• Aikido Rolling Technique

    Aikido, Aikido techniques, Self Defense 18.02.2012 No Comments

    The martial art is founded on the idea of using life energy or the energy flowing within oneself to perform a blend of movements that will take down an opponent without injuring him. In short, it’s more on a defensive kind of art rather than an offensive one. In Aikido, there are various techniques which are taught to practitioners and students and one of these is the aikido rolling technique.

    Aikido practitioners should know initially on how to fall and roll appropriately and in fact, just by knowing the technique will serve as a starting point towards mastering hundreds to thousands of techniques written in the history of the martial art.

    How to Start Aikido Rolling Technique

    1. Commence in a sitting position just like an Indian sitting style. So, one of your feet should come up in the thigh while the other one come out and toes are pointed out. This position will prevent your feet being locked and stuck at times you need to defend yourself. Specifically, if someone hits or pushes you, the ability to move easily is possible with this kind of sitting.
    2. The first principle of the rolling technique is to stay in the sitting position to help you fall correctly while keeping you safe from any injury.
    3. Afterwards, you need to roll back while letting your feet come about.
    4. Extend your hands for support while keeping your cheek, neck and chin in place and lock.
    5. Try to create as many bends as possible back and forth. Keep this more softly and calm because this will help you perform the technique correctly.

    However, while doing the rolling movement can somehow put extra resistance with mild pain sensation at the back of the body.

    Overall, it is recommended to practice it in a therapeutic way rather than learning the aikido rolling technique solely to keep you from getting injuries while falling in the ground.

    To fully grasp on how to perform the technique correctly and precisely view the video above.

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  • Aikido: Various Weapons and Techniques

    Aikido, Aikido techniques, Self Defense 16.02.2012 No Comments

    Despite the fact that this martial art is founded on the main philosophy of Morihei Ueshiba (founder) which is the essence of unarmed combat, he still sees the need of being skillful in using various Aikido weapons and techniques as a form of self defense.

    Generally, majority of the techniques with or without using weapons are incorporated with movements that are more defensive rather than offensive. In fact, all students are being taught about stopping the attacker solely rather than injuring him. This is the main reason on why weapons are rarely utilized in the martial art. However, there are advanced Aikido practitioners who still opt for understanding and mastering the craft in using all types of Aikido weapons.

    However, the greatest weapon most practitioners used in defending themselves against an attacker is merely their mastery on the Aikido defensive techniques.

    To get in touch with several weapons used in the martial art along with various techniques used in handling them are described below.

    1. Tanto Or Short Sword

    The Tanto is one of the most favored weapons by the samurais since it’s extremely useful in close quarter combat particularly in daggering through an opponent’s armor and it’s considered as a secondary weapon which samurais carry most of the time.

    1. Jo Staff

    The Jo Staff is considered as a Japanese wooden staff made from hardwood. This can be utilized in kata or along with other Jo and somehow has historical linkage from the famous Katana. Moreover, Jo Staffs are mainly used by a lot of martial artists because these are designed with simplicity and sophistication. In fact, Ueshiba had tailored the Jo (so-called Aikijo) just to teach all the Aikido principles to his disciples.

    1. Bokken Sword

    Finally, the bokken sword mastery can lead most practitioners towards katana mastery as well. This is quite a pricey Japanese wooden sword which is use as an alternative from a real sword in most martial arts training curriculums such as Kenjutsu, Kendo, and our very own Aikido.

    Likewise, a bokken sword closely resembles a katana but sometimes can be like other swords such as tanto or wakizashi.

    These are a few of the most popular Aikido weapons to date but there are in fact, a lot more to know about all the weapons used in this martial art so better research more on this matter to fully equipped yourself with all the needed information you wish to know.

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  • Intermediate Aikido Technique: Munetsuki

    Aikido, Aikido techniques, Self Defense 14.02.2012 No Comments

    In Aikido martial arts, students are taught with various intermediate techniques for striking an opponent or attacker. These are used as a mere self defense only since the martial art is all about using unifying life energy to defend yourself while avoiding your attacker from getting injured. Munetsuki Kotegaishi is one of those intermediate striking techniques that should be learned by any student or practitioner.

    The technique is simply known as a straight body punch and anyone can do the punching but the most common error for most aikido practitioners is that they don’t know much on how to strike soundly. You can see that a lot of practitioners in this martial art only use Munetsuki as a simple punch in hitting the opponent which is in fact, not a very good strategy if you based it on a real fighting situation.

