What is Aikido?

(An excerpt from AikidoFAQ.)

"Whenever I move, that's Aikido." -- O-Sensei

Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba (often referred to by his title 'O-Sensei' or 'Great Teacher'). On a purely physical level it is an art involving some throws and joint locks that are derived from Jujitsu and some throws and other techniques derived from Kenjutsu. Aikido focuses not on punching or kicking opponents, but rather on using their own energy to gain control of them or to throw them away from you. It is not a static art, but places great emphasis on motion and the dynamics of movement.

Upon closer examination, practitioners will find from Aikido what they are looking for, whether it is applicable self-defense technique, spiritual enlightenment, physical health or peace of mind. O-Sensei emphasized the moral and spiritual aspects of this art, placing great weight on the development of harmony and peace. "The Way of Harmony of the Spirit" is one way that "Aikido" may be translated into English. This is still true of Aikido today, although different styles emphasize the more spiritual aspects to greater or lesser degrees. Although the idea of a martial discipline striving for peace and harmony may seem paradoxical, it is the most basic tenet of the art.

We could attempt to pigeonhole Aikido into a synopsis of X number of words, but that would not do it justice, so we leave the practitioner of Aikido to find out what Aikido is for themselves without any preconceived notions.

Aikido literally translates into The Path or Way of Peace or Harmony.

A Japanese defensive martial art, Aikido is made up of many different techniques, such as shinto, karate, and kendo. Aikido techniques can overpower an opponent without much strength.

Breathing and meditation form an integral part of the training. The concentration of movement is also derived from classical Japanese dance and the awareness of "Ki", or the life force or will, which flows from the fingertips.

Why learn Aikido?

Different people start Aikido because of different reasons. It may be as a form of exercise, an art, or as an activity, etc.

Aikido is not mere self defense (some would even argue that it is not one at all). You might want to compare it to an art like music, dancing or gymnastics. Literally meaning a way of harmony. Simply translated as a way of getting along. Sounds simple? It is. It's just that it can mean so much more. Many of us treat Aikido as a self-defense instead of an art (of peace). Probably attributed to a lack of knowledge and understanding about the art. Aikido teaches conflict management, how to resolve violence peacefully through a high level of control of both yourself and the aggressor. Yes, the idea encapsulates the aggressor as well. If you perform an Aikido technique with the intent to take down your attacker in a devastating manner, ... well, that's not quite what Aikido is all about. Should someone come at you with ill intent (be it a punch or a verbal insult), and you can resolve the incident without harm to either parties ... now that's real Aikido. It is an appealing and fascinating idea of resolving violence by not inflicting violence on others. Aikido was, and is, never meant to be devastating. It just CAN be devastatingly effective and practical. It CAN be applied as a means of self-defense (not just physically). It is only a 'way'. How, and the level, that you embrace Aikido is subjective and left to your own imagination. Why not do some reading up on the subject, or talk to someone who knows more. There are millions of sources online as well.

Though there are a number of people joining, there are also people who have given up the art due to various reasons and commitments, etc. But to a lot of the people who keep coming back, it's probably because Aikido is fun and that they simply enjoy it.

(Extract from Aikido Yuishinkai Singapore)

... During your journey, you will encounter many experiences, meet many different people and do many different things that will help you grow as a person. This journey will also be filled with achievements and extraordinary learning experiences. You'll learn about how patience and perseverance are important to your progress, how to deal with your fears and emerge with greater self-confidence, how camaraderie, teamwork and co-operation help you to work harmoniously with other people, and how to handle setbacks and frustrations and come out of it stronger. In time, you will also develop better learning habits and communication skills as well as developing a greater sense of compassion and empathy for others. ...

Aikido is about learning how NOT to fight but instead staying calm and alert in the face of adversity and how to harmonize with your opponent to control the situation to come to a peaceful resolution. ...

History and origins of Aikido and the Founder

Aikido's roots can be traced back to the Minamoto clan back in the 10th Century. However, it was Morihei Ueshiba who started its modern form in the 1920s.

As a brief introduction, the founder or O-Sensei, was a practitioner of various martial arts such as Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu, etc. Modern Aikido was derived from such arts. Many people are hesitant about learning Aikido due to fear of religious implications. But that is a misconception. Anyone can practice Aikido and still remain a devout Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, etc.

