Morihei Ueshiba, O Sensei, founder of Aikido
“I want considerate people to listen to the voice of Aikido. It is not for correcting others; it is for correcting your own mind.”
— Morihei Ueshiba
Aikido -"The Way of Harmony of Spirit", is a Japanese system of self-defence created by Morihei Ueshiba (1883 - 1969).
To those unfamiliar with this gentle, non-aggressive Martial Art, Aikido teaches the principle of yielding, that the softest things can overcome the hardest. Aikido is performed by blending with the attacker and redirecting the force of the attack rather than opposing the force head-on. This requires "leading" the attacker's momentum and completing the technique with a throw or joint lock.
By its very nature, Aikido is suitable for men, women and children as it does not rely on physical strength for its effectiveness. Through regular training, students learn to harness their inner strength to overcome others who may be physically much stronger. This requires both a commitment to peaceful resolution of conflict whenever possible and a commitment to self-mastery through Aikido training. A student learns to do this by harmonising with his or her training partner.
Historically Aikido takes the joint locks and throws from Jujitsu and combines them with the body movements of sword and spear fighting.
Aikido differs from most other Martial Arts in that it does not teach attack and there are no fighting competitions.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
Get a different view on conflict resolution
Improve self-confidence
Improve balance & posture
Learn to fall safely
Develop social awareness
Effective self defence
Physically -Improve Muscle toning, Joint integrity and breathing efficiency.
We provide a safe, family friendly training environment with experienced and conscientious instructors.
Resources
Aikido related websites:
sportsground.co.nz : Funding Kiwi Sports
Aiki-Extensions - A collection of organizations related to Aikido.
Aikido Wikipedia Entry : The Aikido entry at Wikipedia.
Extraordinary Listening : The most essential skill in communication.
NZ Organisations
We recommended:
Kyu Shin Do Aikido North Shore
- Auckland’s North Shore at Albany
Koshinkai Aikido Dojo
- Central Auckland
Tatsu Gi Kai - Dojos throughout the country
Affiliations
NZ Aikido affiliations:
Institute of Aikido New Zealand
- Our Parent Body
The Aikido Association of New Zealand
- Representing aikido in New Zealand
Aikido Club Links
Other clubs of interest:
Institute of Aikido (UK)
- The home page of the Institute of Aikido in theUK.
The Hut
The birthplace of Aikido in the UK .
Slough Centre Aikido Club
Broadland Aikido Club
- Lowestoft & Bungay, Suffolk.