What is Aikido?

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


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.

Failure of the Attempt
The Founder devoted himself to his previous life of study and concentrated on learning more deeply the secret of budo. The mountains of Ayabe offered an excellent gymnasium for study and practice. The Founder selected a suitable place, hung seven or eight sponge balls in a circle under the trees and with a nine foot practice spear, beautifully trusted at them in turn. His various skillful movements were engraved on the memories of the students at his side.
At the time of the Founder's return from China , Ayabe was still a lonely country town. Foxes and badgers were seen around his isolated home. Because the facilities of the town were inadequate, the habitants were often asked to donate their labor. As he worked among the laborers the Founder showed his gifted power. Once he pulled out a pine tree which was four or five sun in diameter (about 15 cm or 5.5 in) and relocated a big stone which more than ten laborers could not move. He would often astonish people in this way. He said, "I taught myself that and extraordinary spiritual power of the soul lies within the human body."
Reaching a New Stage
As his study progressed he developed a type of sixth sense with which he could feel the intended movements of his opponent. When he was traveling in Mongolia he was held up at the point of a Mauser pistol. He became aware of the opponent's intention to shoot because of a small "spiritual bullet" which went through him before the opponent actually pulled the trigger. Then with rapid movement he stepped to the opponent's side a split-second before the gun fired, threw him down and gained possession of the weapon. This is a well-known episode among people who are interested in Aikido.
In spring of 1925 a navy officer, a teacher of kendo, visited the Founder and asked to become his student. Then during a conversation, they happened to disagree over a trifle matter. Tempers rose. They agreed to have a match. The officer dashed forward to strike him, swinging his wooden sword. The Founder dodged his sword very easily each time. The officer finally sat down exhausted without having once touched him. The Founder says he felt the opponent's movements before they were actually executed in the same way as during his time in Mongolia . Resting after this match, the Founder went out into the near-by garden in which there was a persimmon tree. As he was wiping off the perspiration from his face, he was greatly overcome with a feeling which he had never experienced previously. He could neither walk nor sit. He was just rooted to the ground in great astonishment.
The Founder recalls his experience: I set my mind on budo when I was about 15 and visited teachers of swordmanship and jujitsu in various provinces. I mastered the secrets of the old traditions, each within a few months. But there was no one to instruct me in the essence of budo; the only thing that could satisfy my mind. So I knocked on the gates of various religions but I couldn't get any concrete answers. Then in the spring of 1925, if I remember correctly, when I was talking a walk in the garden by myself, I felt that the universe suddenly quaked, and that golden spirit sprang up from the ground, veiled my body, and changed my body into a golden one. At the same time my mind and body became light. I was able to understand the whispering of the birds, and was clearly aware of the mind of God, the Creator of his universe. At that moment I was enlightened: the source of budo is God's love - the spirit of loving protection for all beings. Endless tears of joy streamed down my cheeks. Since that time I have grown to feel that the whole earth is my house and the sun, the moon and the stars are all my own things. I had become free from all desire, not only for position, fame and property, but also to be strong. I understood, "Budo is not felling the opponent by our force; nor is it a tool to lead the world into destructions with arms. True budo is to accept the spirit of the universe, keep the peace of the world, correctly produce, protect and cultivate all beings in Nature." I understood, "The training of budo is to take God's love, which correctly produces, protects, and cultivates all things in Nature, and assimilate and utilize it in our own mind and body.
This revelation may have been only a momentary event, but it was the first such experience that he had ever had. It revolutionized the Founder's life and gave birth of Aikido.
From Aiki-Jujutsu to Aikido
Tracing the Founder's eighty-six years of study, we find that he was deeply interested in budo when he was young. He had gifted ability. Then came his pilgrimage throughout the world of jujutsu beginning in the middle of the Meiji era (1868-1912), during which he also devoted himself to the sword and other weapons, and the study of religions. Then, at last, the truth burst upon him.
The budo which he attained through his experience he later named Aikido.
When we look back to the old records and scrolls, in a few cases, we come across words like "a technique of aiki" or "aiki throw". But their explanations are abstract. "Don't be aiki-ed by the opponent." That is, don't drawn into the opponent's 'spirit harmony.' It is quite doubtful that a deeper meaning of the word was understood.
It was the Founder who clarified the superior way of Aikido as a separate entity in the society of budo- a society whose the members tended merely to emphasize techniques and strength. He asserted: "It is the way of budo to make the heart of the universe our own and perform our mission of loving and protecting all beings with a grand spirit. The techniques of budo are only a means to reach that end." The Founder, having thoroughly studied budo and acquired its essence through his severe training, first set up above all a goal for spiritual guidance and then fused the techniques of Aiki into the "stream of spirit, spirit power, or soul power. He gave life to the highly technical and spiritual side of Japanese budo within the society of man.
The Founder was the first who ever indicated clearly the world of Aiki and revealed its aim. From jujutsu to do (techniques to the Way)- this is the way to evolve endlessly toward to goal set up by the Master.