There are many webpages online with references to the history and origins of Aikido as well as the founder. I left these information out as more details can be found from sites such as AikidoFaq, Aikido Journal, AikiWeb, etc (just to name a few). I strongly encourage reading up articles from these sites for more information on Aikido.

Aikido Styles

"O-Sensei said that the basics should never change. O-Sensei founded Aikido, he invented Aikido. There are no styles of Aikido. There is only one Aikido. And that is O-Sensei's Aikido because he invented it."

-- Steven Seagal, 7th dan, Shihan, Shinto priest

 

(An excerpt from AikidoFAQ.)

"There are no 'styles' of Aikido. It is like cheese cake. You can cut it in wedges or squares or just dig in with your fork but it is still cheese cake!"

-- Unknown

Aikido was originally developed by one man, O-Sensei. Many students who trained under O-Sensei decided to spread their knowledge of Aikido by opening their own dojos. Due, among other things, to the dynamic nature of Aikido, different students of O-Sensei interpreted his Aikido in different ways. Thus different styles of Aikido were born. The more common are listed here along with a brief explanation of what is different about the style. Each style has its own strengths and weaknesses, but all are firmly rooted in the basic concepts which make Aikido the unique art that it is. None should be considered superior or inferior to any other, but rather an individual must find a style which best suits him or her. Outside factors such as geographic location may of course limit one's options.

No matter which style you choose, you are going to be taught that particular instructors interpretation of it, and you yourself are going to develop your own particular Aikido. One might say that there are as many different styles of Aikido as there are practitioners.

Since this list is going to be challenging enough without looking for extra work, we'll restrict our definition of Aikido to mean styles that clearly trace their lineage to Ueshiba O-Sensei. The classification into categories is fairly arbitrary.

The "Old" Schools

Here we'll list the schools that developed from the pre-war teachings.

Aiki-Budo

合気 武道

This is the name given to the art O-Sensei was teaching early in his development. It is very close in style to previously existing Jitsu forms such as Daito-ryu Aiki-Jitsu. It is considered to be one of the harder forms of Aikido.

Most of the early students of O-Sensei began during this period and much of the early practice overseas was in this style (eg. Abbe Sensei's teaching in the UK in the 50s).
 

Yoseikan

This form was developed by Minoru Mochizuki, who was an early student of O-Sensei and also of Jigoro Kano Sensei at the Kodokan.

This style includes elements of Aiki-Budo together with aspects of Karate, Judo and other arts.
 

Yoshinkan

This is the style taught by the late Gozo Shioda. Shioda Sensei studied with O-Sensei from the mid-30s. After the war, he was invited to begin teaching and formed the organization known as the Yoshinkan. Unlike many later organizations, the Yoshinkan has always maintained friendly relations with the Aikikai both during and after O-Sensei's life.

The Yoshinkan is a harder style of Aikido, generally concerned with practical efficiency and physically robust techniques. It is taught to many branches of the Japanese Police.

The international organization associated with the Yoshinkan style of Aikido is known as the Yoshinkai, and has active branches in many parts of the world. In recent years, there have been a number of offshoots of this style, usually developing for political reasons.

The "Modern" Schools

This includes most of the variants taught today. Most of these "styles" are taught by various senior students of O-Sensei, with the divergences coming after the death of the Founder. Most would claim to be teaching the art that O-Sensei taught them - and this is probably true even though some have little in common with others! Taken together with O-Sensei's notorious obscurity in teaching style, the story of the elephant and the blind men may give us some clue as to how this could have come about :-).

Most of us have our biases and preferences amongst the various styles but can recognize that all have their strengths and weakness and we all have something to learn from all of them.

The "Traditional" Schools

Aikikai

合気会

The Aikikai is the common name for the style headed by Moriteru Ueshiba, O-Sensei's grandson, as taught under the auspices of the International Aikido Federation. Most regard this school as the mainline in Aikido development.

In reality, this "style" is more of an umbrella than a specific style, since it seems that many individuals within the organization teach in quite a different manner. The Aikido taught by Ueshiba Sensei is generally large and flowing, with an emphasis on a standard syllabus and little or no emphasis on weapons training. Other teachers within the auspices of the Aikikai (like Saito Sensei) place much more emphasis on weapons practice.
 

