What Is Aikido and How to Use It for Self Defense

Today, you are faced with a lot of choices as to what method to use particularly when you speak of safety or self-protection. The market is filled with pepper spray or self-defense guns that are designed in various ways. But aside from personally having your own device, you can also learn from different kinds of martial arts. It is not only a good activity to optimize physical health but more importantly your tool for added security.

Founder Of Aikido

Aikido is one of the martial art that is widely adapted by people from all walks of life across the globe. Its origin dated back in the year 1925 when Morihei Ueshiba, a martial art professional created and developed this method in order to coordinate the spiritual and physical life to philosophical growth. He had enough experience to create quite a few numbers of techniques which can be learned by anyone who aims to protect the self from opponents especially those larger in size.

In the year 1941, this form of martial art was recognized in Japan. He established a dojo or training school which taught this method. From there on, the art of Aikido reached the Western countries. It was in the year 1953 when France adapted this method and was considered the first Western country to establish a training school. Just after France, Germany and America recognized the art also. The descendants of Ueshiba then continued the training school particularly his son and grandson upon his death.

This method of martial art is not intended to inflict harm but only to incapacitate the person attacking you with the use of different techniques. It is termed as the Art of Peace. It works just like the phone stun gun which is designed to cause temporary incapacitation and not permanent body damage. There are 20 basic techniques which can have countless combinations and they involve holds and body throws that can be executed depending on the movement and force of your attacker.

The attacks in Aikido which are called "atemis" are directed on specific pressure points of the body wherein if they are hit will cause pain and temporary immobilization. Discipline and proper use of the techniques are taught on students learning the method most especially that it can cause death when used for different purposes. The main aim of the art is to create a complete distraction and generally defend you by just disarming the attacker and not putting his life in danger.

Aikido is a form of defense that does not use any weapons. But there are some students who try to incorporate this method with the use of a wood stick or a wood sword. Some teachers in training schools believed that it becomes more effective when you learn the method using sword strikes. So anywhere you go when you can just grab on to something like a stick or an umbrella for instance, you can defend yourself at all times.

The art of Aikido is indeed an effective form of martial art and self-defense. The techniques will keep your attacker immobilized even if they stand taller and larger than you.

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