Introduction
What is Aikido?
Aikido, a non-violent Japanese martial art, was developed
by Professor Morihei Ueshiba. It is a martial art whose
essence goes beyond the resolution of physical conflicts.
Based on his background in several traditional jujitsu,
Professor Ueshiba spent the latter half of his life developing
his art as a means of refining the human spirit, creating
what he called Aikido. Aikido is a 'budo', a path in which
martial training is utilized as a 'way' to spiritual growth.
Aikido's training methods are based on Professor Ueshiba's
deep faith in the 'austere training for the sake of improving
the human spirit through tireless polishing and perfection
of the mind and body'. Aikido is non-competitive and is
considered a path of personal development for people who
sincerely desire to perfect their own human nature. Aikido
places great importance on the concept of 'ki' and seeks
to achieve the unification of the universal 'ki' with that
of the individual.
What does Aikido mean?
The word Aikido is made up of three kanji. The first and
foremost is 'Ai', which means to harmonize or come together.
The second, 'Ki', means the soul, the spirit. The last kanji
is 'Do', the way. The name can be translated to mean 'the
way of harmony with the universal 'ki'.
The nature of Aikido
Aikido training is the repetitious practice of various techniques
until rational and unforced movements flow naturally from
within the body. Aikidoka practice ways to control aggression
without causing harm or injury by blending or harmonizing
with a partner's energy, which requires little of their
own strength. Circular, flowing movements originating from
a relaxed body and a calm, centered mind are the Aikido
ideal. Regular practice brings a feeling of well being and
self-confidence that carries over into every aspect of daily
life. In Aikido there is no 'way', except the path of confronting
'the enemy that lies within oneself'. Aikido is a path of
dogged perseverance and dedication to improving both spirit
and body; the recognition and the acceptance of this aspect
of training is the surest way to steady progress and personal
development.
History and Philosophy
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Morihei Ueshiba was born on December 14, 1884 in Tanabe,
Kishu (Wakayama Prefecture). Commonly referred to
as O Sensei, or Great Teacher, he is one of history's
greatest martial artist. As an old man of eighty,
he could down any foe, disarm any attacker, and pin
an opponent with the minimum of effort. However, he
was by no means a man of violence. On the contrary,
he was a man of peace who detested all manner of violence.
Instead, he advocated 'The Way of Peace', which can
be loosely translated to mean 'The Art of Peace'.
O'Sensei's martial arts training started from the
traditional study of Kenjutsu and kendo, and in the
military during the 1900's. During which he studied
with Masakatsu Nakai Dojo learning Yagyu-ryu jujitsu.
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He
later studied Kodokan Judo and Daito-ryu jujitsu and served
as an instructor at Japan's elite military academies. Throughout
his life, however, Morihei was sorely troubled by the contention
and strife that plagued his world: his father's battles
with corrupt politicans and their hired goons, the devastation
of war, and the brutality of his country's military leaders.
O-Sensei
was influenced greatly by his relationship with Onisaburo
Deguchiand the Omoto-ryu religion. It was while he was with
Deguchi, he developed the belief that there was a kinship
between Budo and agriculture. Perhaps this explains the
oneness that Ueshiba felt with nature and the practiceof
martial arts.
The
first signs of Aikido showed when Ueshiba became so absorbed
in the study of kotodama and it's deep and complex meaning
of the soul and the universe. He departed from his familar
Yagyu-ryu and Daito-ryu jujitsu backround styles, and he
proceded to try to converge the mind, body, and the spirit
into a martial art of his own. By breaking down the walls
that often split the three entities apart, Ueshiba was laying
down the familiar triangular framework of Aikido. This early
style of Aikido was first named aiki-bujitsu.
Later, Ueshiba handily defeated a master of kendo, attributing
his victory to being able to feel the direction of the kendoist's
sword movements. This experience of awareness of the self
and the universe so moved him that he decided a more appropriate
name would be aiki-budo, rather than aiki-bujitsu.
As
time went on, Ueshiba intensively devoted himself to his
martial art taking on the practice of the spear and particularly
kendo. He so absorbed weaponry that it beame almost an appendage
to his body. His mastery in sword and staff is legendary.
Ueshiba's
reputation grew and with this came requests from Admirals,
royalty, and military for his knowledge and skills. He taught
many high military officals of the army and navy. His skills
were famous and even extended to Manchuria.
It
was later during the 1940's, Aiki-budo was given the name
of Aikido , and by this time Ueshiba had developed Aikido
into a martial art unifying the mind, body, and spirit.
He taught that it was every martial artist's personal responsibility
to preserve life and peace in the universe, rather than
to fight.