Iwama-ryu

The style taught by Morihiro Saito, based in the Iwama dojo, is generally considered sufficiently stylistically different from mainstream Aikikai that it is named individually, even though it still is part of the Aikikai.

Saito Sensei was a long time uchi-deshi of O-Sensei, beginning in 1946 and staying with him through his death. Many consider that Saito Sensei was the student who spent most time directly studying with O-Sensei Saito Sensei says he is trying to preserve and teach the art exactly as it was taught to him by the Founder. Technically, Iwama-ryu seems to resemble the Aikido O-Sensei was teaching in the early 50s mainly in the Iwama dojo. The technical repertoire is larger than in most other styles and a great deal of emphasis is placed on weapons training.

The "Ki" Schools

One of the most noticeable splits in the Aikido world occurred in 1974 when Koichi Tohei, then the Chief Instructor at the Aikikai, resigned from that organization and founded the Ki no Kenkyukai to teach Aikido with strong emphasis on the concepts of Ki. Since that time, there has been little interaction between the traditional schools and the Ki schools.

All of these arts tend to refer to themselves as Ki Aikido, even though there is little contact between some of the styles.

Shin-Shin Toitsu Aikido

   心      身   統 一   合気道

The style founded by Koichi Tohei - Aikido with Mind and Body Unified. Tohei Sensei places a great deal of emphasis on understanding the concept of Ki and developing this aspect independently of the Aikido training for application to general health and daily life.

This style is one of the softest styles of Aikido and is characterized by soft movements that often involve the practitioner jumping or skipping during the movement. Most schools are not concerned with practical application of the techniques, considering them exercises to further develop Ki.

In recent years, Tohei Sensei has been moving further and further away from Aikido and has devoted himself almost exclusively to Ki training. The latest news is that Ki no Kenkyukai has started an initiative to make Shin-shin Toitsu Aikido into an International Competitive sport.

The "Sporting" Styles

One of the other big breaks in Aikido history occurred during O-Sensei's life when Kenji Tomiki proposed "rationalizing" Aikido training using Kata and Competition. Since that time, there has been little commonality between the Tomiki schools and the mainline Aikido schools.

In recent years there have been a number of offshoots of Tomiki-ryu that have abandoned the idea of competition.

Tomiki-ryu

Founded by Kenji Tomiki, and early student of O-Sensei and of Judo founder Jigoro Kano. Tomiki Sensei believed that a "rationalization" of Aikido training, along the lines that Kano Sensei followed for Judo would make it more easily taught, particularly at the Japanese Universities. In addition, he believed that introducing an element of competition would serve to sharpen and focus the practice since it was no longer tested in real combat. This latter view was the cause of a split with O-Sensei who firmly believed that there was no place for competition in Aikido training.

Tomiki-ryu is characterized by using Kata (prearranged forms) in teaching and by holding competitions, both empty handed and with a rubber knife.

Grades and Ranks and Titles

Students are divided into 2 categories, kyu and dan ranks. Kyu ranks are for students who have yet to attain the status of dan (black belt). Dan ranks are for students who have passed their kyu ranks to be awarded black belts. The breakdown of kyu and dan grades is shown below in ascending (lowest to highest) order.

Category	Rank	Belt
kyu	6th kyu (rokkyu)	white or blue
	5th kyu (gokyu)	white or blue gold
	4th kyu (yonkyu)	white or brown
	3rd kyu (sankyo)	white or brown gold
	2nd kyu (nokyu)	white or black
	1st kyu (ikkyu)	white or black gold
dan	1st dan (shodan)	black belt and hakama
	2nd dan (nidan)
	3rd dan (sandan)
	4th dan (yodan)
	5th dan (godan)
	6th dan (rokudan)
	7th dan (shichidan)
	8th dan (hachidan)
	9th dan (kudan), etc ...

There are variations in the belt color of ranks in different dojos. In some dojos, kyu ranks wear white belts regardless of their kyu standings. In others, colored belts are used to denote the various kyu ranks. The founder and his son, according to Japanese custom, are above the ranking system.

