Aikido began around 1940 when it was founded by a man named Morihei Ueshiba. He had developed aikido by blending a few martial arts he had been practicing in the pas such as: Jujitsu, swordform and spearform. Ueshiba wanted aikido to be noncompetitive so he withdrew it from the Japanese Budo system in 1941.
Aikido means "The way of harmonizing energy"(AI-harmony, KI-energy DO-way). The object of aikido is to absord an attack, divert it, and return it to the opponent. In other words; there are no punching or kicking techniques involved; rather a means of incapacitating your enemy to give yourself an opening.
There are three disciplines of aikido:Most schools now-a-days don't teach the sword and stick techniques. But there are a few that still do. If you really want to learn some stick techniques try kenpo karate.