 Aikido
is the "Way of Harmony", a mind/body discipline which
originated as a Japanese martial art or Way and is now popular throughout
the world with those who seek a better understanding and awareness
of themselves and their relationship with others. Aikido enables
you to put into practice the concepts of non-violence and non-resistance.
It is not a sport, and is not concerned with the temporary and strictly
relative victory achieved in a contest. Instead, the emphasis in
aikido training is on non-competitive, cooperative and creative
ways of learning principles that can be applied to daily life. As
a form of self-defence, aikido gives equal if not greater importance
to the inner aspects of dealing with conflict, as to the purely
physical, technical aspects. We are urged to rid ourselves of conflict
as the first step along the Way. This involves mental discipline,
centering, and a determination not to resort to force. The toughness
and violence associated with popular concepts of the martial arts
are replaced with techniques for leading, blending, controlling
and neutralising conflict. The trainee must first learn how to move
with balance and grace, then how to work co-operatively with a partner.
Partners help one another to learn the movements and principles.
On the psychological level, aikido has as much depth as the student
may with to discover for himself and, indeed, it is the mental element,
with its relevance to daily life situations, that is the chief attraction
of the art for many people. Through inner calmness one acquires
the possibility of leading another person's ki (the vital energy
directed by mind or spirit). It is said that "where the mind
leads, the body follows." The physical exercise of aikido is quite comprehensive
and healthy, involving as it does the entire body, including the
ligaments and joints, and the equal use of both the left and right
sides. Though emphasis is on natural, rather than forced movements,
aikido is by no means easy to learn and requires dedication and
patience. With regular training, however, virtually anyone can learn
the art, and it is not restricted to the young or the super-fit.Aikido
is a Japanese cultural activity and the traditions are observed
in the dojo (training hall) sothat all students have an opportunity
to benefit from this aspect. However, the universal nature of aikido
is also recognised and the specifically Japanese aspects of it are
not stressed pedantically. The humanistic philosophy of the founder,
Morihei Ueshiba, is not confined to any national, racial or gender
boundaries. |