Aikido - The Wider Meaning

If you have not heard of Aikido,  you may think it is like Judo, or Kung-Fu, or even Karate; or just people who throw each other around. Indeed, Aikido is essentially a martial (fighting) art, but its movements and techniques, are based on non-resistance, and making harmony with an opponent's attack. This emphasis on harmony is the essence of the underlying philosophy of Aikido, which is what this article is concerned with. Even though many exponents of Aikido, particularly at a comparatively elementary level, are little concerned with this philosophy, it is still implicit in their practice. If one goes onto the mat with a 'fighting mind' wanting above else to smash one's partner into the ground, one cannot learn Aikido: to make progress, it is important for both 'attacker and attacked' to want to help each other learn. Only when you stop worrying about whether your technique is going to work can you easily throw an attacker - and this stage can only be reached by ridding your mind of all thought of fighting. 

It has been said that Aikido exists on three levels; spiritual, mental and physical - in that order of importance to the serious student. Although these levels are inseparably linked, this emphasis on the prime importance of the spiritual (philosophical) level, is a basic difference between Aikido and other martial arts. The basic phiolosphy of Aikido then, is one of harmony - both between men, and more fundamentally, with nature itself. This ideal, which is exemplified by most of the world's religions, is one to which most people would at least pay lip servcie. However, in reality, few people go far towards enacting such ideals. We live in a society where 'survival' of the fittest (or the most cunning) is the accepted order, and are conditioned to be proud, selfish, and egocentric; often under the guise of having 'self-respect'. For instance, if someone pushes against us (deliberatley or otherwise) our immediate reaction is to push back. Our ego is dented by this other person's actions, and we feel the need to reassert ourselves. This reaction achieves nothing viable, and at best reduces us to the level of the person pushing us - yet is still virtually instinctive. (Were we to practice true non-resistance in such a situation, we would just move with the push; where someone pushes against you deliberately, the effect is then exactly the same as their pushing against a door just as it is opened from the other side). Similarly, if someone 'runs us down" we become angry and want to 'get  back', again, as our ego has suffered a blow. We should instead realise that nothing anyone says can in any way, lessen what we truely are, and that we should therefore ignore empty gossip rather than engage in degrading verbal conflict. The only valid self-respect comes from knowing that you are living (or at least striving to live) according to the ideals you hold. This true self-respect is indifferent to the attempts of others to boost their egos at your expense.

Aikido - the Art itself

I have tried to indicate the philosophical background of Aikido and the importance of Aikido's training in helping us to live up to our philosophical ideals. Although these aspects are of great importance, even up to black-belt standard, without consciously paying attention to them, whatever level one practices at, the prime reason for practising is simply because one enjoys it. In this article, therefore, I want to say something about what the physical practice of Aikido entails, and its relation to the other Japanese martial arts. 

Most people turn to Aikido looking for a method of self-defence, generally expecting to be turned into a 'James Bond Fighting Machine  or Bruce Lee' overnight!. Regardless of what anyone else might say, self-defence cannot be learned by the average person in a short period of time. The fundamental difficulty of learning any method of self -defence (so fundamental, indeed, that most authors tend to ignore it in enumerating their own particular brand of instant self-defence), has nothing to do with the aquisition of techniques, but concerns the state of mind of the attacked person.  If someone is attacked, their natural first reaction is one of panic; their body tenses up and their 'mind' is lost - being aware only of the imminent danger, and unable to co-ordinate movements of the body. This effect (which is very similar to the way we 'jump' if something startles us) may be only momentary, but even that moment will often make it too late for us to apply our fabulous techniques. Unless we train our minds not to 'freeze' in this way, there is no defence against any sort of blow. (Similarly, when danger threatens - for example, if one is walking through a seemingly hostile crowd, our bodies tense up. Should the danger materialise, this tension would slow down our reactions. We must therefore, train our minds in order to remain calm and relaxed under such conditions).

Any system of self-defence which fails to take account of this problem is offered under false pretences. In Aikido training it is generally about a year before we learn much that is related to self-defence.!

What, though is Aikido in practical terms? 

The principle it employs in self-defence is that of non-resistance. Instead of trying to block an attack, we harmonise with it; basically continuing the attacker's movement in order to throw him. Alternatively, still harmonising with the attack, we can deflect it (by making a circular movement) and then move into the attacker to control him. In a 'real' situation, whether we continue the attacker's movement or deflect his attack, it is only necessary to put a fist in his way to bring about a 'satisfactory conclusion'! In our practice, as an exercise for both our own and our partner's movement, we instead finish our techniques with a throw. It is important to realise that the basic techniques we practice in Aikido (whatever our standard) are only exercises, to enable us to learn Aikido). These exercises teach us  firstly to move our bodies freely, with grace and power, whilst keeping them relaxed. It is amazing how difficult it is to get people to move freely, and how self-conscious and inhibited people are, lest they should look 'ridiculous'. Who cares? We all look equally ridiculous at times in our training. All these movements in Aikido are quite natural, and therefore should become graceful. Because we extend the body naturally, Aikido is an excellent form of exercise, which, whilst making/keeping us fit, renders the whole body supple rather than building up certain muscles  while neglecting others. Since we should never require 'brute-force' in our exercises (if we truely hamonise with an attack, the relative strength of ourself and the attacker is irrelevant). Aikido is suitable to members of either sex, of any physical stature and any age. (Some care may be needed initially, though, since we all resort to brute force when our techniques isn't up to scratch'!)
While exercising our bodies through movement in Aikido, we are learning ( through the same exercices) to harmonsie with someone's attack. The co-ordinating of mind and body this requires, is the first stage in our mental training, and will eventually enable us to react almost instinctively to any attack. Somewhat later, we learn the importance of co-ordinating our breathing with our movement, to maximise our power. This idea is too complex to deal with here, but it makes the point when one startes to appreciate the true meaning of Aikido. indeed, the only way to find out anything about Aikido is by practising under an experienced teacher - ignoring the few knocks and bruises which inevitably occur initially.

Aikido is, of course only one of the branches of Budo ('fighting arts') and anyone pracising any of these arts should respect all of them. All of them have something different to offer, and one should not say that one art is better than another, since to do so would imply that one knew all there is to know about the arts you were comparing; and it would take more than a lifetime to gain  this amount of knowledge. 

Aikido is a purely defensive art, of recent origin. It is only some 60 years ago that Sensei Morehei Ueshiba first formulated it techniques. After a sickly childhood, he devoted his life to studying the martial arts. He had reached the stage of being amongst the best exponents of each of the arts he studied - when he began to doubt the value of a way of life, involving always striving for victory over other people. He therefore adopted an asthetic life for some years, studying philosophy, religion and meditation, until he resolved these doubts. Subsequently, he devoted himself to developing a new form of martial art, consistent with his realisation of the supreme importance of harmony, both between the exponents of the art, and with nature itself. The outcome of his endeavour was Aikido; and indeed, the movements in the new art owed (and still owes) much to the Kendo exercises Sensei Ueshiba practiced during his retreat. For a number of years, Aikido was taught only to selected pupils. At the start of the second world war, Sensei Ueshiba, with a few of his pupils, moved to a mountain hut, where the next twelve years were spent in farming and the practice of Aikido - developing and refining the art. It was only after this period that Aikido instruction was made generally available in Japan, and shortly after, elsewhere.  Sensei Nakazono and Sensei Noro, teachers in Paris , and other Japanese teachers in Europe, adapted and formalised the art somewhat, to render it more easily learnt by Europeans; and it is their teachings we follow today.