Aikido - A Way of Life

Aikido..... the quiet martial art.
Ai = harmony, blending.
Ki = spiritual or life energy.
Do = way or path.

Aikido is a philosophy to be applied to everyday living. The physical training in the dojo (school) is the forum through which these lessons are taught.

Aikido translates as "the Way of harmonizing spiritual energy". Through physical training, we learn to harmonize with the energy of uke (our training partner). Flowing dynamic motions are used to 'control' uke. From here we learn to harmonize our own energy with the world around us to take control of our lives.

Aikido techniques were developed by the Samurai to encompass weaponless combat. They were designed to attack an enemies' joints and balance to negate their armor, relying upon circular flowing movements combined with joint locks and pressure points to effect control.

Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei combined these principles with the philosophies of Bhuddism and The Way of the Samurai to create modern Aikido.

Martial Arts are a way of life, they are not about fighting. The Do in Aikido means, a Way of life. Karate used to be called Karate-do, the artful form of jiyu-jitsu is called ju-do. Jitsu and Do are the two forms of all martial arts. The jitsu style of any martial form is the war like techniques. This is the way one would use the techniques on the battle field. The jitsu form of Aiki techniques would use joint locks for the purpose of destroying an opponents joints. If you could break a samurai's elbow in the battle field, you would not have to kill him. A broken elbow would never heal properly, thus the samurai could never again wield his sword. The sword is a samurai's life, without the ability to use it, the samurai would be of no use to his master, he would slink off the battle field and take his own life.

When there were no wars to left to fight, the martial forms were still practiced diligently, but as Do's rather then jitsu. Kata's of movement, with or without weapons were practiced, not for the battle field, but for personal growth. Simply for the purpose of training one's mind and body. They were used as a form of meditation, constant repetition for reaching that state of single mindedness, oneness, the path to spiritual enlightenment.

After world war II, the allies administering Japan recognized the power of these arts, and their destructive potential. Thus all the arts were banned, at least publicly. From then on, they were only allowed as sports. Hence Karate-do simply became Karate etc. Right on up to modern times, these arts are still practiced as sports, much of the philosophy was lost from one generation of Sensei's to the next. Some teachers try and include what little they know of the old ideals of martial arts, but for the most part, a martial arts school is a place to go for a work out and participate in competitions breaking bricks and scoring points with punches.

The modern, current form of Aikido was developed well after this ban, when relations between Japan and the allies were on a much more friendly level. So it didn't have these restrictions.

O-Sensei took the Aiki-jujitsu techniques, and combined them with the philosophies of Bhuddism and Bushido (the Way of the Samurai) to create a peaceful, benevolent art. The philosophies are the art of Aikido, the physical training is the medium used to impart these teachings.

Written by Phil Vegh

Judo - ukemi

Morihei Ueshiba and his Aikido... Full screen

Aikido and Daily Life

In Japan Aikido is often called the “art of peace”, this is because the martial art recommends a peaceful solution for any conflict or form of aggression. Aikido is practiced in a dojo where students can easily learn about flexibility an adaptation. These are the ultimate results of the manner than Aikido students try to achieve. Relaxation and calm are taught in Aikido because Aikido is primarily about practice and following through with the principles of philosophy as well as spirituality. Masters and instructors of the art of Aikido teach people in the art that the Ki or energy only flows to its complete potential when the human body is completely relaxed. Ki is recognized as a very basic and yet powerful force.

Superiority in strength and muscular abilities often hinders the Ki. Aikido focuses on flexibility and endurance rather than the development of strength and muscular features. In order to make use of the power of the Ki, this energy must be permitted to flow. This energy will also only flow when the person is in a relaxed state. Unlike muscles you cannot build this relaxed state through exercise. A certain spiritual journey is required by all Aikido students so that they can have the peace and calm that is essential during combat.

When we are constantly in a state of defense and fear we tend to be too busy to concentrate and thus we can be distracted easily. This fact is taught in Aikido which also insists that its students remain calm and focused in the face of an assault. By being calm you have an advantage over your aggressors because you remain focused and you can’t easily be toppled or thrown. Advanced techniques in Aikido also teach you how to fall properly and rebound easily in order to plan a counter attack as you rise.

Other than combat and the dojo, Aikido masters also focus on the cultivation and developments of spirituality and character within Aikido students. By doing this they teach Aikido students to employ the principles of the art of Aikido in their everyday lives. By understanding Aikido properly they also gain better performance not only in the dojo but outside it as well.

In life having Aikido as an element of your daily routine promotes a certain peace and calm that helps you overcome even the toughest of all that life throws at you. Aikido teaches its students that they should be flexible and they should also adapt and remain calm at all times. These are the means with which you can be able to cope with the rigors of life.

