Aikido in its current form is a pretty new creation within the martial arts tradition. Aikido was founded in Japan in the beginning of the twentieth century and is credited to Morihei Ueshiba. Ueshiba discovered the classical martial arts as a child by his father Yoroku. He is believed to have studied some martial arts , such as ju-jistu as well as ken-jutsu and the art of the spear. In 1912 Morihei moved to Hokkaido, where a improbable meeting with a man named Sokaku Takeda altered his life.

Takeda was a master of daito-ryu-aiki-ju-jitsu, a martial art that had originated in the 6th century and had been passed down through the military and perfected by brothers of the Aizu clan, gaining the name of Oshi-Kiuchi, or “striking arts.” The young Ueshiba quickly was intrigued by the fierce demeanor of Takeda and studied under him until 1919.

Upon return to his native Tanabe due to the death of his father, Morihei encountered the charismatic founder of an esoteric belief called Omoto-Kyo - and spent the next six years as a disciple, wandering through Asia. In 1927, Morihei founded the Kobukan school in Tokyo and commenced teaching an amalgam of the martial arts he had learned from his studies Takeda, combined with the knowledge he had learned from Omoto-Kyo.

This new art he called Ueshiba-aiko-bugo. Morihei in time opted for the name aikido. Aikido is a combination of three ideas: Ai meaning harmony, Ki: meaning spirit and Do: meaning way. As with many other disciplines, aikido is viewed not only as a system of self defense, but also as a means of self-cultivation and advancement. Today there are several systems of aikido, but traditional aikido has no tournaments, competitions or contests. Physical strength is not necessary, so age is no impediment. According to its founder, the goal of aikido is not the overcoming of others, but the defeat of the negative characteristics that occupy one’s own mind and inhibit its effective functioning.

Since the primary goal of aikido is harmonization, its focus is neutralizing an aggressor with a throw, joint immobilization that will completely stop them. The prevailing idea is that if you are attacked by force and counter with force, a collision of energies happens which causes disharmony, and accordingly the strongest force wins. If, however, you meet that attacking force with an absorbing movement and move it to the point of imbalance, before applying force of your own, you are in effect, preventing disharmony or redressing an imbalance. This is the basic idea and underlying philosophy of aikido. Young aikido practicioners train in a uniform that matches the standard karate uniform commonly worn today.

In accordance with decision from hombu (headquarters) in Japan, adult students don’t don colored belts while training, however, the kyu (student) grading system is still in effect. It is ok for children to wear colored belts. The kyu grading system begins at 6th-kyu which requires the wearing of a white belt with one red stripe. Children then progress through a number of colored stripes and belts until they reach 1st-kyu. This is the final kyu level before they are ready to try their black belt test (1st dan). When students pass the examination for their 1st dan (shodan), they are entitled to wear a hakama (a divided pleated skirt). This is considered an honor and the grade is recorded at hombu. Students also receive a membership card, an international yudansha record book and a certificate sighed by the founder’s son, Doshu.

Individuals learn aikido for diverse reasons: as a way of becoming physically fit, as self defense or to acquire knowledge of the Japanese culture. It is up to each person to choose which facet of the art to pursue. In addition to the development of strength, stamina and litheness students learn to tap their inner strength to use an energy that is far greater than physical strength alone. And to use this power at will. Breath techniques are learned to facilitate mind and body coordination. Students also come into contact with other Japanese practices such as shiatsu (finger therapy) a form of overall body massage and iaido (Japanese sword drawing). Both of these disciplines are (in harmony with|complementary to} training in aikido and are sometimes taught with one another.