Who and why should be engaged in aikido - the martial art of peaceful warriors

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

A life hacker will help you choose a direction and prepare for classes.

What is Aikido

It is a martial art created in the early 20th century by Morihei Ueshiba.

The philosophy of aikido includes the desire for peace and unity, so all techniques are aimed primarily at protecting against attack.

Aikido is multifaceted. It is difficult to name one single main idea. Many will say that this is the use of the enemy's strength against himself. I will say that this is being in harmony with yourself and the world around you. If someone tries to break this harmony, then it should be restored as soon as possible.

Initially, there was no competition in aikido. After the death of Morihei Ueshiba, the martial art was divided into several directions, and in some, including those laid down by the direct students of the founder, tournaments began to be held.

But in any direction - with or without competition - the student (aikidoka) periodically passes the certification.

Ivan Egorov

The certification commission checks the skills: they name the attack and the technique and watch how this or that handing over all this. The higher the declared degree, the more powerful the attacks, the more techniques and the higher their difficulty. Up to protection against four armed attackers in the fourth dan exam.

Why practice aikido

There are at least five reasons to choose this martial art for yourself or your child.

1. Teaches effective self-defense

Aikido techniques are great for self-defense in real life. They help to deal with a stronger opponent or multiple attackers and do it in no time.

Ivan Egorov

Aikido techniques include strikes, throws, and painful holds. At the same time, they are aimed, as a rule, on the most vulnerable parts of the body: eyes, fingers, wrists, groin. The combination of techniques allows you to feel confident in almost any situation.

In aikidoka classes, he learns to shift his center of gravity during an attack in such a way as to neutralize the enemy without much physical effort.

This type of martial arts has a lot of smooth circular motions that allow you to redirect the force of the attack - to use the inertia of the opponent's blow to unbalance him and force him to stop fighting.

However, aikido is not only about fluid movements: techniques include both sharp strikes and elements with the use of force. Ivan Egorov claims that everything depends on the situation - you learn to apply what will be most effective.

2. Helps you better control yourself

In aikido, there is a strong desire for inner harmony, and even in those areas where open fights and tournaments are held, anger is not used as a motivation.

Aikido training does not increase,, aggressiveness and does not decrease self-control in conflict situations.

On the contrary, training helps to behave more calmly, teaches, to reckon with other people's interests and not to stick out your own "I".

This feature of aikido is good for children. Younger students have fewer behavioral and physical aggression problems than taiboxers and kickboxers of their age.

3. Improves balance, coordination and mobility

In aikido, a lot of attention is paid to a stable body position. Aikidoka must learn to feel his center of gravity and position his arms, legs and hips in such a way as to maintain balance and move freely.

In the classroom, they also teach how to fall correctly so as not to be injured during the execution of the throws.

By practicing strikes, grips and throws, aikido also improves the mobility of the upper limbs and coordination, teaches precise verified movements and increases the speed of reaction.

All these skills reduce the risk of injury in everyday life - you will be able to maintain balance by slipping on a wet floor or ice, and if you do fall, you will do it so that there is no emergency room.

4. Increases concentration and awareness

Due to the need to perform clear movements and track the position of the body, aikido pumps, the ability to concentrate on tasks.

Regular practice also increases awareness - the ability to be in the present moment without leaving your thoughts. And the more experienced aikidoka, the more vividly this effect is manifested.

Mindfulness, in turn, is a guarantee of psychological well-being and comfort, the ability to control your emotions and behavior well.

5. Suitable for all ages and skill levels

Aikido does not include heavy cardio or strength loads - half of the training takes place at a low heart rate, and the intensity of the lesson depends on the level of the student.

Due to its mild effect on the body, aikido is perfect for people of any age: it helps to gain the necessary norm of physical activity for health, improves,, motor and cognitive efficiency in the elderly and contributes to the formation of good posture, in children.

Who is not allowed to practice aikido

Despite the mild effect on the body, there are a number of disorders in which it is contraindicated to practice this type of martial arts.

Ivan Egorov warns that before attending classes, you should consult a doctor if you have the following conditions:

• acute and chronic diseases in the acute stage;
• pathology of physical development;
• neuropsychiatric diseases, trauma to the central and peripheral nervous system;
• diseases of internal organs;
• surgical diseases;
• traumas and diseases of ENT organs;
• skin and venereal diseases;
• infectious diseases;
• tuberculosis;
• HIV.

If you have any of the above, get your doctor's permission before signing up for your first lesson and tell the coach about your condition.

How to choose the direction of aikido

Aikido has quite a few branches, which differ in the severity of combat, techniques and the presence of competition. If there are several schools in your city, be guided by your goals.

Classical Aikido

If you want to practice classical aikido, choose the Aikikai direction. This school was created by the son of the founder of aikido, Kisshomaru Ueshiba, who adapted his father's techniques, creating a clear teaching system for different levels of training.

Aikikai does not include competitions, only workshops with experienced masters.

Tough techniques for effective defense

If effective fighting techniques are a priority, choose Yoshinkan Aikido, Ten Shin Aikido, or Real Aikido.

Yoshinkan Aikido was founded by Morihei Ueshiba's student Gozo Shiodo and was used to train police and military personnel in Japan. It includes self-defense techniques and many rigorous counting movements.

Teng Shin Aikido was founded by Steven Seagal, an actor and martial artist. This form is based on the pre-war harsh aikido techniques, and the emphasis is on the effectiveness of techniques in real life, for example, for self-defense against attacks on the streets.

Real aikido was created by the Serbian martial arts master Lubomir Vracarevic. In this style, there is less philosophy, more physical activity and attention to protection in a domestic environment, both from unarmed opponents and from those armed with a knife or pistol.

Participation in competitions

If this aspect is important to you, choose Tomiki Aikido, Universal Aikido or Real Aikido.

Tomiki Aikido was founded by Kenji Tomiki, a student of Morihei Ueshiba and a judo master. This style was taught in Japanese universities and was complemented by competitions to keep young people motivated.

Universal Aikido was created in Russia to allow aikido from different schools to test their skills in competitions.

Soft techniques and loads

If you want to develop your body without unnecessary stress, try Ki-Aikido. This school was founded by Koichi Tohei, one of the founder's best students. In addition to specific techniques, this area also includes philosophy and spiritual development.

Ivan Egorov draws attention to the fact that in Ki-Aikido they work in a soft manner and often do not use direct contact with the enemy.

What you need for aikido training

You don't need to buy special equipment or protective gear for training.

According to Ivan Egorov, you can come to the first training session in comfortable clothes - sweatpants and a T-shirt. It is also advisable to take slippers.

Over time, you will need to acquire a white aikido keikogi (kimono) and a white belt. No shoes are needed - aikidoki practice barefoot.

How are aikido classes

The lesson begins with warm-ups for all muscle groups and stretching to warm up and prepare the body for the load.

Ivan Egorov

After the warm-up, there is acrobatics with a lot of falls, practicing punches, basic elements and techniques, as well as general physical fitness.

To practice the techniques, aikidoka are divided into pairs. The mentor shows the technique, after which the students try to repeat it, periodically changing the roles of the attacker and the defender.

Typically, a workout takes 60–90 minutes.