you will find a rich history of this sport but China is what comes to mind when anyone says martial arts. Modern Japan conducts tournaments and promotes this sport in a big way abroad and at home. The Japanese have an old heritage of contact body sport and they are very athletic as a race.

Aikido is one such sport that is promoted by the Japanese. The word Aikido is derived from three words where Ai which means joining, Ki which means spirit and Do which means way. This tells us that we are not just talking about a sport in the physical sense of the word but it emphasizes the philosophical and spiritual development of the student and this was given a lot of focus by the proponent of Aikido who was called Ueshiba.

Aikido dwells on the theory of using harmony to defeat the opponent rather than violence. It aims to catch the opponent where he is the weakest and then the aim is to divert his attack or then immobilize him but not to kill him. It is this theory that makes Aikido beautiful to watch and it is very positive in nature. Of the people fighting there is a minimum of one who is looking for harmony and he performs the movement with grace and elegance. There are calculated moves but they exude an air of finesse and grace that is not feminine in nature but one which exudes peace. The sport is also called the art of peace and it is known to have some very positive influences on its practitioners and on those who choose to learn this sport.

There are some techniques involved in Aikido. The first is Ikkyo where the opponent is controlled by using one hand to hold the elbow and the other at the wrist. This step will aid in pinning the opponent down. Nikyo is the next technique where an adductive wristlock will help you twist your opponent's arm and cause some pressure on the nerve. Sankyo is the third where tension is sent upward – arm to elbow to shoulder.

Aikido does not only mean developing your physical strength but also your mental strength and capacity to effectively defeat the opponent. Perfecting this art requires hours of practice and strict discipline. Those who want to get into this field must do their best and they must try and perform it to the best of their ability.

Originally posted 2008-09-14 15:26:56. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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The power of life and death is in everyone's hands. An individual decision makes or breaks the circle of life and death. If you decide to slow down when crossing the road you decide to live and if you make a dash in the face of oncoming traffic then you decide to take a risk of death. Then there is the alternate that most use which is to earn money by force rather than by honest means. You can be a victim of such people while retuning from work late in the night or maybe after a shopping trip.

The police are there to help but there may come a time when the police take time to reach and this is where knowledge of a martial art for self defense will help you. You may not be like Bruce Lee but at least you will be able to kick and punch and save yourself effectively.

Aikido is one such peaceful but popular form of martial arts. The idea behind Aikido is to disarm or subdue the attacker so that you can be safe. Aikido does not propagate injuring or killing of the opponent or attacker. Aikido is taught in dojos and these are found all over the country. You enroll and then as you learn you will move up in the order.

The first techniques that beginners are taught is like a square. Then as you master these you move up to a triangle and then to a circle. It does take months to reach the level of circle and you will need a lot of practice and dedication to get there. The final objective is to be able to use all the techniques effortlessly so that in case of more than one opponent you have the energy to deal with them.

It is not possible to compare the trained moves of grips, falls and holds that are done in the training center to what happens out on the street. Chances are that your opponent may not be trained in martial arts and so the moves he uses will be very different from what you know. Your training has to be such that you are prepared for anything. The best way to test your combat skills is to take part in the competitions that are held regularly by various dojos.

Practice sessions and competitions should be such that you reduce the tempo of the attack on the opponent. Use your speed and swiftness for the real battle out on the streets. You just may face an attacker also trained in the martial arts and here it will be the effective use of your mind that will ensure you come out safe.

Aikido has some effective secrets and it is these that will help you in a combat for life type of a situation. Try hand eye coordination, your wrist flexibility, speed and your breathing.

An old saying on the lines of there being no gain without pain holds very true for those learning Aikido. This is a given in Aikido because it is the one who has that extra competitive edge who will be the victor in any encounter. Guidance by senior students and the Sensei will ensure that the learner has faith in his own abilities and believes that he will be master of this art one day.

Originally posted 2008-09-17 15:31:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Aikido is the result of a combination of many different disciplines. Created by a person named Ueshiba in the 1940s, the aim was to find a technique that helped attain fulfillment at the technical and the spiritual levels. The word Aikido is derived form three Japanese words Ai and Ki and Do which mean joining, spirit and way. So basically one can define Aikido as a joining of the spirit, body and mind to find the right way.

