Basic Aikido Weaponry
Aikido's martial arts emphasis is on the spiritual and philosophical development of one's self. The word "Aikido" basically means "The Way of Harmony with the Spirit." It is the study of the natural laws and how they harmonize with the mind and body.
Aikido is encompassing. You will be taught to use both armed and unarmed forms of combat and self defense. For unarmed attacks, you have at your disposal a variety of throws, strikes, joint-lock techniques, vital points and even the "mystery attacks" wherein you act upon the opponent without laying a hand on him or her. Meanwhile, armed attacks involve the use of every kind of weapon imaginable. From swords to knives, from sticks to spears, practically everything can be utilized in Aikido as a weapon.
While almost any object can be a weapon, most Aikido classes limit training to the exclusive use of the jo or staff, tanto or knife and the bokken or sword. These three serve as the main weapons used in Aikido. When one thinks abut Aikido it is usually the unarmed forms and techniques of this martial art that comes to mind. But there are a couple of reasons why weapons are studied in Aikido classes and training sessions. The found oif Aikido was a Master of the Jo. And any training with weapons offeres another way to reinforce the basic techniques of Aikido.
"Peace originates with the flow of things - its heart is like the movement of the wind and waves. The Way is like the veins that circulate blood through our bodies, following the natural flow of the life force. If you are seperated in the slightest from that divine essence, you are far off the path."
from the Art of Peace by Morihei Ueshiba.
Aikido was founded by Morihei Ueshiba. Known to his students and Aikido practitioners as O Sensei, "The Great Teacher", Ueshiba was particularly skilled with the staff. He was able to integrate weapon strategies with basic Aikido movements.
Through weapons training, an Aikido practitioner will be able to measure the distance between attacks which is equally valuable in unarmed combat. The material aspect of a sword or a staff in itself creates a physical distance and the student should take advantage of that. Called ma-ai, the proper distancing is very important in timing an attack and defending against one. Another reason weapons training occurs in Aikido, is that in the real world, an enemy may use all kinds of weapons. In advanced Aikido techniques the student will learn to defend against people bearing all sorts of weapons.
In order to practice each advanced moves safely, Aikido practitioners needed to be familiar with each weapons' capabilities. Therefore, with Aikido weapons training, one will be able to develop his skills, intuitiveness and reflexes in both attacking and defending movements.
Among the multitude of weapons out there, the sword has been the most influential on the development stages of Aikido techniques. One of the blades used in Aikido weapons training is the katana - the single edged, slightly curved sword famous throughout the world as the sword of the samurai. In Aikido weapons training, you will also be taught to handle, hold, fight and defend using the tanto which in actuality is a knife or a short blade. The tanto was also extremely popular amongst the men and women who lived by the samurai code in the past. Samurais, back then, also had the wakizashi swords at their disposal. Wakizashi are usually two feet long and are paired with the katana.
A third bladed weapon used in Aikido weapons training is the ninja-to. The ninja-to are swords used by those mysterious ninjas.
The jo, meanwhile, is a four-foot long wooden staff used not only in Aikido, but by other martial arts as well, not to mention the use of the staff by Robin Hood and Little John... When Aikido techniques are fused with jo, the principle is called aiki-jo.
The main purpose of the using weapons in Aikido is not just to defend yourself from an actual attack, but as another means of conquering yourself.
The author, Scott Harker, is the publisher of websites about Coin Collector's Dream, Solar Energy, Survey Taking, Humor, Wine and Hybrid Cars.
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Fundamentals Of Aikido
The Beginnings Of Aikido
Using Aikido Moves In Practice Or In Combat
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Weapons In Aikido
The Dynamics Of Aikido's Techniques
A Basic Guide To Aikido
Practicing The Art Of Peace
Using Aikido In Combat
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Aikido In Everyday Life
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