Aikido Training
If you're looking for an environment with positive energy, healthy physical activity, no stress and opportunities for great personal growth then you're in the right place. People around the world enjoy training in Aikido to enrich their life. There are many things that make Aikido a great pursuit. Aikido always attracts quality people who are interested in improving themselves and making the world a better place.
Aikido begins and ends with etiquette, so it's impossible to talk about Aikido without talking about etiquette. Aikido does not simply contain etiquette. That could be said of nearly any formal martial art. Aikido is etiquette. At both the physical and mental level, the practice of Aikido is a matter of conducting oneself properly.
At the beginning and end of each class is a bow between the instructor and students. Before commencing practice there is a bow between partners. The bow is a traditional greeting in Japan just as the handshake is in the west. Both the handshake and the bow arose from martial traditions. In the east, lowering your head signifies humility and trust. In the west, giving your right hand signifies that you are not holding a weapon.
There is always a constant regard for the safety and well being of those with whom we train. Each class begins with stretching and warms-ups to prepare the body. Then there are aiki-taiso exercises that build the principles of basic Aikido movements into the body. These exercises are also good to do at home to balance the mind and body.
Each class begins with basic partner movements that get the body moving in a natural way. Then, techniques are shown by the instructor and practiced in pairs. More experienced students partner with beginning students until they feel comfortable. There is a lot to learn in Aikido so you have to be patient with yourself and just enjoy the experience.
Aikido techniques finish with either a pin where the attack is brought under control or a throw where the attacker is discharged. Many other martial arts practice these kinds of techniques; however, in Aikido the goal is completely different. We are not bringing the person under control so that we can "win," or so that we can punish them. A momentary victory is far too temporary to deserve a lifelong endeavor from a serious martial art student. And we don't throw people down in a way that hurts them. It is completely contrary to the spirit of Aikido to gratuitously injure or punish someone. We are using these techniques in order to end the conflict and instill a compassionate heart within ourselves.
Aikido is based in natural human movement. One only needs to sit, stand and walk, moving the arms and legs in a natural way. Natural movement is not only fundamentally stronger; it helps keep the body healthy and free of injury.
“To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace”
~Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido[1883-1969]
