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What is Aikido Aikido is a relatively young martial art, developed in Japan by Morehei Ueshiba (O'Sensei), in the early 1920's. O'Sensei believed that budo (the way of the warrior) should follow the laws of nature, be in harmony with them and serve to protect them. He wanted aikido practitioners to be in harmony with others and become balanced and integrated individuals. "Aikido has been called one of the most subtle and sophisticated of the martial arts, and - at its higher levels - an effective discipline for the development, integration and utilization of all man's powers, physical and mental (spiritual)," (Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere, 2001). Aikido is essentially non-competitive and non-aggressive. The basic principle of aikido is aiki (harmony) when dealing with an attack. The word aikido means "method or way [do] for the Coordination or Harmony[ai] of Mental Energy or Spirit [ki]". The philosophy of Aikido is to teach self development and mind / body coordination. Aikido is a self discipline rather than an imposed discipline, and students are encouraged to develop their skills at their own pace. Aikido practice can be vigorous and it is recognised as a very effective form of self-defence. Ki development is an integral part of our training programme. The word "Ki" is used to describe inner power or spirit, and we recognise it as our primary source of energy. We train to develop and cultivate it to the highest possible level. In itself Ki can be a life-long study. Ki energy is used rather than outright strength and brute force, making aikido very suitable for children, men and women of all ages who prefer a less aggressive approach to martial arts. Aikido Yuishinkai The characters for Yui-Shin show that the Mind is at the core of existence. This way of thinking forms the heart of eastern philosophy, and is also reflected in the words of Plato, Liebniz, Hegel and other Western philosophers. Yuishin originates from the concept that "All beings and phenomena in this world are a transformation of the mind - there is no other existence other than Mind itself. Aikido Yuishinkai was founded by Master Koretoshi Maruyama in 1991. Maruyama Sensei was a full-time professional Aikido instructor under the tutelage of Morihei Ueshiba (O'Sensei), and has taught aikido and Ki principles in Japan and throughout the United States , Europe and Asia-Pacific. He has studied specifically how to heal and help people with Ki and use Ki in daily life. The underlying principle of Aikido is Ki, which is the most fundamental form of energy. Ki can be thought of as a sort of atomic level energy that pervades all things. In eastern philosophy, Ki is defined as an infinite gathering of infinitely small things. Ki is held to be 'inner energy', and while it is possessed by everyone, it is consciously developed by only a few. The closer unity of mind and body seems to come closest to an acceptable Western explanation of this inner strength aikidoists call Ki. Our Motto Words have a power of their own. The power of the spoken word was recognised in ancient Japan as 'kotodama', or word spirit. To speak a word is to encourage it to come true. Your life energy responds to sounds and thoughts, as expressed in the spoken word. When you fill your daily life with positive words and thoughts, your life is filled with the power of Ki. In this way you can keep mentally and physically healthy, and have a positive influence on others as well. Words have real power, and can produce practical results in your life. I am mind itself. If I hold positive thoughts in my mind, good things are likely to happen. Holding negative thoughts in my mind works against my best interests. Therefore, even if my body suffers physically, my mind remains optimistic. Even if I encounter obstacles, my mind is never defeated. Daily I fill my heart with thoughts of joy, gratitude and hope. I face each new day with a bright and optimistic spirit, which I express in word and deed. I have faith in life, and life responds in kind. |