Aikido is a contemporary Japanese art of self-defense. Aikido
is known for emphasizing the divine and rational maturity of its
students. It Employs holds and locks and uses the values of
nonresistance in order to incapacitate the strength of the adversary.
It emphasizes the connotation of achieving absolute mental calm and control of one's own body to master an opponent's assault.
Morihei Ueshiba developed it over the period of the
1920s to the 1960s. Practitioners of aikido as O-Sensei or “Great
Teacher” also know Ueshiba. Aikido
contains a very significant spiritual component, which is the
consequence of O-Sensei's communication with the Oomoto-kyo religion,
as well as Shinto and Buddhism.
The name aikido is formed of three Japanese characters
· ?- ai - union/harmony.
· ?- ki - universal energy/spirit.
· ? - do - way.
Therefore aikido
can be translated as 'the way to union with universal energy' or 'the
way of unified energy'. One more common interpretation of the
characters is harmony, spirit and way, so aikido can also signify 'the
way of spiritual harmony' or 'the art of peace'.
Aikido was
born out of three Enlightenment experiences of O-Sensei. In each of
these, he established a divine stimulation that lead away from the
brutal nature of his previous martial training, and towards a "spirit
of peace". O-Sensei eventually said that the way of the warrior is the
"way of divine love that nurtures and protects all things"
Practicing Aikido
is a unique way to find balance and harmony amidst the conflict and
stress of everyday life, work and struggle, particularly for Sailors
and Marines who set out into tribulations way.
The attitude and techniques of Aikido are excellent for Marines and Sailors, because it increases their self-defense capabilities radically when practiced routinely.
The techniques of aikido
can, when applied sensibly, divert or bring to a halt rather than harm
or kill. As a result, some consider aikido to be a realistic sign of
meeting violence (physical, verbal, etc.) with an efficient but
generous response, and finding accord in conflict. Ueshiba affirmed,
"To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace.
Soumen Mondal for http://www.1aikido.info/
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