About Aikido

 

The name “Aikido” is composed of three Japanese words:

 

 

“ai” (harmony),

 

 

“ki” (energy/spirit), and

 

 

“do” (way or path).

 

 

Fundamentally, Aikido is the “way of the spirit of harmony”. However, the word “Aikido” can be translated as the “way of blending energy”, or the “path of unity with the fundamental force of nature”.

 

Aikido is a true budo or martial way that evolved in the historic tradition of Japanese warrior arts. Studied in earnest, budo is more than a science of tactics and self defense. It is a discipline for perfecting the spirit of the practitioner.

 

Aikido is a paradox: it is an extremely effective form of self defense but it is also considered by many to be a path of peace and reconcilitation. Some dojo lean more towards one side of this equation than the other. Don’t forget that the Founder, O-Sensei arrived at his deep state of understanding only after many years of rigorous, martial training; it would be extremely presumptuous to think that we can start where he left off! So, is Aikido a path of peace or a martial art? The answer is, if it isn’t both, it is neither.