Aikido is a Japanese martial art that promotes fitness, flexibility, resilience and body awareness.
In Aikido, practitioners learn to neutralize an attack by unbalancing and either throwing or pinning their opponent. The techniques emphasize blending with the attacker’s movements and using effective body mechanics, particularly rotational movements that originate from the lower body.
Aikido has no competitions. Training is cooperative, with partners adjusting to each other’s skill level. This makes it possible for individuals of all ages and experience levels to train together safely. The intensity of practice can range from slow and gentle to fast and powerful, depending on the level of the participants.
During training, the defender seeks to destabilize the attacker, while the attacker aims to recover balance and maintain presence. This dynamic interaction forms the core of Aikido practice and philosophy.
Aikido is part of the Japanese tradition of budō, or ‘martial ways’. The ultimate purpose of budō is self-development, promoting calm, focus, discipline and compassion.
