Aikido Emphasis Grappling, throws and softness Aikido Beliefs The Aikido way is one of harmony or blending and so little physical strength is required.
It also emphasizes the idea of the 'centreline' which goes through the top-centre of one's head, down one's body, equally bisecting it.
The centreline is significant in aikido given that critical areas such as the face, throat, solar plexus and genitals are along the centreline.
Aikido Principles The principle of harmony means that, as opposed to moving into the attacker's force, you move in relation to the approach, possibly around it or even to reroute it around you.
Another principle of Aikido is what I conveniently call the 'principle of illusion'.
An Aikido student would give the attacker the illusion that his move will progress as planned.
Typically therefore the attacker is full of confidence and thus does not hold back.
In some instances over-committing himself which works directly into Aikido's strength.
The Aikido student would then use either entering or turning techniques to blend with his attacker and finish the move with a throw or joint lock technique.
Aikido Stance A great stance and superb balance is vital in Aikido.
The front foot points forward and the back foot about 90 degrees to the front foot forming a triangular stance.
Also weight ought to be distributed along the entire surface of the feet.
The feet being level on the ground to form a sturdy stance.
The Aikido stance serves two primary functions.
Firstly it lessens your target area against an opponent when compared to being square on.
Also it enables easier side step to keep clear of and/or move around a strike.
Note that the back should stay as upright as possible for stability.
Aikido Movement and Foot work The theory in Aikido of gliding and staying considerably more attached to the ground makes it hard to force over and put a practitioner to the ground.
This is successfully done by way of weight distribution mentioned above and mobility coming from the hips rather than the legs or feet.
As mentioned earlier Aikido movement is used to blend in regards to the attacker.
A student can utilize a a number of turning and pivoting motions like the straight line entering technique, circular motion and pivoting movement from which they can be applied to the inside, front, side or rear of the attacker.
There are therefore many different ways of implementing those moves so as to blend with the an attacker's unique approach or movement.
Thus from less than twenty primary moves there are hundreds of different implementations.
Aikido Techniques Defence Aikido self-defence techniques primarily include throws and pins.
First timers initially learn protective techniques before freestyle against several attackers or weapons training is given.
In this subheading I have provided a few basic examples of frequently used throws and pins.
Please note thou the list may seem complex to the untrained (typical of all martial arts styles) but my intentions are to nevertheless try to present a general idea of Aikido techniques.
Technique one: a restrain making use of one hand on the elbow and the other hand near to the wrist, throwing the opponent to the ground.
Technique two: a wrist lock which torques the arm and applies painful nerve tension.
Technique three: a rotational wrist lock that directs upward-spiral pressure through the entire arm, elbow and shoulder.
Technique four: a shoulder restraint a lot like technique one but with both hands clenching the forearm.
The knuckles (via the palm side) can be applied to the assailant's radial nerve on the bone of the forearm.
Technique five: visually much like technique one but an inverted grasp of a wrist, medial rotation of the arm and shoulder, and with downwards force applied to the elbow.
Typical used in blade and various other weaponry take-downs.
Four-direction throw: The hand is folded back beyond the shoulder, thus securing the shoulder joint.
Breath throw: a loosely applied term for several forms of mechanically unrelated techniques, which usually do not use joint locks.
Entering throw: throws where you move into the space of the opponent.
Heaven-and-earth throw: moving forward the practitioner sweeps one hand low ("earth") and the other high ("heaven") to unbalance and topple the assailant.
Hip throw: aikido's unique version of a hip throw.
Figure-ten throw or figure-ten entanglement: a throw which locks the arms against each other.
Rotary throw: the practitioner sweeps the arm back and locks the shoulder joint before applying forwards pressure to throw the assailant.
Newcomers are initially taught standard Aikido holds so as to experience the energy and learn the lines of force of a hold.
Below is a sample of basic grabs: Single-hand grab - one hand grabs one wrist.
Both-hands grab - both of your hands seize one wrist.
Both-hands grab - both your hands seize both wrists.
Shoulder grab - a shoulder grab.
It is sometimes coupled with an overhead strike.
Chest grab - grabbing the (clothing of your) chest.
Counter-Attack Aikido techniques can quite easily cause significant injury to an attacker.
For this reason self-defense without causing critical damage is promoted.
Striking techniques such as blows to the body, rather than self-defensive rotating of joints, strangleholds, grabbing techniques and throws is a controversial topic in Aikido.
A number of Aikido masters argue that Aikido's peaceful intention is lost as soon as strikes are used.
Some masters see no contradiction in utilizing strikes with defense.
Others still, who have also worked hard to maintain the values of Aikido, understand that a seasoned and determined opponent may eventual beat Aikido techniques if there are no use of striking techniques.
It is therefore generally agreed that the use of strikes to protect against a skilled and driven opponent, is the option of last resort.
Below is a list of basic strikes against pressure points.
Front-of-the-head strike - a chop towards the head.
Much more fatal versions of the strike concentrate on the bridge of the nose.
Side-of-the-head strike - a diagonal chop to the side of the head or neck.
Chest thrust - a punch or open palm (traditional used to not necessarily hurt the attacker) at the chest, abdomen and solar plexus.
Face thrust - a punch or open palm to the face, generally under the chin.
Strikes might also be used as feints, to divert or unsettle an opponent before using a different technique.
Aikido Weapons Weapons training in aikido traditionally range from the short staff, wooden sword and knife.
Today some schools integrate firearm-disarming techniques.
Aikido Training You can find both mental and physical training in Aikido that include controlled breathing, meditation, flexibility and workouts that maintain endurance.
As mentioned earlier there is significantly less focus on strength training because pushing and extending movements are used considerably more in Aikido techniques than pulling or contracting routines.
The mental part of Aikido training allows the student the opportunity to relax his mind and body in preparation of combat in different environments.
It is vital that the student has the mental confidence and composure to execute the brave entering and turning moves which underlie the principles of aikido techniques.
A substantial percentage of any aikido training includes throws.
A newcomer will first and foremost learn how to carefully fall or roll.
Once mastered he can form teams with a partner to participate in pre-arranged forms viewed as vital to aikido training.
During these forms the opponent discovers how to blend with and control attacking energy and place the receiver/defender in off-balancing positions.
While the receiver/defender of the technique discovers how to remain relaxed and flexible to regain balance, cover weaknesses and pin or throw the attacker.
The purpose of the pre-arranged forms is to learn to conceptualize space and motion relative to each other.
As a student advances, freestyle training against several attackers are carry-out.
Aikido Katas & Forms Kata training is not utilized as the main training method, instead kata training exists side-by-side with free-style training.
Kata's are also used to learn and demonstrate techniques that are not safe to be practiced in freestyle training.
Aikido Grading Aikido students generally advance through a number of up to seven degrees (dan) each acquired through a number of up to five "grades".
Some aikido providers make use of belts to tell apart pupil grades and usually just black and white belts distinguish lower and higher grades.
Some classes use more belt colors.
Aikido Criticism A common criticism of Aikido is that the freestyle training seems staged.
The counter argument is that the attackers being thrown are trained to employ a strategy of enabling themselves to get thrown to prevent injury.
Resisting Aikido throws, which an untrained opponent would do, rather than moving along with it could potentially cause serious muscle or bone damage.
Comparable Styles Jujutsu