The name ‘Aikido’ is created by the permutation of three characters in the Japanese language. ‘Ai’, which means ‘joining’; ‘ki’, which means ’spirit’ and ‘do’, which signifies ‘way’. These three characters really sum up the essence of Aikido as a type of martial art: ‘the joining of the spirit to find the way’. It was only in the period from 1930’s to the 1940’s that the name Aikido was formally accepted as the name of this martial art variety.
Aikido uses ways that do not fatally injure or kill not like other kinds of martial art. The movements and skills being taught are just intended to divert attention or immobilize attackers. This is possibly the explanation why most people prefer Aikido, because of its focus on peace and harmony as opposed to violence and hostility. In deed, Aikido teacher, Morihei Ueshiba, is of the conviction that to control hostility without causing any harm is the art of peace.
Ueshiba, who is also called Osensei, which means ‘Great Teacher’, developed Aikido from the principles of Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu. He incorporated the methods of the ‘yari’, the spear; the ‘juken’, the bayonet; and the ‘jo’, which is a short quarterstaff. But what finally distinguishes Aikido from other types of martial art is the fact that its proponents can strike while empty-handed. Practitioners need no weapons for their defense.
As a small child, he was much into physical fitness and conditioning. This was because of his vow to avenge his father’s enemies. In the end, his studies and activities led him to the discipline of the different martial arts. He studied a few of them. He even has qualifications for fencing, fighting with spears, etc. He has studied it all. This is perhaps the explanation why Aikido is such a disparate and multi-disciplinary type of martial art.
Yet in spite of his skill, he remained dissatisfied. He sensed that there was still something missing. It was then that he turned to the religions. He studied under a spiritual leader, Onisaburo Deguchi of the sect called Omoto-kyo in Ayabe. Deguchi trained him to take care of his psychic growth. He then pooled his spiritual beliefs and his mastery of the different martial arts and Aikido was born.
His involvement with this fascinating spiritual leader Deguchi also paved the way for his introduction to the elite political and military personnel as a martial artist. Because of this association, he was able to found Aikido and even pass on his knowledge to students, who have, in turn, developed their own methods and techniques in Aikido.
Aikido is a blend of the diverse styles of jujitsu as well as some of the methods of sword and spear fighting, of which Ueshiba was an expert. To get an general idea, Aikido combines the joint locks and throws of jujitsu and the movements of the body necessary when fighting with swords and spears.
Oriental in origin, it was brought to the West by Minoru Mochizuki when he visited France in 1951. He introduced the Aikido methods to students who were learning judo. In 1952, Tadashi Abe came to France as the official Aikikai Honbu representative. Then in 1953, Kenji Tomiki toured throughout the United States while Koichi Tohei stayed in Hawaii for a full year where he set up a dojo. Aikido then spread its influence in the United Kingdom two years after and in 1965, it reached Germany and Australia. At present, Aikido has centres all over the world.
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