The Beginnings of Aikido

The name ‘Aikido’ is created by the permutation of three characters in the Japanese language. ‘Ai’, which means ‘joining’; ‘ki’, which means ‘spirit’ and ‘do’, which signifies ‘way’. These three characters actually sum up the essence of Aikido as a type of martial art: ‘the joining of the spirit to find the way’. It was only in the period from 1930′s to the 1940′s that the name Aikido was legally accepted as the name of this martial art variety.

Aikido uses methods that do not seriously injure or kill not like different types of martial art. The movements and skills being taught are just intended to divert attention or immobilize attackers. This is perhaps the explanation why most people prefer Aikido, because of its concentration on peace and tranquility as opposed to violence and conflict. In deed, Aikido teacher, Morihei Ueshiba, believes that to have power over hostility without causing any injury is the art of peace.

Ueshiba, who is also called Osensei, which signifies ‘Great Teacher’, formed Aikido from the doctrine of Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu. He incorporated the methods of the ‘yari’, the spear; the ‘juken’, the bayonet; and the ‘jo’, which is a short quarterstaff. But what ultimately distinguishes Aikido from other types of martial art is the fact that its proponents can strike while empty-handed. Proponents require no arms for their protection.

As a small child, he was greatly into physical fitness and conditioning. This was because of his oath to avenge his father’s enemies. In the end, his studies and actions led him to the discipline of the various martial arts. He studied a few of them. He even has qualifications for fencing, fighting with spears, etc. He has studied it all. This is possibly the explanation why Aikido is such a disparate and multi-disciplinary sort of martial art.

Yet despite his skill, he remained unhappy. He sensed that there was still something lacking. It was then that he turned to the religions. He studied under a religious guide, Onisaburo Deguchi of the sect named Omoto-kyo in Ayabe. Deguchi trained him to take care of his psychic development. He then pooled his spiritual beliefs and his mastery of the different martial arts and Aikido was formed.

His relationship with this charismatic spiritual leader Deguchi also smoothed the way for his introduction to the elite political and military people as a martial artist. Because of this relationship, he was able to establish Aikido and even pass on his knowledge to students, who have, in turn, created their own methods and techniques in Aikido.

Aikido is a blend of the different styles of jujitsu as well as some of the techniques of sword and spear fighting, of which Ueshiba was an expert. To obtain an general picture, Aikido combines the joint locks and throws of jujitsu and the techniques of the body necessary when fighting with swords and spears.

Oriental in origin, it was brought to the West by Minoru Mochizuki when he visited France in 1951. He introduced the Aikido techniques to students who were learning judo. In 1952, Tadashi Abe came to France as the official Aikikai Honbu spokesperson. Then in 1953, Kenji Tomiki toured throughout the United States while Koichi Tohei stayed in Hawaii for a full year where he set up a dojo. Aikido then broadened its influence in the United Kingdom two years after and in 1965, it reached Germany and Australia. At present, Aikido has centres all over the world.

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