From 1st dan, students will wear the black belt over their uniforms (gi) and under the divided skirt or trousers (hakama) inherited from the samurai who wore it while practicing martial arts. There are students of some clubs, who wear the hakama, irregardless of rank. This is the same practice as in Kendo.

In some aikido clubs, the kyu ranks may also differ slightly. Some might have incorporated the rank of 8th or 7th kyu, while for others might see students starting from 5th kyu instead of 6th.

There are some titles in Aikido regulated by Hombu Dojo in Japan:

1. Shihan means master instructor. This title is reserved for 6th dan and above, but is NOT 'automatically' conferred upon reaching that level. It is a formal title awarded by Doshu himself.
    
2. Shidoin, or instructor, is a title recognised for 4th dan and above.
    

3. Fukushidoin means assistant instructor. This title usually falls under 2nd or 3rd dan.

Promotions

(Adapted from the book Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere, by A. Westbrook and O. Ratti.)

There are 3 methods of promotion:

1. Examination
   For each kyu and dan rank, there are certain requirements which needs to be fulfilled. (Eg. number of practice hours, techniques mastered etc.) These may vary from dojo to dojo. A table below outlines the requirements at Hombu Dojo in Tokyo in October, 1964.
    
2. Honorary
   For contributions to the introduction and promotion of Aikido
    
3. Combination of examination and honorary
   One supplementing the other.

Hombu Dojo Grading Syllabus (October, 1964)
There may be revisions and updates to the syllabus which are not shown below.

Etiquette abounds in Aikido

1. Be Early
   Before the start of each class. Students should always make it a point to arrive early. It is disrespectful to make the teacher wait for the students. Some dojos require that the mats be laid and kept before and after every class. The dojo is a place where you train as well. And taking good care of it and its equipment shows your respect for it. By not taking proper care of it, you are being downright irresponsible and inconsiderate to the dojo, your teacher, the rest of the class and to yourself. Aikido isn't just about practicing on the mat. It's practicing off the mat as well that you are able to appreciate the true meaning of Aikido.
2. Accessories and Footwear
   Remove any watches, rings, necklaces and accessories prior to class. Footwear should be kept strictly off the mat (or dojo). That means no shoes, slippers or even socks. Only bare feet may come into contact with the mat. You should keep your feet clean for the mat, so walking bare footed off the mat is not a good idea either.
3. Hygiene
   On personal hygiene, you are being polite to your partner by keeping your nails trimmed and uniform clean. In some dojos, coming to practice all dirty and sweaty (for instance, after a game of tennis or a jog) is a mark of disrespect and you may not be allowed to train.
4. Bowing
   Aikido is a harmonious art which allows you to practice common courtesy, one of which is by bowing. As Aikido is not restricted by religion, bowing in the dojo bears no religious significance here. It is no different to a handshake as practiced in the West. In Japan, a simple bow is incorporated into 'hi', 'how are you' and sometimes 'goodbye'. Bowing is a way of showing mutual respect to the dojo, the teacher and each other. Before stepping onto the mat/into the dojo, a bow towards the front of the dojo shows your respect for your place of training. At the start of class, you will bow to the front together and then to the Sensei. The same thing happens at the end of class. There is also a final bow to the students that you had practiced with as a way of thanking them for their help (and sometimes, their tolerance). During practice, you are required to bow before and after practicing techniques with each different student. A Japanese custom is saying the words "Onegaeshimashi" ("Please take care of me. / I make a request.") during all opening bows, and "Doomo arigato gozaimashita" ("Thank you very much.") for the closing bows.

5. Being Late
   If you are late for practice, it is impolite to waltz right in and join the practice. You should wait till the instructor acknowledges your presence before stepping onto the mat. Then,  kneel and bow towards the front of the dojo/kamiza before approaching the instructor and bowing to him/her.

6. Sitting on your Knees
   The sitting position on your knees or seiza is adopted in the dojo. Sometimes, you may be allowed to sit cross-legged but since you will be sitting in seiza very often in future, you might as well try to get used to it as early as possible. Even when sitting cross-legged, try to maintain posture by sitting up straight. Other postures like leaning against the wall or sitting with your feet extended outwards is not allowed.
7. Leaving the Mat
   If you need to leave the mat for any reasons, always obtain permission from the instructor first.

