What is Aikido?

[Taiji Rebel]

I too love practicing Korindo Aikido and have found it to have great impact on me. But, I dislike attributing "too much" to something, and especially dislike attributing uniqueness too one M.A. for things which exists in multiple others.
Note that in Terry Dobson story, he was the Aikidoka, and any M.A. experiance of the older Japanese is left unmentioned.
And as I have mentioned earlier, I have heard multiple similar stories of M.A. seniors who practice other M.A. and acted in the spirit of the old man, though they had nothing to do with Aikido. I believe this to be one sign of being a Martial Artist: being able to solve such situations with confidence and without resorting to actual violence.

Amir

The Terry Dobson story has inspired a great many aikidoka over the years. Aikido attracts those who recognize the value of the peaceful way. It takes greater discipline and a stronger spirit to harmonize with a situation and redirect the negative energy without resorting to violence. Taijiquan is another art with a similar approach and outlook.

What is Aikido?

It varies from club to club, but a lot of Aikidoka experience it is a spiritual practice.

 

[mograph]

It takes greater discipline and a stronger spirit to harmonize with a situation and redirect the negative energy without resorting to violence. Taijiquan is another art with a similar approach and outlook.

Well ... sorta. Taijiquan uses both yin and yang: yin to redirect, to allow the opponent in; but then to allow you to express force in the form of not only a push, but a punch or a kick. Some applications are definitely meant to injure the opponent, so violence is definitely on the table.

 

[Taiji Rebel]

Well ... sorta. Taijiquan uses both yin and yang: yin to redirect, to allow the opponent in; but then to allow you to express force in the form of not only a push, but a punch or a kick. Some applications are definitely meant to injure the opponent, so violence is definitely on the table.

And this applies equally to aikido, although it is often forgotten (or overlooked) that the art blends both hard and gentle techniques.

In My Spiritual Journey by Gozo Shioda he writes "In a real fight 70% is atemi"

The following link expands on this point with video demonstrations by Morihiro Saito.

Striking options in Aikido practice

Striking arts (atemi) are an integral part of aikido practice. It is often stated that as much as 70% of Aikido is about atemi. Some sources suggest that this percentage should be more like 90%.…

theaikidowarrior.com

 

[O'Malley]

According to Morihei Ueshiba, aikido is not about techniques. It is about manifesting in and yo (yin and yang) within one's body. This gives rise to instant victory (katsu hayabi, i.e. kuzushi/unbalancing on contact) and spontaneous techniques (takemusu). It is a way to manifest the order of the cosmos (yin and yang, lzanagi and Izanami, fire and water, which when said together are pronounced as "god", etc.) within yourself. It's both a physical and mental purification (misogi).

In other terms, aikido = become bouncy hard to move person for whack whack by imitating the universe.

 

[Peter H]

Responding to the original post,

I have always looked at Aikido as Jazz. It is what happens between the notes.

The techniques of Aikido are in other martial arts.
Aikido is what I am doing between techniques. Blending and merging or keeping time and distance while looking for an escape.

That's been the difference when I work with people from other styles, even similar one like jujitsu, BJJ, and Judo. They are looking for position, opportunity, a chance to go on the offense.

Aikido doesn't care about that. My goal is to not get hurt, and if possible, not hurt the other guy while I am at it.

 

[wentho9]

Aikido is to much for one person and to much for a clear definiton. It can be like this, as well:

 

[mograph]

What to you is Aikido?

The dynamic sphere?

 

[O'Malley]

The dynamic sphere?

That book did a lot of damage in terms of technique. Cool drawings though.

 

[mograph]

That book did a lot of damage in terms of technique. Cool drawings though.

Good to know.

 

[Xue Sheng]

The techniques of Aikido change constantly; every encounter is unique, and the appropriate response should emerge naturally. Today's techniques will be different tomorrow. Do not get caught up with the form and appearance of a challenge. Aikido has no form - it is the study of the spirit - Morihei Ueshiba

Aikido is not an art to fight with enemies and defeat them. It is a way to lead all human beings to live in harmony with each other as though everyone were one family. The secret of aikido is to make yourself become one with the universe and to go along with its natural movements. One who has attained this secret holds the universe in him/herself and can say, 'I am the universe.' - Morihei Ueshiba

The Art of Peace is medicine for a sick world. There is evil and disorder in the world, because people have forgotten that all things emanate from one source. Return to that source and leave behind all self-centered thoughts, petty desires, and anger. Those who are possessed by nothing possess everything. - Morihei Ueshiba

 

[O'Malley]

The techniques of Aikido change constantly; every encounter is unique, and the appropriate response should emerge naturally. Today's techniques will be different tomorrow. Do not get caught up with the form and appearance of a challenge. Aikido has no form - it is the study of the spirit - Morihei Ueshiba

Aikido is not an art to fight with enemies and defeat them. It is a way to lead all human beings to live in harmony with each other as though everyone were one family. The secret of aikido is to make yourself become one with the universe and to go along with its natural movements. One who has attained this secret holds the universe in him/herself and can say, 'I am the universe.' - Morihei Ueshiba

The Art of Peace is medicine for a sick world. There is evil and disorder in the world, because people have forgotten that all things emanate from one source. Return to that source and leave behind all self-centered thoughts, petty desires, and anger. Those who are possessed by nothing possess everything. - Morihei Ueshiba

For context, these are from "The Art of Peace", a book by John Stevens. The quotes are out of context and, according to Chris Li (a professional translator, aikido teacher and aikido history specialist), Stevens took numerous liberties when translating them to project a particular image of Morihei Ueshiba. On that note, the book starts with "Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969) was history’s greatest martial artist. He was the founder of Aikido, which can be translated as “The Art of Peace.”

The first phrase gives you an idea of the lens used by Stevens. The second phrase is problematic, as "peace" or "harmony" as intended by the title of the book is not a literal translation of "aiki" (合気), contrarily to what's written. In Japanese, this concept of peace would be expressed as "wa" (和) as in "Wadō-ryū karate" and Stevens distorts the original meaning to fit his ideas.

The book fits within a narrative that the postwar Aikikai started pushing in order to maintain their influence as the world's main aikido organization. Indeed, after WWII, the Yoshinkan (Gozo Shioda's branch of aikido) expanded rapidly and opened a brand new training hall (in Tokyo IIRC), while the Aikikai HQ was in ruins, with war refugees still living on the tatami! The Aikikai could not compete neither in terms of infrastructure nor instructors, so they banked everything on their only competitive advantage: their head was the son of Morihei Ueshiba. They crafted a new vision of aikido revolving around the quasi-religious cult of Ueshiba the "invincible warrior" (the title of Steven's biography of Ueshiba) who gave the world a new martial art, the "art of peace". Quotes that originally referred to the unification of the world under the rule of the Japanese emperor (through military conquest) were reframed as universal messages about peace, non-competitiveness was elevated to a dogma, etc. Interestingly, that vision resonated with many people, I guess even more so in the wake of WWII, then with the Vietnam War and the New Age movement.

As a result, today, there are so many radically different versions of aikido that, as said above, it's too much for anybody to define.