Helena Aikido

Aikido is a non-competitive, strictly self-defensive, Japanese martial art. It is considered a modern Japanese “budo” – a martial way of self-refinement and character development. “Aikido” literally means Way (Do) to Harmony (Ai) with the Life Force or Universal Energy (Ki). Characterized as the active art of non-resistance and reconciliation, aikido employs highly refined flowing physical moveme

nts that mediate physical conflict in non-harmful ways. In aikido, an aggressor’s power is accepted and redirected towards a natural resolution. Aikido is practiced as repetitive movements of pre-set forms, or “kata”. Kata is done using various levels of physical movements, breath and energetic actions. First step in practice is to unify one’s own body -- learn coordination. The next step is to cultivate a connection of oneself to one’s partner – learn harmony. Through the natural flow of physical movements, aikido reveals its complexity and our connection with universal principles of energy and life. Although martially oriented, aikido’s essence is not about fighting. The repetitive and meaningful partner practice teaches one about emptiness and vanity of winning by physical destruction. The flowing aiki movements train a powerful alternate to conflict. After many years of diligent, mindful practice, one comes to grip with the underlying principle of aikido, that is, to “stop fighting.”

Aikido encourages life-long training of “self” for self mastery. The goal is not to win or overcome your opponent, but to eliminate the psychological need to fight, on the mat, and in life. Aikido is a living martial art, and hundreds of thousands of active aikido students train throughout the world.