There are many techniques to the art of Aikido. Its takes its basic form from the Jujitsu style locks and throws and it also incorporates moves from the arena of sword and spear fighting by experts. There are some basic fundamental moves in Aikido which one must be aware of.

Ikkyo is the first technique. Here the point of control is by putting one hand near the elbow and the other near the wrist. This style of grip puts pressure on the ulnar which is located in the arm's medial portion. The next technique is Nikyo where painful pressure can be applied to the arm by the use of an adductive wristlock where the arm gets twisted. The third is called the Sankyo which is a pronating move. Tension is directed all the way up the arm, elbow right up to the shoulder. At number four you have the Yonkyo where the knuckles put pressure on the radial nerve. The movement is somewhat like that of an Ikkyo but the forearm is not gripped and the shoulder is used. The last technique is Gokyo which is similar to the Ikkyo but with a slight modification which involves a twisting and inverting of the hand holding the wrist.

After the basic techniques come some protective moves that one must know to effectively disarm the opponent.

The first move is called the Kotogaeshi which translates to a wrist return in English. Here the student places a wristlock and throw that stretches to the extensor digitorum. The next move is called Iriminage or the enter-body throw. Here the student or nage moves in to the opponent's or uke's space somewhat like a clothesline technique. Number three is Kokynage or breath throw which involves different types of timing throws. Koshinage is where the student lowers his hips to below the opponent's hip level, uses this as a fulcrum to flip the opponent. Tenchinage is also known as the heaven and earth throw. Here both wrists are grabbed and one hand holds the wrist high and the other low while moving forward which will make the opponent lose balance and fall.

Shihonage is a throw that goes in four directions. The hand folds back beyond the shoulders which then locks the shoulder joints. At number seven you have the Kaitennage or the rotation throw. Here the arm is pushed backwards so the shoulder joints lock and then pressure is applied. The last one is Jujinage where a throw will lock the arms together. This also goes by the name shaped-like-a-ten-throw because the cross shape resembles a 10 in kanji.

Originally posted 2008-09-13 15:25:59. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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A winner or a loser is decided by a split second move in any combat. To improve fighting skills it is necessary for the person to recollect what errors were made and where they went wrong. This way they can make the necessary corrections to their moves so that they fight better in the future. These are very common occurrences in competitions so students must learn the moves of Aikido so as to do well.

Like for example in the Ai hanmi Iriminage the attacker is grabbed by the neck and forced to the ground. In Ai hanmi Kokyuho, the only difference is that the arm is extended a little more so that maximum effect is achieved. Now suppose your attacker is armed with a knife then your best bet is to use an Aikido move called the Katate Ryotemochi where both hands are used to block the weapon and the attacker is disarmed before he is pinned down to the ground.

If you can get behind your attacker then the move called the Ushiro Ryokatatori will be quite effective. Here you can grab the opponent's shoulders and if the opponent is tough, then by applying the Ushiro Kubishime you can stop the air supply of the opponent for a brief time so your opponent goes unconscious. But like there are moves where you can block and make the opponent fall there are also moves where striking is used. In the Kata Menuchi maneuver the hand can slice into the middle of the forehead which can cause concussion and if that is not required then the Mune Tsuki is where the strike lands on the chest.

Legs can use a move that is commonly known in English as the leg sweep or the Aiki Otoshi. This is of good use especially if the attacker thinks that the student can use only his hands. This move will keep the opponent down to the ground. The Sankyo hold is the best to keep the attacker once he has been overpowered and subdued. The police use this technique a lot while waiting for their colleagues to arrive.

Aikido has about ten different moves and their names are in Japanese. A person should be able to tell the difference between all these ten. And when engaged in combat it will be any one move out of these ten that he will decide to use.

Enrolling in a dojo is the first step to learning this martial art. Look up your local directory and see if there is one close to your home and if the rates are reasonable for you. Then the student is given the rules to learn and he is taught how to wear the uniform correctly. Then they start teaching the right way to move for each stroke and it is only practice that will help them get it right. It is important to keep in mind that this type of martial art is for self defense only. What generally happens is that when the attacker fails in his mission he turns and runs and this is where the person attacked should call for help rather than chase.

Practice sparring is what will help condition the mind and body to be able to successfully engage an attacker in a struggle and pin him down.

Originally posted 2008-09-16 15:29:55. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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