Aikido means broadly speaking the peaceful martial art. Aikido is a highly refined martial art of effectively defending oneself without injuring an attacker if possible. It is the youngest of the traditional Japanese martial arts, and has been developed by Morihei Ueshiba more than half a century ago.
Aikido requires little physical force as the movement or the energy of an attacker - rather than opposing it head-on - is redirected and controlled by using entering and turning movements, which look flowing and elegant. Hence the attitude of aikido towards conflicts is neither passive, nor aggressive, but assertive.
Aikido training is for all-around fitness, flexibility and relaxation. It is practiced by women and men, young and old. There are no competitions in aikido, because it focuses on personal development and cooperative learning.
Aikido, above all, is about respecting oneself as well as the opponent, providing confidence in one's own actions and learning to stay calm and centred under pressure.