Caretaker of Settlers
Sokaku Takeda, a master of the Daito Ryu of Jujitsu, was in Hokkaido . At this time the Founder's land development work had made much progress and he had a great desire to study with Takeda.
At the age of 32 he met Master Takeda at the Hotel Hisata in Engaru in 1915 and was told, "You have potential and exceptional ability. So I will teach you." He became a student.
Daito Ryu Jujutsu has a long history, traditionally claiming to have been started by Prince Sadazumi, the sixth prince of Emperor Seiwa of the ninth century, and has been developed and preserved up to the present. Its theory is deep and the number of its techniques is great. Master Sokaku was quite an expert even though he was short; the Founder had great respect for him. Thus after they met he had an unexpected one-month stay at Hotel Hisata to study with Takeda. Later, in 1916, the Founder invited Takeda to his home, received instruction, and took care of him, including cook for him and bathing him. The Founder eventually built a new house for his teacher. Takeda was a man of violent spirit and very severe with students who were studying under him. This made no difference to the Founder. He forgot his food and sleep, and concentrated all his energy into their study. This fact has a deep relationship with present-day Aikido.
The Founder's study of the Daito Ryu started in 1915. In 1916 he got the precious certificate magnifying his having mastered all his studies. Over that period it was less than one hundred days that he actually studied with Takeda personally. The rest of time he studied and trained by himself.
For the budo he studied at that time he had to pay the teacher three hundred to five hundred yen for each technique (one yen then being equal to about half a dollar). In addition to that, the Founder had to work hard cutting wood and carrying water for his teacher before receiving the lesson. Thus he spent almost all the capital that he had received from his parents.
Serious Illness of His Father
Late in the spring of 1919 the Founder received a telegram telling him that his father was in serious condition. The Founder gave all his property to his teacher Takeda and left Hokkaido .
In Hokkaido , under the guidance of the Founder, the development of land had progressed well. The village was founded, a school had been constructed, and he had gained social prestige and property. But things such as these did not concern him. Only his painfully pleasant and fruitful studies were on his mind. Thus the young Founder returned from the north in the same condition he had gone: with no possessions, save a vigorous spirit.
Study at Ayabe
As he rode the train home he happened to hear of the Rev.Wanisaburo Dedushi the leader of the Omotokyo, a new religion. The Founder, desiring to do anything to heal his father, decided at once to change course for Ayabe, Kyoto Prefecture, where the Omotokyo Headquarters were located, and ask for prayers for the recovery of his father.
Ever since he was child, the Founder had naturally had and extraordinary interest in the study of spiritual thought and was raised with deep understanding by his parents. When he was seven years old, he studied under Priest Mitsujo Fujimoto of Jizoji Temple , of the Shingon Sect of Buddhism, and at the age of ten he had studied Zen Buddhism at Homanji Temple in Akitsu Village . Growing older, the Founder's seeking for spiritual food became stronger. He would visit wherever he could and ask for instructions.
The desire for his father's recovery was his main reason for visiting the Rev.Deguchi. However, after having listened to the priest he was struck by his profound insight.
When he arrived at his home in Tanabe, to his sorrow, he learned his father had passed away. Confronted with the death of the person whom he loved most in the world the Founder swore before the grave to break out of his mental deadlock, develop further, and reach for the secret of budo.
After that, the daily life of the Founder changed greatly. At times he stood on the top of a rock in a white robe and made pious prayer; or he would kneel somewhere on the top of a mountain, reciting Shinto prayers continuously. His old friends in his village were amazed at this change and worried that he had become mad. Later in 1919 he was attracted with the memory of Deguchi whom he had previously encountered, and moved to Ayabe with his entire family. He sought a light to brighten his heart. A house at the foot of the main shrine mountain in Ayabe became his home. There he taught jujitsu and studied actively under Reverend Deguchi until 1926