    During a real fight, when the attacker pushes you back and you need to hit your attacker simply by using the ordinary punch, your opponent might laugh at you instead. So in this case, when your attacker pushes you back you need to hit him in return with an extraordinary punch immediately. However, during an intermediate aikido striking, begin with the basic stance which is stepping and punching but not purely punching only but rather punching right through the person with force and afterwards perform various forms of punches such as upward punches, hook punches, upper cut punches so on and forth.

    Remember that Munetsuki in aikidois simply performed by striking or hitting the center part of the abdomen. In doing the technique, it is crucial that you know how and where to hit the attacker to cause the maximum blow. If you’re going to hit your opponent in the middle section, hit the pressure point found primarily below the nipple line on the rib cage. Likewise, another pressure point perfect for striking is found below the xiphoid process.

    Finally, students in the aikido martial arts are taught by the instructors with three good body sections or pressure points to perform effectively the Munetsuki striking technique particularly in times where you need to defend yourself against the attacker.

     

     

     

     

     

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  • The Kids and Aikido Martial Art

    Aikido, Self Defense 03.02.2012 No Comments

    Aikido is one of the famous Japanese martial arts that basically utilize joint lock manipulation technique in order to maneuver an enemy thereby, protecting you from any harm attacks.

    However, this martial art is not only for the grown-ups but also excellent for young children. Engaging the children in any martial art will help them learn many good things such as self-defense, self-discipline, camaraderie because they have the chance to meet other children, and self confidence as well. As parents, you are securing the future of your child to become a better person if you allow him to enjoy in an Aikido martial artcurriculum.

    Aikido is Fun!

    This martial art can able to motivate or encourage young children to pursue in learning and practicing Aikido because an expert instructor uses story-telling and Zen Buddhism techniques to catch the student’s attention and eventually turns spoiled brats into  well-discipline martial artists.

    Way of Teaching

    It’s not easy for the kids to stay still for a long period of time and since Aikido martial art follows the way of peace and harmony, instructors should first teach the meditation technique along with a “zaisa” sitting position.

    Instructors usually give easy to comprehend instructions while simultaneously allowing the students to both understand and make them yearn that they like what they do. Basically, most students want to pursue this martial art seriously because they have enjoyed the curriculum. Instructors usually exaggerate each lesson like telling a story about ninjas and samurais so they’ll feel that somehow they’re part on the early tradition where they have actually exist.

    Important Terms to Remember

    1. Saiza

    It is a kind of sitting position where you are allowed to meditate for a span of time. This permits a martial artist to sharpen his/her mind while keeping him/her focus in times of applying martial arts technique.

    1. Mokso

    Alternatively, this allows martial artists to close their eyes while emptying their minds from any thoughts so both of their mind and body are able to focus well.

    Instructors also permit the students to scream during their training. This is to allow them to express themselves in a much positive and organize way.

    For parents who want to help their children protect themselves against any instances where their lives are threatened, allowing them to learn any martial art like an Aikido martial art will aid them to achieve something better. Thus, it’s also one way of teaching them the way of life.

     

     

     

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  • Engaging Aikido Martial Art Even at the Age of Fifty

    Aikido, Self Defense 02.02.2012 No Comments

    Practicing and learning Aikido martial art even at the age of fifty isn’t a bad idea after all. One review talks about a fifty year old person who signed up for an Aikido curriculum where the expert master said that it’s pretty uncommon for someone like him at his age to be that kind of eager to learn the martial art philosophy while practicing it all together.

    On the positive viewpoint, beginning to learn a martial art like this for older people can help them in learning how to fall in a nice way. In the medical aspect, an aged person who experiences falling can sometimes threaten his wellbeing because it is a normal process for the bones to become fragile as we go older but an Aikido routine can help them in becoming less susceptible with having faster fragile bones.

    For those who aren’t yet familiar with the basic concept of Aikido, this can be explain in one sentence which is a martial art that focuses both on teaching self-defense while letting the practitioners follow the art of harmony.

    To elaborate, Aikido martial art does not concentrate on hurting your opponent or attacker but rather allowing you to use special techniques to bring him down into the ground to protect you from any attack. You are to use a center force with a calm mind and body so the energy flowing in your system (“Ki”) can be appropriately utilized.

    For those who are over fifty years old who seem to like in learning martial arts similar to this, it’s not too late for you guys provided that you still have good physical and mental condition. This way, you can become energetic and healthy while taking away your inactive lifestyle. Moreover, you’ll find peace not only in mind but in your heart also because this teaches you the concept of serenity.

    If you’re too inquisitive on the way of Aikido martial art, then you should start studying and practicing this discipline if you can for a healthier and livelier lifestyle.