How well you conduct yourself and your etiquette will reflect your attitude to your training, the dojo and the Sensei as well.

Training

"My advice is to be patient. You don't learn Aikido overnight. If you want something out of Aikido, you have to put something into it."

-- Donovan Waite Sensei

"With Aikido, you have to unlearn first. That is why it is so hard. You are learning something that is very, very sophisticated. It is something that Warriors after hundreds and hundreds of years of dedicated endeavors, of life and death situations, have finally figured out that there is a point of least resistance, and that there is something that works beyond strength...physical strength. It is 'Ki', it's attitude and it's adept movements that seem to go beyond force, and that a lot of times using strength is completely secondary to learning a way. A kind of moving without resistance, a non-resistant movement, a relaxed movement. So you have to unlearn in order to learn. It does take longer."

-- Steven Seagal, 7th dan, Shihan, Shinto priest

Some classes are conducted once or twice a week. This would usually prove sufficient for beginners. But as you progress on, or if you are a real enthusiast, you may want to train harder or more intensively. It may be possible to do so by enrolling in another session.

In some dojos, members enrolled with any 2 dojos are allowed to train in any dojo. Check with your Sensei if you are truly interested in increasing your training sessions.

Though there are no hard and fast rule on cross training in different dojos or under a different Sensei, this is usually not recommended. There has always been some slight controversy, and there may not be a complete answer to this either. The closest one would come down to just loyalty and respect for your initial or current Sensei. Different people will have different answers for themselves. You should bear in mind that different teachers teach differently. Changing teachers may not necessarily mean it's a good thing. Do some research and consider them carefully. It may be good to speak to people from both sides as well.

You won't be able to taste specifically by bombarding your taste buds with a variety of food at the same time. Even if that was possible, the final taste might not be nice at all. But then again, how can you tell apart sweetness if you've never tasted bitterness before.

Some schools place emphasis on empty handed training while others might have incorporated weapons training as a regular curriculum. Some common weapons are the jo (wooden staff), the bokken (wooden sword) and the tanto (wooden dagger). If you have a specific interest, why not contact the dojo of your choice first before making your final decision.

Attitude

(Extract from NTU Aikido Club.)

... You must adopt an attitude of humbleness, courage and confidence, combined with self-control. You must also develop a great deal of patience, understanding and tolerance of others. All these help you to become a better person and, at the same time, help you to avoid unnecessary confrontations. You will, in time, develop an inner peace and confidence that will allow this to happen.

Be patient with your own progress. Consistent practice, perseverance and good learning habits are keys to growth and improvement. Have realistic expectations by knowing that it takes effort, time and understanding to excel in learning any skill. So, in the meantime, have fun training and reap the benefits of a healthier and fitter mind and body.

Always maintain a Beginner's mind when it comes to learning and training in Aikido. Remove all egoistical thoughts you may have of yourself.

Understand that this is still a martial art form training that you are undertaking. You may encounter a certain level of pain or discomfort on the mat, especially so when some of the locks and holds are applied to you. It will not benefit you or your partner's learning to complain about every little bump and bruise you go through. Of course, do not push yourself to accept discomfort beyond your threshold either.

Some may feel a certain level of frustration during the learning process. Frustration at not being able to 'feel' what you are told to 'feel', to understand what you are doing, sometimes with your partner, and in some cases, a lack of verbal instruction from your instructors. Through all these and more, you will learn to handle each failure and use them as a stepping stone to get closer to your next success.

Be realistic about your expectations in the art.

What is Ki?

(Excerpt from Ki-Aikido Singapore.)

Westward from the Orient have come many tales of strange forms of power - of strength like that of "massed wind or water" sweeping everything away before it. This power has been called by many names, but the one that appears most often in these accounts, especially in Japan, is Ki and the seat of that power is said to be the HARA or CENTRE.

Almost all of the Martial Arts at some point in their development mention this power and the various means by which it may be developed. It is held to be "Intrinsic Energy" or "Inner Energy" and possessed by everyone although developed consciously by only a few.
The seat of this energy, the HARA, or CENTRE, is a point approximately two inches below the navel. This corresponds roughly to the physical balance point of a man's anatomy which the Western World calls it man's center of gravity.