What is Aikido?
The name Aikido is composed of three Japanese words: ai, meaning harmony; ki, meaning spirit or energy; and do, the path or the way. Thus Aikido can be said to be "the way of harmony with the spirit and energy of nature."
Aikido is a Japanese martial art that was developed in this century, but has its roots deeply extended into the budo of Japan’s history.
On a technical level Aikido is comprised of throws and pins, using the energy of the attack to unbalance the attacker.
On a philosophical level Aikido chooses not to injure or destroy the opponent, but to apply the neccessary amount of force to end a situation.
Yet Aikido is more than a system of self-defense. It is a means of improving oneself mentally, physically and spiritually through the perserverence of training. The training unifies body, mind and ki in a process of growth and self-discovery. Most important, this process expands into daily life, making Aikido a profound method of self-improvement.
As an extension of its philosophy, Aikido has no tournaments or competitions to distract and separate its practitioners. Winning and losing not being an issue allows people to help each other towards mutual ends.
History of Aikido
Morihei Ueshiba, called "O'Sensei" (meaning, "Great Teacher"), founded the martial art known throughout the world today as aikido. Born in 1883, in what is now known as Wakayama Prefecture, a small south central peninsula of mainland Japan, he dedicated himself to becoming strong after seeing his father attacked by political opponents. He sought out and studied with masters in several martial arts, eventually becoming an expert in jujitsu (the art of weaponless combat), kenjitsu (combat with a sword), and sojitsu (combat with a spear).
Dissatisfied with mere strength and technical mastery, he also immersed himself in religious and philosophical studies. The stories of his immense physical strength and martial prowess are impressive enough, but more important is the legacy of non-violence and human integrity he has left mankind.
In early 20th century Japan, involvement in the martial arts was a competitive and dangerous business. Contests, feuds, and rivalries often resulted in injuries and even deaths. The formation of aikido dates from an incident that occurred in 1925. In the course of a discussion about martial arts, a disagreement arose between Ueshiba and a naval officer who was also a fencing instructor. The officer challenged Ueshiba to a match, and attacked with a wooden sword. O'Sensei faced the officer unarmed, and won the match by evading blows until his attacker dropped from exhaustion. O'Sensei later recalled that he had felt his opponent's movements before they were executed, and that this was the beginning of his enlightenment. He had defeated an armed attacker without hurting him without even touching him. O'Sensei later wrote:
Budo (the Martial Way) is not felling the opponent by our force; nor is it a tool to lead the world into destruction with arms. True budo is to accept the spirit of the universe, keep the peace of the world, correctly produce, protect, and cultivate all things in Nature.--Morihei Ueshiba
O'Sensei continued to practice and teach aikido into his old age. Observers marveled at his martial abilities, vitality, and good humor. He was still giving public demonstrations of aikido at 86, four months before his death. After he passed away on April 26, 1969, the Japanese government posthumously declared Morihei Ueshiba a Sacred National Treasure of Japan.
Today, O'Sensei's grandson, Moriteru Ueshiba, who inherited the title "Doshu" ("Leader of the Way") from his father, Kisshomaru Ueshiba, continues overseeing aikido's international development from Hombu Dojo, Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo.
The Practice of Aikido
Why study Aikido? Aikido offers practical self-defense, but more importantly, it teaches self-improvement. Aikido is more than the study of physical techniques:
Proper etiquette, attitude, and behavior are also emphasized. Throwing and falling are stressed equally--your partner is not an opponent, but an assistant: you acquire the technique by being thrown, and practice the technique by throwing. Aikido improves not only your physical conditioning--stamina, balance, flexibility, coordination, strength and resilience, but your mental conditioning as well: self-confidence, concentration, alertness and concern for others.
Also, Aikido has an ethic: to defend yourself without vengeance, to forgive your enemies, and to harmonize with any attack of any description. Aikido technique is a metaphor for a way to lead your life: avoid confrontations, harmonize with unavoidable ones, and maintain grace under pressure through good times and bad.
Because Aikido does not depend on physical strength, it is especially attractive to women, children, and older people; meanwhile, the young, healthy and strong can continue to practice and improve well into old age.
Techniques using or defending against weapons such as the jo (walking staff), bokken (wooden sword), and tanto (knife) are taught in conjunction with empty-handed techniques.
The practice uniform is called a keiko-gi (gi for short). Black skirt-like trousers, called hakama, are worn by black-belt holders and women of all ranks.
Students attend classes and accumulate hours of practice towards eligibility for tests. Ranks are determined through a nationally standardized set of examinations, which are held periodically. There are five ranks called kyu, followed by black-belt grades, called dan (shodan--"beginning" dan, 2nd dan, 3rd dan...). A black-belt indicates not an expert but a senior student. On average, students practicing at least three hours a week, and applying themselves seriously, take about five years to achieve the rank of shodan.
Dojo History
Didier Bertrand has been practicing Aikido for 20 years. After studying Aikido in France for two years under the direction of one of Tamura Sensei's students, he moved to the United States where he received instruction from the late Shihan Akira Tohei, 8th dan, founder of the Midwest Aikido Center in Chicago. Tohei Sensei was a direct student of Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido and remained faithful to the Ueshiba family until he passed away in the summer of 1999 at the age of 70.