On the Eve of my 32nd Birthday, I am attempting to clarify my definition of Aikido as a martial art and as a training method to perfect our minds, bodies and spirit. I may amend parts of this article as time goes and I think of more thoughts to add:

The full article is also posted on my website: http://www.gregorysoon.com/classes.html

WHAT IS AIKIDO?

Aikido is a martial art style based mainly on Japanese Daito-Ryu Aikijujitsu, with aspects from other fighting styles. Aikido was named by its founder Morihei Ueshiba, who was a highly respected martial artist from Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.

Aikido was originally called Aiki-Budo by its founder, when it was taught as a fighting method, but as the founder grew into an older and more spiritual individual he renamed it Aikido, “The Way of Unifying Energy” and removed “Bu”, the Japanese term for “Martial” or “War”, to reflect his changing morals and ideals.

Aikido is not a competitive sport or a competitive martial art form. Aikido techniques are based on fighting methods and techniques and can definitely be used in combat and for self-defense. But Aikido training as conducted in a dojo (training hall), is not based on learning or teaching fighting methods to defeat an opponent. There is no sparring or competition in Aikido.

IS AIKIDO RIGHT FOR ME? This is a very subjective question and can only be answered by observing or trying out a few Aikido classes. My recommendation is to try to commit to at least 3 months of training and then judge for yourself, weigh the benefits you have gained versus the time investment you have made.

I would like to be very clear that You Cannot Grasp the Various Aspects of Aikido training, or its resulting benefits by trying out only 1 class. In our modern society of convenience and the desire for instant gratification, learning to become a martial arts master in a few weeks or months, sounds very enticing (and some schools advertise that they will indeed turn you into a “master”), but it is false and completely against the ideals of martial arts training.

One of my goals is to return martial arts training back to its origins and roots; in which the training was the purpose of the art. We train to perfect our spirits as ancient warriors did to purify their spirits before battle (with the intention of dying in battle).

In modern Westernized martial arts (roughly since the 1960s), people want to train because they want a “Black Belt” or because they want to be able to “Kick someone’s Ass in a Fight”. A martial artist knows not to enter into fruitless battles and waste energy on competing against others.

Martial Character The Essence of “Budo”: A martial artist understands that “belts”, rankings and certifications are not the measure of one’s character; that the true measure of a person’s character is how they live their lives, take care of their minds and bodies, carry themselves in society and how they treat those around them.