Overview
One of Japan's martial arts, aikido concentrates on immobilizing holds and
twisting throws, causing the attacker's own momentum and strength to work
against him.
Aikido is derived from jujutsu, the same system of
weaponless self-defense from which Kano Jigoro developed judo, but the resulting
sport is considerably different in its approach, especially in its incorporation
of manipulative holds, not included in judo by Kano.
While judo's main
techniques are throwing, grappling, and attacking vital points, the aikido
student concentrates on deflecting blows and checking offensive attacks by
meeting, rather than blocking, a blow, and redirecting the flow of an opponent's
ki (energy force), dissipating it, and then using joint manipulation (wrists
elbows or shoulders) to turn the opponent's ki against him until he is thrown or
pinned.
A martial arts devotee trained in sword and spear techniques
named Takeda Sokaku (1860-1943) was the first to develop the techniques of
aikido's forerunner, the Daito Aiki system of jujutsu. Ueshiba Morihei
(1883-1969), a student of Takeda, is credited with the subsequent modern
systematization of the martial art known as aikido, drawing on Takeda's teaching
and his own extensive martial arts training and religious experience as a
convert to the Omoto Shinto sect. Ueshiba's aikido received public recognition
in 1959, after Waseda University adopted aikido as part of its physical
education curriculum.
Students training in aikido practice training forms
on an opponent, alternatively taking the roles of attacker and defender. Because
of this style, there is fundamentally no competition in aikido, only
demonstrations. However, ranks are attained in a process similar to judo.
Aikido is extremely popular both
in Japan and overseas since it does not require great physical strength, and can
be practiced equally effectively by women and the elderly.