Aikido

Ages: 13+

Aikido is a modern Japanese martial art that uses balance, speed, and leverage to throw or pin a partner. The guiding philosophy is of working with another’s force, not against it. Students learn how to diffuse a tense situation without needing to strike back; often the best Aikido is when no physical interaction is needed at all. Aikido is noncompetitive and can help students increase their focus and self-awareness. Aikido works well for people of all sizes as it does not rely on strength to overcome an opponent. Students will develop safe and strong rolling and falling skills — useful in an icy place, such as Wisconsin. Teens and adults are welcome. No prior experience is necessary.

Aikido Background:

Aikido is a Japanese martial art that was developed out of Ju-Jitsu and other fighting styles in the first half of the last century by Morihei Ueshiba (known as “O Sensei”). Aikido translates as “the way of unifying energy,” which means, in practical terms, that one will learn how to accept an attack’s energy and redirect it to a safer place, which may mean throwing, pinning, or avoiding the attack altogether.

Our style of Aikido, Kokikai Aikido, was founded by Shuji Maruyuama Sensei, a direct student of O Sensei and Koichi Tohei Sensei. This style focuses on achieving maximum effect with minimal effort in every movement. We develop “ki” (a body’s internal power) by increasing our awareness of posture, balance, motion, and connection to one another.