WHAT IS AIKIDO?

Aikido is a Japanese martial art that does not rely on muscles and strength but concentrates the power of the whole body onto the weak point of an opponent forcing him to cooperate using his own force and momentum.

HISTORY OF AIKIDO

The founder of Aikido is Morihei Ueshiba (1882 - 1969), also known as "O Sensei." He spent many years studying different styles of Ju-jitsu and particularly the Daitoryu style of Takeda, in addition to different sword schools. In 1925 Ueshiba sensei developed a new budo or martial art called aikibudo. He transformed the old Ju-jitsu to a refined art of peace. He introduced circular movements, eliminated many of the dangerous and painful locks and throws and emphasized perfect timing, hip power and taught to blend with the opponent instead of direct collision. After World War II, Aikibudo became Aikido.

YOSHINKAN AIKIDO

A direct student of Aikido founder, Morihei Ueshiba, Shioda Gozo sensei (1915 -1994) founded the Yoshinkan 'House for Cultivating the Spirit' style of Aikido in 1955. With a very scientific, systematized teaching method emphasizing strong basics, it has been selected by the Tokyo Riot Police and the special police to train their officers. It is known for its powerful and very effective techniques.

PARTICULARITIES OF YOSHINKAN AIKIDO

Yoshinkan aikido is often referred as pre-war Aiki-jutsu. The young
Shioda Gozo was a live-in student of Ueshiba sensei when O Sensei was at his prime physically. He inherited from the earlier training of O Sensei when he was still in search of his own expression and perfection. It was a time of rigorous training centered on more rigid but stronger forms, erect postures with strong emphasis on body center line, hip power and breath power training. It is only later that the founder of the Aikikai foundation developed a more fluid and softer approach to his art and grew deeply into spirituality.

The Yoshinkan style of Shioda Gozo sensei has also evolved greatly over the years, but stays committed to a more dynamic approach. It believes that no real skills can be acquired without a strong base and therefore emphasizes the constant repetition of six basic movements and a set of basic techniques to develop the essential elements of Aikido: Hip power, focus of power and breath power. Students progress in learning how to blend those elements with speed, timing and fluidity of movements, in the spirit of the early time of Ueshiba O Sensei’s “Hell dojo”. 

AIKIDO CONCEPTS

The philosophy of Aikido
Blend with an attack. Guide an opponent using his own force and momentum. The best Aikido technique is when “you make the one who came to kill you change his mind to become your friend” (Sihoda Gozo)

The roles of Shite and Uke
Shite does the technique on Uke, who receives the technique. They then change roles, and continue to alternate. The role of Shite is to apply a technique as best he can, trying to lead and unbalance his partner using the focus power of his hips and avoid using arm muscles. The role of Uke is to help his partner perfect his techniques and progress together.

Zanshin
In traditional martial art, there is much more than the realization of the technique. The proper attitude and posture at the beginning, the distance and the focus of attention and feeling after the technique is very important if not more important. “Zanshin” is the “finishing mind” when the whole intention and power of the body is projected forward. Zanshin gives life to the technique, makes the body the mind and the heart become one.  

Kamae
The basic Aikido stance is called “Kamae”. It is the most important element of Aikido training since it allows the body to move as one and concentrate its entire strength at the base of the hips. 

Shoshin (ni modoru)
In Aikido as in other martial arts it is very easy to get trapped in one own ego and think or behave as if we knew everything. Shoshin ni modoru , means to remember how we were when we first started to learn, it is the return to this innocent and pure learning attitude. It is essential to regularly go back to Shoshin, in order to progress in Aikido.