What is Aikido?

Hey guys,

If you're unfamiliar with Aikido, it is a Japanese martial art focused on defence, rather than offence. It is more peaceful in that regard as it teaches you about reacting to attacks and analysing your opponent, instead of actually initiating attacks and potentially starting fights.
What that means is that you become more aware of your surroundings, and start to look at your opponent's movements more carefully, since you're going to choose your technique accordingly.

The basis of Aikido is the flow of the techniques, what might be referred to as "Ki" or the harmony that is required between attacker and defender. The point is that the defender manipulates the attacker's centre (and hence, balance) to put him in a disadvantaged position, then steal his outgoing energy (from a punch or strike or even just movement like running) and redirect it against him. From that stem all the joint locks and pinning techniques that exist in Aikido.

However, you should not be swayed away only because of it being defensive, not offensive. Look at it as an effective art form that deals with aggression by carefully and precisely neutralising a threat.
I've been practising Aikido for just more than a year now, and have learned countless lessons through not only the techniques and the discipline, but also the people I've met.

Control is what Aikido offers you. Control of the enemy, as well as of the self.

Be defensive, not offensive. Please rein come back on the choke point...

don't go too far, don't go too far