What Is Aikido
Aikido is a Japanese budo (martial art) was founded by Morihei Ueshiba, O-sensei (1883-1969) in the idle of the 20th century after he had studied many different martial arts, and is based on eastern philosophy.
Aikido is effective as self-defense but it is much more that just that. It is also a way to practice body and mind for well-being and harmony.
There is no competition in aikido and everyone practices based on their own ability. Aikido is suitable for all ages, male and female.
The techniques may differ from other martial arts in the way that aikido does not encounter force with force. Instead aikido uses the attackers movement ant leads it in another direction. The techniques are based on circular movements and look very soft and gentle. When you have tried aikido you realize that although is looks soft and easy, the techniques are very powerful.
It takes a long time to get good in aikido and this is very stimulating because you can practice and develop throughout your life. It actually gets more rewarding the longer you practice. A big advantage in aikido is that you can practice regardless of age. Most of the highest ranked masters in Japan are over 60 years old.
Aikido improves the mental and physical capacity.
There is about more than 3000 people practices aikido in Indonesia and there are more than a million practitioners in the world.
The word “aikido” is built by three kanji (Japanese writing)
Ai
Ai can be translated to love, harmony or unifying and pictures a mouth under a roof - everyone speaks with the same voice.
Ki
Ki pictures rice under steam- the boiling rice, this symbolizes life important energy.
Ki is the universal energy, the life force.
Do
Do means way in the meaning of ”life task”, a journey that shall lead to insight and clarity. Pictures a head and a held back step.
One translation can be ” the way of the unifying spirit” another can be ”the way of harmony”
Why practice aikido?
There are many different reasons why people practice aikido. Some practice to learn effective self-defense, others to get more agile and others are interested in the mental training. Many also thinks it is interesting with the Japanese culture. Other benefits are the communion that occurs when practicing together in a group. There is no competition and everybody help each other to develop.
The most important is perhaps that aikido is fun!
Self-defense
Aikido is effective self-defense. In the practice we use many
techniques as tools to learn different principles and body movement that
finally becomes reflexive. The philosophy in aikido teaches a good
approach when it comes to avoid or deal with conflicts.
Physical exercise
Our body is made for movement and we all need to work out to stay healthy. We know that exercise is good for our health, so why not have fun doing it at the same time as you get more benefits.
Aikido practice is allround and improves balance, body coordination,
flexibility, strength, endurance and posture. Today there is a lot of
talk about training that improves core stability to prevent back pain.
In aikido you improve your core stability and many with back pain
experience that they get better after a while with aikido practice.
Mental practice
In japanse budo the body and mind are considered unified and practicing the mind is as important as the body.
This is true in Aikido as well and training improves ability to focus and many experiences increased calmness and mental stability. Increased self esteem is another important aspect of the training.
O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba
The founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, O-sensei was
born 14 December 1883. To maintain his health he began studying many
martial arts. The intense training made him superior in combat. He felt
that there was no meaning to win fights then he actually wanted to get
away from the fighting itself.
In spring 1925, when O-sensei was 41 years old came a turning point in his practicing of martial arts when he fought with a marine officer and only managed by moving out of the way of the attack.
It wasn’t until 1942 that his martial art officially was called aikido.
O-sensei developed aikido to a martial arts which purpose is to avoid violence and his goal was to contribute to a more peaceful world.
In 15th of January 1969 O-sensei held his last performance. 26th of April the same year he passed away, 85 years old.
Shoji Nishio Sensei
Shoji Nishio Sensei was born in 1927 in Amori, Japan. In 1950, he began practicing Karate Shizen RYU. In 1952, Nishio Sensei is one of the students of O Sensei's genius (Morihei Ueshiba) and has a great service in the development of forms of Aikido techniques are combined with the sword and stick techniques that also gave birth to a new style of Iaido that underlie a variety of Aikido techniques.
In 1976, he was ranked, 8 DAN of Aikido Honbu Dojo. And in addition to reaching 8 DAN Aikido, Nishio Sensei also holds 8 DAN Iadio , 7 DAN of Karate, and 6 DAN of Judo. Therefore, he became one of the flexible martial arts expert has ever seen. Nishio Sensei is the founder and president of Toho IAI Foundation.
Nishio sensei
passed away 15th of mars 2005.
He was one of the worlds most respected aikido teachers.
"IN THE FIRST MOMENT OF CONTACT HAS ALREADY WON AIKIDO. THIS IS BY THE IRIMI Reasoned MOVEMENT. A characteristic does not exist IN THIS THAT IN ANY OTHER FORM Martial Art." (quoted from Nishio Sensei in Aikido Seminar in Munich, Germany, 1995.)
Nishio Sensei was wrote a very good book "Yurusu Budo".Ichiro Shishiya Sensei
Ichiro Shishiya sensei was born in 1947. He was a
student to Nishio sensei from when he was 15 years old to his teachers
passing. He was very often Nishio sensei´s uke and assistent in Nishio
sensei´s book, and his instruction movies.
Shishiya sensei lives in Toyko with his wife Hiroko-san who also practices aikido.
He nowadays travels the world teaching aikido in many
different countries. He started to teached in Indonesia since July 7th, 2011 in his first seminar in Jakarta, and set up to give yearly seminar in Indonesia.
Ichiro Shishiya sensei is very appreciated due to his educational skill. His easy going way gets people in a good mood and he is very generous and open minded both on and off the tatami. He express the philosophy of aikido through his techniques in a very good way. Shishiya sensei put emphasis on balance breaking and circular movements and thinks that the techniques must not be painful. He often goes around during training and practices with his students and you never cease to be amazed by how soft, yet powerful his aikido is.
Shishiya sensei lives as he teaches and is a true aikidoka.