Most Aikido practitioners relate the practice of the art of Aikido to other aspects of everyday life such as work, play and their relationships with other people. By doing this they remain singular with the purpose of Aikido in life. Aikido has two combatants – the Uke and the Nage. The Uke is the aggressor while the Nage focuses on neutralizing the attack of this aggressor. The Nage and Uke personalities should be both explored so that you can learn from these techniques and battle the weaknesses of both personalities together. If you need this sort of understanding of life and the way it really works you might want to learn Aikido today.

Written of Darren Williger

Weapons in aikido - Morihio Saito

Aikido and Weaponry Tactics

Aikido is often seen by some as the modern Japanese Budo. This martial art places and emphasis on a person developing their physical and spiritual selves. This far eastern philosophy basically means a way for the body to harmonize with the spirit. It is also a study of the laws of nature and how best these laws can harmonize perfectly with the mind and body of an individual.

This is a Japanese all-encompassing martial art. A practitioner of these arts will be taught methods of using both armed and unarmed combat effectively. If you have to execute armed attacks you will have different throws to study which can guarantee you maximum efficiency. Other things that you will have to study include strikes, joint lock techniques as well as vital points. You will also learn mystery attacks that teach you how to immobilize your opponent without physically laying your hands on the, Armed attacks will also involve the use of different kinds of weapons such as swords, knives, sticks as well as spears. Anything that can be used as a weapon in Aikido will be employed here.

On the whole a huge number of Aikido classes are taught using some weapons exclusively these weapons are the jo or staff, tanto or knife and the bokken or sword. These three weapons are the main weapons of choice and combat when practicing this discipline and there are a number of reasons why these are the choice of weapons. Aikido has a strong foundation in different martial arts and proficiency with these weapons will lead to equal proficiency with other different types of weapons.

Aikido's founder Morihei Ueshiba who was also called O Sensei or Great Teacher by his students was particularly skilled with the use of the staff. He incorporated the use of the staff as a weapon technique with some basic circular movements. Of all the weapons however, the most influential of the lot is the sword which has its influence on all the development stages of this art and its techniques.

Martial arts students can measure the distance between attacks with effective weapons training. Distancing is called ma-ai in Aikido and it is very important in the timing or defense of an attack. If you're considering defense it is also necessary to train with weapons as well since Aikido techniques which are advanced involve you training against people who carry different types of assault weapons.

One other weapon which is used when training in Aikido is the katana, which is a single edged and slightly curved sword which is known in the world of martial arts as the sword of the samurai. Weapons training in Aikido will involve you also learning how to handle the tanto which is a short blade. The tanto was a favorite of male and female samurai during their time as well.

One more weapon in Aikido training is the ninja-to , a sword which is a favorite of Ninjas. Samurais also have wakizashi swords to use as well. These swords are two feet long and can be used together with the katana. The jo is a four feet long wooden staff which is used in Aikido and other martial arts. When you use Aikido with a jo , the resultant technique is known as Aiki-Jo. This involves and integration of the techniques learned, along with the use of the jo to show the principles along with a weapon.

Written by Darren Williger

Aikido Kobayashi - Jacek Wysocki

Nice move :) with Jacek Wysocki

AIKIDO CDA - SAKANASHI LEONARDO SENSEI - BOKEN 3

Great Boken Kata. You must see it.

Let me show you a little AIKIDO - GENERAL BACKGROUND

History:

Aikido in its present form is a relatively recent innovation within the martial arts tradition. It was developed in Japan in the early 20th century by Morihei Ueshiba (1883 - 1969), who was introduced to the classical martial arts as a boy by his father, Yoroku. He is known to have studied some martial arts, such as various styles of Ju-jitsu as well as Kenjutsu and the art of the spear.

Philosophy:

If we are attacked by a force and we apply force ourselves, a collision of energies ensues which results in disharmony. Thus, accordingly the stronger force wins. If, however, we meet the force with an absorbing movement and then exhaust it to the point of imbalance before applying a force of our own (the Aikido way), we are in fact restoring harmony or redressing an imbalance. This is the basic logic and underlying philosophy of Aikido.

Training:

Aikido is a discipline that seeks not to meet violence with violence, but instead looks towards harmonising with and restraining and opponent. Aikido is, in many ways, unique among the martial arts, in that the majority of techniques are based on the aggressor making the first move. Therefore, Aikido techniques are usually aimed at joint immobilisation and throws which utilise an opponent's energy, momentum and aggression. Many body movements have been taken from Japanese sword and spear fighting arts, and the use of the bokken (a replica sword) and jo (a stick) is intended to build the practitioner's understanding and skill.

