| Martial Arts is one of the contributions of Asia to the | | | | involved in the fighting strives for harmony and |
| world. Who can forget Bruce Lee and the fact that | | | | harmony can only be achieved if there is grace in the |
| he was first and foremost a martial arts athlete | | | | movements. The moves maybe calculated but there |
| before being a movie star? Even until now martial | | | | is an air of finesse in doing these movements, not a |
| arts is still a big hit with the increasing popularity of | | | | womanly finesse but just a finesse that emanates |
| Asian movies like crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and | | | | peace. The art of peace as what they call in Aikido is |
| more recently the House of the Flying Daggers. | | | | one of the most positive influences of Aikido to its |
| The Chinese are the first people that come to mind | | | | students and to everyone who choose to know |
| when it comes to these things but the Japanese are | | | | about this Japanese martial art. |
| just as athletic with a rich heritage of body contact | | | | Some of the techniques in Aikido include the |
| sports that can be found in their history. The modern | | | | following. Ikkyo is the first technique. Using this |
| Japan still gives honor to these things by holding | | | | technique you control an opponent by using one hand |
| tournaments and promoting such sports abroad, | | | | in holding the elbow and one near the wrist, this |
| One of these is Aikido. It is interesting to note that | | | | action is supposed to make you pin your opponent |
| the word comes from three Japanese words from | | | | down in the ground. Nikyo the second technique is |
| which one can derive the meaning of the one word. | | | | when you do an adductive wristlock that enables you |
| Ai means joining, Ki means spirit and Do means way. | | | | to twist the arm of your opponent that will in turn |
| From this we can understand why Aikido is beyond | | | | cause enough nerve pressure. |
| just the physical skills of it students especially sin its | | | | The third technique is Sankyo which is a pronating |
| proponent Ueshiba focused more on the spiritual and | | | | technique that directs upward-spiraling tension |
| philosophical development of his students. | | | | throughout the arm, elbow and shoulder. There are |
| In Aikido, one is not taught violence instead one is | | | | many other techniques but the first three should get |
| taught to be in harmony with the opponent to be | | | | you started. |
| able to defeat. This might seem odd but it actually | | | | In studying Aikido, it is important to remember that |
| works. In approaching an opponent, the aim of the | | | | along with building physical strength to be able to |
| Aikido practitioner is to be one with the opponent to | | | | defeat your opponent the mental capacity should |
| be able to attack him where he is weakest and in | | | | also be developed. Just like in any art, it takes a lot |
| doing so diver or immobilize him but never to kill. | | | | of practice and discipline to perfect the art of Aikido. |
| This is where Aikido becomes an art. Art is | | | | The important thing is the one who wants to get |
| something beautiful to watch and something positive | | | | into the art should have determination to give honor |
| and Aikido is all that. At least one of the people | | | | to the art by performing it in the best way possible. |