     

     

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  • Aikido Samurai Sword

    Aikido, Self Defense 31.01.2012 No Comments

    The Aikido is a martial art that focuses on the spiritual and philosophical growth of oneself. However, students are taught to use two forms of combat and self-defense, both the armed and unarmed forms. For the unarme
    Among the sword arts, katana (Aikido samurai sword) is generally used in most of the Aikido trainings. To fully understand, you need to know about all its parts so you can use it effectively during most of your sword trainings.d

     

    form, they are taught an array of throws, strikes, and joint-lock methods while the armed form involves the use of various weapons such as the Aikido sword, staff (jo), and knife (tanto).

    1)      Back- The katana’s back portion is usually used to block the opponent’s weapon.

    2)     Blade- It is the length of the steel that outlines the structure of the sword and usually has a size between 10-12 inches.

    3)     Edge- This is called the Kisaki; Ki means to cut and saki means tip; this is the sharp section of the blade.

    4)     Hand guards- This is called the Tsuba and can be found in between the blade and the handle portion.  Usually, the style is simple and plain but sometimes the design is attractive.

    5)     Handle- This is called the Tsuka; it is made from a shark’s fin and serves as the inner section of the handle and responsible for providing a strong grip.

    6)     Lower end of the blade- This part is use for striking and usually called as Tsuka Kashida where kashida is the head and Tsuka is the handle.

    7)     Saya- This is called the scabbard or the sword case and it’s made from a wood.

    8)    Sage-o- This is called a hanging board, a piece of fabric or rope which aids in connecting it to your belt.

    The Aikido sword has the utmost influence in developing Aikido weapon techniques particularly when it comes to self-defense since it is inevitable that your attackers might be carrying several weapons.

    So, better familiarize all parts of the Katana to help you in incorporating the sword techniques during trainings, competitions or during unexpected situations where you need to defend yourself.

     

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  • Aikido and its Philosophy

    Aikido, Self Defense 17.01.2012 No Comments

    aikidoAikido is one of the highest growing and recently established major martial arts around the world. It is both a philosophical and a modern martial art where many people are captivated to understand the aikido philosophy and to practice it simultaneously as a way of life.

    However, each individual who wishes to learn and practice Aikido should above all, understand heartily the very foundation of the martial art which its name translates as the way of harmony. Basically, this is non-competitive Japanese martial arts wherein it doesn’t teach about punching and kicking techniques as a form of self-defense.

    Instead, aikido philosophy is based upon the notion of using a mixture of entering, blending, and turning techniques to permit an individual who’s being assaulted to scrutinize the situation from the attacker’s point of view prior to the execution of the most suitable Aikido techniques.

    Who is the founder?Morihei Ueshiba

    Morihei Ueshiba was a flimsy and sickly child who didn’t even know that he will become known someday as the O’Sensei or the great teacher of aikido martial art. For years, he dedicated himself on sword trainings and even practiced hand-to-hand combat techniques. At the age of 42, this greatly changed not only his life but the whole martial arts as well.

    At some point in time, Monihero Saito Sensei became a living student of O’Sensei for almost 23 years and this led him to create a teaching system called Iwama style aikido. This system is rooted on the aikido philosophy in which the body is being used in order to teach the mind to attack with the use of both traditional Japanese wooden weapons and empty-handed techniques to develop basic knowledge, talents, and centeredness (goal-oriented).

    Relevance of Practicing Aikido:

    Practicing this type of martial art is rooted upon a dynamic aikido philosophy that focuses entirely on the notion of peace, harmony, and spiritual power. This idea is very crucial in keeping a sense of balance, prudence, and centeredness during a life predicament or unexpected event thereby, reducing anxiety, stress, and pain to produce more positive results in an individual’s physical, social, emotional and spiritual aspects.

    Hence, aikido isn’t about changing others but it’s about helping yourself to change into a better person.

    Check out this video to fully grasp the real essence of Aikido.

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  • Want to Earn an Aikido Belt?

    Aikido, Self Defense 16.01.2012 No Comments

    aikido beltsAikido belt is like a token for being a diligent Aikido practitioner and it is a sign of prestige for studying this martial art for long years.

    Acquiring an Aikido belt entails lots of enthusiasm, strong will, and flexibility because a martial art similar to this is merely different from the rest of the mix martial arts. It focuses more on inner peace and harmony and limits on inflicting pain and harm against other individual. It is more on the aspect of self-defense rather than on the aspect of combat.

    • If you want to study Aikido you need to find expert masters to teach you about its specific skills and techniques. You can actually locate them once you consider some prestige schools which have good credentials and good way of teaching.

    • To master all most of the techniques, you need to dedicate yourself in practicing like three to four times every week. You don’t need to practice everyday because some students may have a tendency to have short-lived determination if they worn out too much in doing practices.

