AIKIDO合気道: AI合: Harmony, unity. KI気: Internal energy. Spirit, mind, heart. This Japanese character (kanji) is comprised of two parts “steam” and “rice”.  The Japanese term is used in hundreds of expressions referring to ones mind or mental state. Ex. Genki: to be doing well. Tenki: good weather. DO道: Way or path.

Aikido "The Way of Harmony" is a Japanese martial art that combines control techniques (katame waza) and projection or throwing techniques against one or more opponents (nage waza).

Morihei Ueshiba, referred to by his students as O’Sensei (Great Teacher), created Aikido in accordance to 20th century principles.  Having taught various martial arts in the past, and being a deeply spiritual man, Morihei Ueshiba was able to combine seemingly varied martial arts disciplines and create Aikido, a martial art that helps people develop their physical, mental and spiritual potential.

A simple translation of Aikido would be “the way to harmonize life and universal forces” or “the way of being unified with the fundamental forces of the universe”.  It has also been called “The Way to Spiritual Harmony”.

In Aikido the focus is to control aggression and violence through energetic and positive training.  Very effective martial arts techniques are performed in a unique way: using dynamic movements, attacks are overcome. A trained aikidoka is capable of redirecting the force of an attack effectively and without risk to himself.  Aikido is designed in such a way to be effective not only against one opponent but also against many.

In Aikido students are taught to be flexible, centered, fluid in their movements and to act in a spontaneous manner within the principles of the art.  The aikidoka learns how to best unite their mind, body and spirit.  Originally Aikido was taught to just a few select students in Japan, but today it is taught all over the world thanks primarily to the efforts O’Sensei’s son Kisshomaru Ueshiba who, through the adaptation and systemization of his father’s techniques, developed a method of training accessible to men, women, and children of all ages, abilities and physical conditions.