aikido

The First Gleam of Budo in a Child's mind
Founder Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe, Kii Province (now known as Wakayama Prefecture ), a south-central peninsula of the Japanese main island, in November, 1883.
Until he was 14 or 15 years old, the Founder looked quite weak with his short, thin body, but he was strong and his behavior was quite different from others. He had already had a general interest in budo since he was around ten.
When he was just twelve, his father, Yoroku , a member of the local council, was the main caretaker of the village. The so-called Toughs of the town, the hoods of his father's political opponents, would come to his house to negotiate. Sometimes they would rough up his father quite severely, The Founder said that seeing this happen so frequently seared a deep sentiment into his mind. He swore to become strong no matter what it would take, and throw out his father's attackers.
Young Days as a Soldier
In 1901 when he was 18, the Founder took the first stops in the direction of achieving his driving ambition. He had come to Tokyo because he wanted to be a great merchant. He spent busy days working on a wholesale street, and studied jujutsu of the Kito Ryu at night. Sometimes he went to hear political speeches, as well. However, within a few months he developed heart beriberi and had to return home.
On this occasion, he made up his mind to build a strong body and after recovering began walking two and a half miles every day. This continued for ten days. Then twenty. Eventually he began running. He slowly gained physical strength and became capable of lifting two straw bales of rice, while previously he had not been able to lift even one. By the time he was about twenty he began to look quite different. Although he was still short his body was much stronger than ordinary people's. But the Founder was not satisfied only to be strong. He went to Sakai to study Yagyu-Ryu jujitsu. During this time he was involved in fishery and boundary problems of his village, and helped in solving them. Through this work he became well known locally. It was also about this time that he became involved in so many activities that more than once he was a headache for his father.
He was only 157 cm tall (5'2"), but he had a tank-like structure and weighed more than 81 kilogram (180 lbs). He played seconded to no one in this troop when it came to heavy gymnastics, running and carrying.
As Japan was at war, training was twice as hard as usual. Many soldiers dropped out. The Founder used to march at the head of the troops carrying two or three persons' heavy equipment. He was considered a valuable man in the battle of Manchuria and prevented a crisis among his troops more than a few times. Hence when he was discharged from military service he was requested by his officer-in-charge to volunteer for regular service and enter the military academy. He received several visits from his company commander, battalion commander, and regimental commander, all trying to persuade him to rein list.
Although he refused to enter the academy, he did not want to return to an ordinary life. Therefore the vigorous and spirited young man became a community leader in his village of Tanabe and managed the activities of his district. Kiyoichi Takagi, then just a third grade holder in judo, visited the Founder's home town. The Founder put together a group at the Young Men's Club of the town and had Takagi teach. Takagi later became a judo 9 th dan holder. The Founder himself studied judo with great diligence.
But then, perhaps because the fatigue resulting from his military life, the Founder had to stay in bed for about half a year. He suffered from severe headaches and some strange disease. His parents were very worried. Finally, however, he completely recovered. In the spring of 1910, he applied to become a settler in Hokkaido , the northern frontier of Japan at that time. He greatly anticipated the change of air and the opportunity to work in and undeveloped land.
The Founder went to Hokkaido in March of 1911 as leader of a group of pioneers from his area and started developing the land centering around Shirataki, Mombetsu Country, of Kitami Province, Having regain his health and renewed his spirit, and being in his vigorous thirties, he devoted himself to performing his duties. His physical condition improved greatly. He became a horseback rider and would go back and forth in the mountains and fields on business, occasionally braving storms. In this way his heavy training also included developing a resistance to severe cold. Being adventurous in this way, he was elected a member of the council of Kamiyubetsu Village , Shirataki in 1911. He helped and encouraged Mayor Urataro Kaneshige on behalf of the settlers, and was in contact with the Governor's Office of Hokkaido. He organized an association for the realization of the Sekihoku line, aiming to lay a railroad into the district, and was recommended to preside over the association. His sincere efforts won public approval, and in 1912 the inhabitants of Shirataki (an area about 25 squaremiles) gave him a full vote of confidence for his activities and respectfully called him the "King of Shirataki".