    • Another way to earn a prestige belt is to perform relaxation technique since this aikido beltsport/martial art doesn’t necessitate an individual to exert a lot of physical exertion. The concept lies on having harmony both in mind and body so in return you can execute properly the techniques needed for passing the curriculum.

    • Once you study this curriculum, you must be aware of the different rankings of the students in relation with the school policy which you can eventually see on the belts they’re wearing. However, the conventional schools that teach this kind of martial art have only two belt colors, white and black belts. The former is for beginners and the latter is for the skillful students who manage to pass the tests.

    If you want to earn your Aikido belt, you need to work hard on it for over a period of three years or more. By having devotion, patience and positive sense of wellbeing, you can gain it but still depends on your knowledge and skills.

     

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  • How to Learn Aikido Martial Art

    Aikido, Self Defense 22.12.2011 No Comments

    How to Learn Aikido Martial Art

    martial artLearning a martial art like Aikido is not so difficult after all if you have the will power, passion, and open-mindedness to simply grasp its main concept which is the essence of self defense while having the notion of spiritual harmony. Rather than making your attacker get hurt, all you need to do to protect yourself is by learning some techniques to let him lose his balance.

    This martial art isn’t about performing combat but instead teaches the practitioner on the idea of peace and unity both in the body and mind. With this, you would learn the first concept from the three kanji which is “Ai” (the spirit of harmony).

    Here are tips to follow to learn further about Aikido, the martial art:

    1. Initially, you need to understand heartily its philosophy and long history timeline because this will help you grasp deeply the important elements you need in studying techniques in this martial art.
    2. Ensure to have better health and sense of relaxation since both of these will help you get through in most series of techniques. This time you’ll learn the second concept which is “Ki” (talks about energy flowing within us).
    3. In relation with number two, locate your physical and mental axis since a relaxed body and mind can help your energy flow smoothly. In this martial art. it is needed during your movements. Hara is a term called for strong “Ki” so better focus but try to relax more.
    4. Don’t limit your ability in Aikido, the martial art. Instead use every speck of it. It is a matter of going beyond your limit to learn it not just physically and mentally but heartily as well.aikido martial art
    5. Remember that Aikido uses a cycle of holds and throws but is limited in making your opponent get injured. Most techniques are used by the entire body in a round motion while using a center force. This time you’re practicing the remaining kanji Dō (a path leading to a passive martial art).

    Learn more about Aikido, the peaceful martial art, in the video below:

    Learning is a continuous process, so never stop learning if you’re into Aikido because this way you’ll surely master the peaceful martial art.

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  • Self Defense and Inner Peace

    Self Defense 21.12.2011 1 Comment

    Self Defense and Inner Peace with Aikido Martial Arts

    self defense

    Finding the right martial art for you is essential if you want to learn some concepts of self defense which to some extent supports your personality. Well, there are various selections of martial arts out there but if you’re interested in learning self defense while finding inner peace both for your body and mind, Aikido is the perfect choice for you. Below is an overview that you need to remember before deciding to practice this type of martial art.

    Aikido is a Japanese martial art introduced by Morihei Ueshiba around the 1920s. What sets it apart from other forms of self defense techniques is its expression of unifying life energy which in fact, in connivance with Ueshiba’s philosophy of peace and understanding where you can defend yourself while preventing your attacker from getting hurt.

    The principle centers on unification with the movements of attacker for manipulating their actions with limited effort. This is one perceptive way of finding out the intention while blending with the rhythmic movement of your attacker. So in response you can find the right technique and timing for your counter-technique which is very comparable with the concept of Jigoro Kano, creator of Judo, another form of martial art which is self defense driven.

    Check out this video on Aikido self defense:

    Most of Japanese martial arts demand that you should undergo both physical and mental aspect training. However, when you undergo the Aikido curriculum, the physical training actually varies including general physical fitness, the essence of conditioning, and several specific techniques. This revolves around on the fusion of controlled flexibility, relaxation, and endurance but do not highlight more on vigor training. All these are very important factors when considering self defense and how to disarm an attacker.

    Aikido self defenseNowadays, Aikido is introduced worldwide consisting of numerous styles but with a wide array of emphasis and analysis. You must understand that learning this martial art don’t necessitate a person to become an offensive practitioner, rather it is self defense focused. The initial step in understanding its essence and approach is highlighted on its three kanji: Ai (suggests an expression of unity), Ki (suggests an expression of feeling, self-confidence, energy), and Dō (a notion of pathway that bonds with philosophical concept of “Tao” like the view of Judo and Kendo but more on a non-violent martial art).

    As you study Aikido you will become very adept in self defense and how to overcome an attacker.

     

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