Founded in the mid 1900’s by Morihei Ueshiba (who we now called O’Sensei). Aikido is a Japanese martial art of many facets. It can be soft and flowing and it can be hard, fast and devastatingly effective. It can be a healthy fun activity or it can be a path that will change your life.
In aikido there are no competitions, only constant practice based on mutual respect and cooperation between partners.
Translated very roughly "Aikido" means The Way of Peace with the ultimate objective being to use the attackers energy and momentum to your advantage. This is done by employing throws, joint locks and circular movements that are actually designed to keep the attacker under control without having to harm them. Thus the aikido practitioner is able to control or move around the attack rather than meet it head on.
These martial principles of not absorbing the energy but rather using movement to redirect it can and will be carried outside of the dojo and into everyday life.
Aikido can be practiced by everyone: male, female, adults and children. All you need is a willingness to train and a desire to learn.
