The Essence of Aikido

Many people see martial arts as a brutal sport/activity. I do agree the outcome can be brutal at times especially in the Nihon Goshin Aikido style but the goal in Aikido is not to DESTROY but be in HARMONY with your attacker.

Aikido was founded by Morihei Uyesiba in Japan in the mid-1900s. However the techniques that are taught are based on battlefield applications developed by the Samurai. Aikido is focused on self-defense because it was used by an unarmed Samurai on the battlefield to defend against an attacker/aggressor with a weapon. Since then the art focuses on weapon bearing attackers as well as the unarmed.

There are several schools/styles of Aikido but I really relate to Nihon Goshin more. The practicality of the style is immense. Aikido itself revolves around self-defense rather than being the aggressor. The art of self-defense is much more appealing to me that being that overbearing aggressor. Practical life-saving applications can be used to neutralize an attacker/aggressor. There are several thousand applications that can be applied to any situation you may encounter.

The class instructor Mr. Bryce Lee has been training in Aikido for more than 25 years and in martial arts overall for 32+ years. He started in Shotokan Karate. Karate is the art of "force meets force", the greater force normally wins. Self-defense and life-saving applications is not the primary mission of Karate. After he received his black belt in Shotokan he decided to train in Aikido. Although he was a black belt in Shotokan, Aikido was nothing he could have ever prepared himself for. His rank in Karate meant absolutely nothing, everything in Aikido requires balance and circular movement.

Aikido is not "force meets force" but rather "force meets defeat". That is, the harder someone attacks you, they will put themselves in a more "unfavorable position". I know unfavorable is vague but to me that is the best way to phrase it because Aikidoka or those who train in Aikido do NOT seek to destroy, we seek to neutralize. Thus, if the intent of the attacker is to "harm", then no "harm" will be done unto him but he may feel aches and pains for a while. If the intent is to kill, then "harm" not death will be returned instead. The level of escalation must be kept at a minimum when using our style of Aikido. It can be compare to the that a police officer must employ when dealing with the public. Although lethal force can be used, it should NOT be used unless your life or the life of someone else is in danger.

In Aikido an attacker's force is usually redirected and rechannelled rather than blocked. The continuance of the attcker's force will ultimately lead to an unfavorable position for him/her. Trust me, I know first had and have had the injuries to remind me. For example, if you are attacked by a "roundhouse" punch. Most people step back or just try to get out of the way and the energy from that attack is lost. However, in Aikido, the goal is to be at "one' with the attack, thus we step in toward the attackers neutral shoulder or side where punch is not coming from. This movement helps to continue the energy as well as taking away his/her balance this putting then in an "unfavorable position". Try it yourself, using a punching bag or "volunteer". If you throw a round punch with force and the target moves into your neutral shoulder you will not only miss your target but probably fall down beacuse of the circular force of the punch...that is Aikido. In Nihon Goshin Aikido we use blocks and atemi or defensive strikes to help facilitate the neutralization during an attack. These strikes may be an elbow, chop, kick, etc...

In Mr. Lee's classes, he promotes self-actualization and goal orientation. His classes are not paced by his agenda but rather by the individuals ability to grow and flourish. Some martial arts have a preset "timeline" on when you should be a black belt. However, in Mr. Lee's classes, the "timeline" is governed by one person...you.