Aikido was founded by one of Japan's leading exponents of the martial arts, Master Morihei Ueshiba, who had studied for many years under the leading teachers of Jujutsu, Fencing and Spear Fighting then available.
Although in the fullness of time Master Ueshiba became a renowned fighter, he found that he could not be satisfied with any of the styles he had studied. Since, with any basically physical or competitive art, success depends so greatly on the comparative youth, speed and strength of the practitioner.
After many years of study and meditation, Master Ueshiba perfected the art of Aikido. Japan's first spiritual martial art.
Aikido has often been referred to as the gentlemans' fighting art. Though it is not
an unfamiliar word, few outside the world of the martial arts can distinguish it
from various other 'methods of self-
Aikido is a method of self defence which can be used against any form of attack, and at its highest levels, a discipline of coordination, a 'WAY' of harmonising all of man's vital powers.
There is no attack in Aikido. Its goal is merely to neutralise an aggression and render the attacker harmless without causing him any serious injury. If at all possible.
To do this requires skill. But even more, it requires an ethical intention. The very
word Aikido, in fact, contains the three elements which comprise the art: (Ai) harmony
or co-
A man who studies and practises Aikido correctly desires only to defend himself without hurting others. To possess this attitude, one must achieve a very high level of integration of the powers of mind and body, the harmonious combination of physical means and ethical motives.
Aikido is taught and used by police forces in Germany, Hawaii and the United States of America. Its use by British police forces has also been approved by the Home Office and basic Aikido techniques are taught to British troops performing duty in Northern Ireland.
The Gentleman’s Art
