Aikido is a Japanese martial art currently practiced throughout the world. Behind thepowerful catapulting throws and immobilizing locks and pins of Aikido lie some verysimple principles: remove yourself from the direct line of your enemys attack, andthrough the absorption and deflection of the force of the attack, your enemy is taken outof balance and defeated by the energy of his or her own aggression. Aikido does not use strength against strength, but stresses body and mindrelaxation to direct the opponents force away. Because its main purpose is not to takethe offensive in injuring or harming the opponent, Aikido has often been called anonviolent martial art. In daily practice, the student of Aikido seeks to achieve the firmness, stability,sobriety and elegance which make Aikido one of the most powerful and beautiful ways ofartistic expression, while conserving its potential as one of the most devastating offers ofself-defense. Aikido may be practiced by all people regardless of age, sex, religion, or previousathletic ability. Systematic Aikido practice leads to increased aerobic capacity and tooverall body conditioning through both flexibility and strength training. The general philosophy of Aikido makes extensive use of the concept of Ki. The name Aikido can be translated as the way of harmony of Ki. Exactly what Ki is isa somewhat controversial issue. Aikido is one of the more spiritual martial arts and hasbeen referred to as moving Zen. Ai- come together or to harmonize Ki- the spirit ofthe universe Do- the way Ki is the force behind all things. Everything in the universe has Ki. Ki is the essence of our world. It is the basis ofall matter, every phenomenon, emotion, sense, direction, will, consciousness andconscience. Ki is also an energy which can be very useful in our daily lives when usedproperly. Ki is our life force which keeps us alive. Ki is the binding force of our mind andbody. We can be very efficie...
