What is Aikido?

Masakatsu agatsu (True victory is victory over oneself, every day.)

O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba

Aikido is a martial art based on a system of locks, throws, and strikes combined with traditional Japanese swordsmanship utilizing sword, staff, and knife. It was codified by Morihei Ueshiba in the early 20th century. The goal of Aikido is to defend against an attacker without the necessity of causing them harm.

Aikido translates loosely as "The Way of Harmony with Ki" (合気道):

  • Ai (合) - harmony, unification
  • Ki (気) - life energy, spirit
  • Do (道) - way, path

Four Fundamental Principles of Aikido

Toyoda sigil — 4 principles

In our lineage, deriving from the teachings of Shihan Fumio Toyoda, we place particular emphasis on the Four Fundamental Principles, which are the foundation of all practice:

1. Keep One Point (Seika no Itten - 臍下一点)

Keep One Point - Focus your attention on the point located approximately 5 cm below the navel (hara, tanden). This is the physical and mental center of our body. When we are concentrated on this point, our energy is stable and unified.

Practice: In every technique, in every movement, awareness should remain in the center. Do not allow attention to wander to the limbs or head.

2. Relax Completely (Kanzen ni Rirakkusu - 完全にリラックス)

Relax Completely - True strength does not come from muscle tension, but from relaxation and natural energy flow. A relaxed body can react faster and more effectively than a tense one.

Practice: Allow gravity to work naturally. Hold only as much tension as needed to maintain posture - nothing more. Breathe naturally and deeply.

3. Keep Weight Underside (Omosa o Shitagawa ni Tamotsu - 重みを下側に保つ)

Keep Weight Underside - Energy should flow downward, into the earth, not rise upward. Strong roots allow a tree to weather a storm. Similarly, when our weight is settled low, we are stable and firmly rooted.

Practice: Imagine your energy flowing through your feet deep into the earth. Knees slightly bent, hips relaxed, body weight evenly distributed.

4. Extend Ki (Ki o Dashite - 気を出して)

Extend Ki - Energy does not end at our skin, but extends beyond the body into infinity. When we extend Ki, we become one with our surroundings and partner. Techniques become natural and effortless.

Practice: Imagine a stream of light or water flowing from your fingers far beyond your body. Do not pull energy back - always direct it forward, toward the goal.

What is Do (道) - The Way?

The Way is not a goal, but a process. It is daily self-improvement, step by step. The path to self-perfection, earning a black belt, learning techniques, folding hakama, consistency, humility. And simultaneously - a path without a goal. A path being the effort undertaken every day to become better. A path to achieving harmony.

In Japanese tradition, -do (way) signifies that the art is something more than just a collection of techniques. It is a way of life, a path of spiritual development. Similarly to Chado (Way of Tea), Shodo (Way of Calligraphy), or Kendo (Way of the Sword) - Aikido is a lifelong path.

What is Aiki (合気) - Harmony?

Harmony is balance, equilibrium, acceptance of oneself and pushing forward toward new goals, efforts to be even better, calm, ready, balanced. It is appreciating one's own life every day and respecting the lives of others. Fluid body movements during kata execution. Being in accord with oneself.

Aiki is not only harmony as calmness, but harmony as unification - connecting one's own energy with the partner's energy, guiding their attack in a safe direction. It is the art of leading, not resisting. As O-Sensei said: "True budo is learning to accept attacks with gratitude."

What is Ki (気)?

In traditional Japanese beliefs, this is spiritual power, life energy permeating everything. In the human body, it concentrates in the hara (tanden) - the lower abdomen, approximately 5 cm below the navel.

Ki manifests in many aspects of practice:

  • Physically: Center of gravity, balance, stability during technique execution
  • Breath: Even, deep breathing during randori and training (kokyu)
  • Timing: Perfect sense of the moment when a technique becomes natural
  • Kiai: A shout originating from hara, expressing fullness of energy
  • Calmness: Unshakable presence of mind during threat (fudoshin)
  • Practice: Daily meditation (misogi), breathing exercises (kokyu-ho)
  • Energy: The force that drives us forward every day

Masakatsu Agatsu - True Victory

"Masakatsu Agatsu Katsuhayabi" (正勝吾勝勝速日) - "True victory is victory over oneself"

O-Sensei's most famous saying constitutes the heart of Aikido philosophy. It is not about defeating an external enemy, but about overcoming one's own weaknesses, fears, ego. Every training session is an opportunity for confrontation with oneself - with one's physical, mental, and spiritual limitations.

The true warrior does not seek conflict, but perfects oneself. And when they must face conflict, they do so with harmony and compassion, not aggression.

Shugyo - Austere Training

Aikido is shugyo - austere, systematic training of oneself, both physically and mentally. It is a practice that requires perseverance, humility, and dedication. There are no shortcuts on the path to mastery.

Every bow, every fall, every technique repeated hundreds of times - all of this constitutes shugyo. It is not only exercise of the body, but purification of the spirit, forging of character, building of indomitable will.

"A day without training is a day wasted. Aikido must be practiced every day to become a true part of ourselves."

Shihan Fumio Toyoda