Aikido
is a highly effective martial art and is practiced in many different countries
around the world. A relatively new martial art in traditional terms, it has
its roots in the Japanese fighting arts of Jujitsu (a soft form of unarmed fighting)
Kenjutsu, (the art of fighting with a Japanese Sword: Katana) and Sojutsu (traditional
spear fighting).
Aikido has been taught to the Japanese police force for many years and indeed, many of the restraint techniques taught by police forces around the world, use Aikido.
Aikido's effective pins and throws are highly powerful and potentially lethal, which is why our training is engaged mutually, with both attacker (Uke) and defender (Tori) being aware of and reactive to the attack and the subsequent technique.
This is one reason why Aikido does not well lend itself to competition as 'fighting',
is not what we do together.
We train together, and by doing so, we condition our bodies to react and respond
quickly and with an effectiveness to thwart any potential attacker you may have
the misfortune to encounter.
Many Aikido movements are circular (although sometimes so small that it is not obviously visible) and soft so as not to prompt a trial of strength. The 'Art' in this method of body movement means that physical strength is not a requirement in becoming proficient in Aikido. Because of this it is a very popular martial art for all ages and for both sexes.
Aikido is also one of the few martial arts that deals with multiple attackers and also of training with traditional fighting weapons of Bokan, (a wooden practice Japanese sword) Jo (a wooden staff) and Tanto (a wooden knife). Many practical defences relevant today can be interpreted from these methods of training we use).