On
his spiritual quest, Morihei was transformed by three visions.
The first occurred in 1925, when Morihei was forty-two years
old. After defeating a high-ranking swordsman by avoiding
all his cuts and thrusts (Morihei was unarmed), Morihei
went into his garden. "Suddenly the earth trembled. Golden
vapor welled up from the ground and engulfed me. I felt
transformed into a golden image, and my body seemed as light
as a feather. All at once I understood the nature of creation:
the Way of a Warrior is to manifest Divine Love, a spirit
that embraces and nurtures all things. Tears of gratitude
and joy streamed down my cheeks. I saw the entire earth
as my home, and the sun, moon, and stars as my intimate
friends. All attachment to material things vanished."
The second vision took place in December of 1940. "Around
two o'clockin the morning as I was performing ritual purification,
I suddenly forgot every martial art technique I ever learned.
All of the techniques handed down from my teachers appeared
completely anew. Now they were vehicles for the cultivation
of life, knowledge, virtue, and good sense, not devices
to throw and pin people."
The third vision was in 1942, during the worst of the fighting
of World War II and in one of the darkest periods of human
history. Morihei had a vision of the Great Spirit of Peace,
a path that could lead to the elimination of all strife
and the reconciliation of humankind. "The Way of the Warrior
has been misunderstood as a means to kill and destroy others.
Those who seek competition are making a grave mistake. To
smash, injure, or destroy is the worst sin a human being
can commit. The real Way of a Warrior is to prevent slaughter
- it is the Art of Peace, the power of love."Morihei secluded
himself in the country and devoted every minute of his life
there after to refining and spreading Aikido, the Art of
Peace.
Unlike the authors of old-time warrior classics such as
The Art of War and The Book of Five Rings, which accept
the inevitability of war and emphasize cunning strategy
as a means to victory, Morihei understood that continued
fighting - with others, with ourselves, and with the environment
- will ruin the earth. "The world will continue to change
dramatically, but fighting and war can destroy us utterly.
What we need now are techniques of harmony, not those of
contention. The Art of Peace is required, not the Art of
War." Morihei taught the Art of Peace as a creative mind-body
discipline, as a practical means of handling aggression,
and as a way of life that fosters fearlessness, wisdom,
love, and friendship. He interpreted the Art of Peace in
the broadest possible sense and believed that its principles
of reconciliation, harmony, cooperation, and empathy could
be applied bravely to all the challenges we face in life
- in personal relationships, as we interact with society,
at work and in business, when dealing with nature. Everyone
can be a warrior for peace.
Although
Aikido originated with Morihei in Japan, it was intended
to be a gift for all humankind. Some have chosen, or will
select in the future, Aikido as their own particular Way,
practicing it on the mats and applying it to their daily
lives. Many more have been and will be inspired by the universal
message of the Art of Peace and its implications for our
world.
The
divine beauty Of heaven and earth! All creation, Members
of One family.
Acknowledgement:This
article was written with excerpts from the Introduction
written by John Stevens for The Art of Peace,a collection
of quotes from the teachings of Morihei Ueshiba, the Founder
of Aikido. Also acknowledging the information extracted
from William McLuskie's homepage as well as NU Chicago Campus
Aikido Dojo's Homepage.
Ethical Defense
"Aikido is sometimes referred to as the "non-fighting
art". Most experts agree that aikido is the most ethical
system of martial art because of the basic principal of
aiki (harmony) when dealing with an attack.
Let's explain by using the following example: A man attempts
to punch an innocent passerby in the stomach. What should
be the defense used to the person attacked? Should he block
the strike and attempt to break the person's arm in the
process? Should he then smash the attacker's face, sweep
him to the ground and kick the person until he is unconscious?
On one end of the spectrum some people would even justify
killing this person. According to the teachings of Master
Ueshiba, the person who was attacked should defend himself
without herting the other person.
The
student in aikido is taught to respect the body of his opponent.
Although many of the techniques in aikido are painful, the
pain is momentary and should never create any permanent
damage. Injuring the opponent is a sign of lack of control
and skill and is certainly not a display of the highest
level of ethics.
A
man's body (arms, legs, head, joints) has obvious structural
limitations as to how far it can be twisted or bent before
it will break. Aikido techniques are employed to neutralise
the aggressor and not to harm or seriously injure him. To
be able to do this requires that the aikidoist has the highest
ethical intention known to man: love and respect for one
another."
Sosa,
B. et al. The Essence of Aikido, USA, Unique Publications,
1987, p16-17
Final Note
Coming soon!
