Aikido Philosophy
"Aikido is not simply the cultivation of skills for defeating opponents; rather, it is training in how to become one with those opposing you and, in that unity, find paths of mutual coexistence. Therefore, as your technique takes effect, you should already be in a state of oneness with your opponent."
~Shoji Nishio, Shihan
The word Aikido is made of three kanji (Japanese characters). "Ai" means harmony, "ki" means spirit or power and "do" means path. Put together they describe a path toward spiritual harmony between people as well as within the individual.
The central philosophy of Aikido is that human beings must learn to accept one another and that each of us must be an agent for peace in the world. To “aiki” with another person is to transform a moment of tension and conflict into a state of oneness. Achieving harmony is not a passive endeavor. It takes a special kind of courage, effort and perseverance. It requires that we delve beneath the level of external conflicts and find our common bond of humanity. Only when this lesson is understood and practiced can we hope to achieve peace in our own lives and in the world.
This is why there is no competition in Aikido. Competition is not an inherently bad thing, but the goals of aikido are in many ways the opposite of competition. Personal glory and momentary victories must give way to the bigger purpose of polishing the spirit and making a better world.