The Japanese martial art of Aikido is a comprehensive system of throwing, joint-locking, striking and pinning techniques, coupled with training in ...AIKIDO|合氣道FoundedbyMoriheiUeshiba,Aikidoisamartialartthatfocusesonharmonizingwithyouropponenttobringpeacefulresolutionstosituationsinvolvingconflict.TheJapanesemartialartofAikidoisacomprehensivesystemofthrowing,joint-locking,strikingandpinningtechniques,coupledwithtrainingintraditionalJapaneseweaponssuchasthesword,staffandknife.FoundedbyMoriheiUeshibaearlyinthetwentiethcenturyfollowinghisownextensivestudyofvariousarmedandunarmedmartialsystems,AikidorepresentsapotentdistillationofcenturiesofJapanesemartialknowledge.Itisoneofthemostwidelypracticedbudo,ormartialway,intheworld.However,Ueshiba(commonlycalledO-Sensei,or‘venerableteacher’)wasdeterminedthathis“Progresscomestothosewhotrainandtrain.Relianceonsecrettechniqueswillgetyounowhere.”-MoriheiUeshibaAikidobepracticedasmorethansimplyamethodoffighting.TheJapanesemartialarts,influencedbytheinternalandmeditativedisciplinesinheritedfromIndiaandChina,haveoftencarriedwiththemanemphasisonthedevelopmentofinternal,aswellasphysical,integrity.Wieldingthelife-takingswordwithcompassionandinsight,theidealwarriorinJapanesethoughtismorethanasimplekillingmachine;heisamodelofuprightness,courageandloyalty,gladlysacrificinglife(butneverhonor)inthenameofprincipleandduty.Steepedinthesetraditions,O-SenseiconceivedofAikidoasnotonlyameansofvanquishingafoe,butasameansofpromotingthepositivecharacteroftheidealwarriorandultimatelyoftranscendingdualisticconflict.ForO-Sensei,Aikidowasapathofself-development.Hebelievedthatitcouldbeameansforanyone,ofanynation,tofollowthesamepath.Aikidoisshugyo:anintensephysicalandspiritualtrainingtoperfecthumancharacteranddeveloptruewisdom.“Toinjureanopponentistoinjureyourself.TocontrolaggressionwithoutinflictinginjuryistheArtofPeace.”MoriheiUeshibaHowdoesAikidodifferfromothermartialarts?TraditionalAikidoisnon-competitiveandpromotionsdonotcomethroughbestinganopponent,but