Plan for Progress  

AIKIDO TECHNIQUES

Aikido describes a Japanese martial art which was founded by a Japanese martial arts expert named Ueshiba Morihei. The name Aikido comes from the Japanese words ai meaning unity or harmony, ki meaning vital breath or energy and do meaning way. This form of martial arts focuses on controlling vital energy (ki) in the stomach of the body in order to overthow the challenger.

The art of aikido stresses attacking an opponent through specific nerves which when pressed can overcome the enemy without the danger of causing fatality. Aikido is based primarily around two classifications of movements: movements of control (katame-waza) and movements in which the enemy is thrown (nage-waza). These two classifications include more than seven hundred different moves most of which are derived from kata. Kata describes movements to release oneself from an opponent’s clutch, applying pressure on the limbs to throw the challenger on the ground and to prevent the enemy from moving. These movements are the basic movements that form the self defense tactics of aikido.

Aikido stresses accomplishing harmony between ki and tai (the body). To achieve this, an exercise is performed to extend the ki. Attention is placed on the abdomen in an effort to feel the energy breath of the body coming out through the arms. The goal is to realize energy between movements and breath while learning to preserve it. Training is very important in aikido and so too is attentiveness.

Aikido can be pleasurable and demand a lot of strictness but one must understand to use the various techniques. Actually, the differentiation between victory and defeat most often is determined by the proper carrying out of the techniques. The success of the techniques relies on a calm and relaxed body, clear mind and accurate stance.

The basic movements in aikido techniques are accurate footwork, rolling, falling and basic exercises. Pertaining to techniques, there are four chief areas of focus: Stances, Footworks, Attacks and Throws.

1. Stances

A stance refers to pose with or without a weapon. A strong physical stance works along with a strong psychological attitude. The basic posture is the Mutual Stance where the uke (individual who gets hit or thrown) and the nage (individual who hits or throws) both have the same foot forward. Next is the middle position where the fighter’s hands or weapon is positioned with the person’s body. Another posture is the lower position stance where the hands or the weapon is lowered.

2. Footworks

The first is the ‘Entering Footwork’ where the fighter enters the space of the enemy’s body. The fighter must position himself in such a way that challenger is forced to cease striking. Physically it refers to entering in a way to avoid attack. Spiritually it refers to penetrating a fierce attack.

3. Attacks

Grasps and holds are the key attacks. Grabs are grouped as collar grabs, shoulder grab, elbow grab, cross-hand grab and hit to the head. Also in this category are neck strangle, hits to the chest, stomach or to the top of the head. Straight punch, rear choke and striking the side of the head also falls under attacks.

4. Throws

Throws are not simple demands much strength from the nuke and the sage. The key throws are bending drop throw, entering throw, arm-entwining throw, rotary throw, breath throw, hip throw, writ turn-out throw among others.

There are many other techniques to employ to offer comprehensive security and are based on these fundamental techniques. The aikido movements were utilized by American actor Steven Segal in his movies Above the law and Hard to Kill.

Find more information here about boxing bags.