Aikido Shugyo Dojo, Toronto, ON

What is Aikido? Aikido is a Japanese martial art of self-defence. It uses the energy of the attack and circles it back onto the aggressor. The Japanese word Aikido is written with three characters that translate as “The Way of Spiritual Harmony.” Harmonious movement, or blending, is at the heart of this discipline. Movements in Aikido may be spectacular and send the attacker flying, or they may be small and control the wrist and elbow joints in subtle but persuasive ways. Why do people practice Aikido? Aikido does not rely on size or strength for its effectiveness, but rather uses timing, body dynamics, and centered movement. Moving from the centre, or tanden, creates relaxed posture and physical and mental balance. Training harmonizes body, mind, and spirit and enables the student to encounter stressful circumstances without being thrown off kilter. It also creates a resiliency of the body and an openness of the mind — qualities needed in our society, and our daily lives. Students start Aikido for physical fitness, for self-defence, or because they are fascinated by the philosophy. Any reason to start is a good one. They often find, as they continue to practice, that they are enjoying themselves, because Aikido is fun.