Aikido teaches one-on-one and multiple attack defence. It incorporates knife-taking, sword-taking and stick-taking, and even defence from a kneeling position. Differences in size, weight, strength or age negated as we learn to use our inner ki (flow of energy). Weapon training with a bokken and jo indicates the ancestry of the discipline as well as helping to improve our body movements.

It should be emphasised that Aikido is a budo (literally a martial way). We practise each technique with total commitment, as if our life depended on its success, for only in this way is it possible to bring about the true spirit of budo. This is not to say that training has to be hard or violent. It is possible to be physically soft and still generate the power to control a confrontational encounter.

Styles of Aikido:

In reality, there are several major styles of Aikido today. As Ueshiba was continually refining and modifying the art he had created, some of his students at various stages left to pursue their own ideals. Thus, Master Gozo Shioda created the yoshinkan style, characterised by short and sharp movements and powerful joint applications; Kenji Tomiki developed sport Aikido, as it is widely known, characterised by competitions in which rubber knives are used; Minoru Mochizuki successfully amalgamated Aikido with other martial arts within the International Martial Arts Federation; and Koichi Tohei created shin-shin toitsu Aikido, which concentrates on the ki aspect of Aikido. All of these men trained with and listened to Ueshiba and yet each came away with a different idea of the discipline.

By Thanaseelan Vengadasalam

Aikido in 1952 Old Film

We will see Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Koichi Tohei and Tadashi Abe in this move

Aikido Concepts and Mastering the Art of Peace

The martial art of Aikido has its origins in both spirituality and philosophy. It is also influenced by the Omoto-kyo religion which was the religion of its founder Morihei Ueshiba. The word Aikido is derived from three Japanese characters. "Ai" translates to joining; "Ki" means spirit while "Do" means a way. If you translate this loosely this becomes a way of joining the spirit.

This far eastern martial art focuses on the alignment and the harmonization of a person's body and mind with the spirit. This can only be achieved if a person remains in a relaxed state. In such a relaxed state nothing is forced so the body of an individual joins the spirit and energy around naturally, everything then becomes one. This certain oneness and the cultivation of relaxation led to this martial art being referred to as the art of peace. Ueshiba who founded the art believed in peace and he claimed to teach this art as a peaceful means to end all aggression. Both spiritual and philosophical developments are essential in the training and practice of this discipline. These concepts have to be applied in practical means during the practice of Aikido and its different methods. Regular training consists of two parts; the first of these parts is called the Uke who is the recipient while the Nage can be the giver. These terms may usually differ depending on the particular skill that is being taught.

The Uke and Nage is similar to Ying and Yang in Chinese lore. In Aikido Uke and Nage aren't diverse entities, they are primarily two parts of a singular concept. Aikido can be effectively studied by a thorough understanding of both parts. One part teaches you to throw and fall safely as well. The Nage part of your training prevents injury to the Uke so that he can fall safely when thrown.

In training the receiver of the Uke will be the one to start the attack against the Nage. The aim of the Nage is to neutralize the attack with a move or technique, by doing this the Uke and Nage can easily learn from each other and the training cannot be effectively taught without a singularity existing between the two. The give and take natures of these two personalities are the basis from which Ki and other principles of this far eastern sport are studied and learnt.

The fundamentals of Aikido deal with adaptation, flexibility, calm and blending with the situation. With the cases of both Uke and Nage, what this martial artimparts is flexibility and relaxation so that the Nage does not catch you unawares and throw you off balance easily. The Nage learns how to blend easily and control the energy from the assault of the Uke. Aikido training isn't solely focused on practicing and parrying between these two persons. It also provides instructions on how to handle different attackers.

This principle of handling multiple attackers is known as the randori and it is an essential concept that is studied in higher levels of Aikido training. Training of this nature is taught to multiple persons and is delivered in a freestyle nature, this way a person can effectively further their knowledge by performing Aikido techniques that extend far beyond the simple realms of the Uke and Nage.

Written by Darren Williger

Focusing on the Essentials of Aikido

Aikido is an old martial art, not as old as many others but old nevertheless. It was created by Morihei Ueshiba and it is the result of a distillation of different martial arts. Most people see it as a type of exercise or dance because of its fluid form. Other people have their own definitions for the martial art as well.

Sometimes Aikido is confused with Daito Ryu Aikijutsu but the essentials of both martial arts are actually different. According to Ueshiba his eyes were opened by Sokaku Takeda who himself was a grandmaster of the Daito Ryu and opened his eyes to the Budo.

What is this far eastern martial art all about?

This particular discipline may have many different forms but it is essentially a Budo or martial art. It is an art that has been refined and combined with a philosophy that advocates the use of the power of the spirit. The basic essence of aikido is a perfect blending of bodily and mental functions. The philosophy of this sport is derived from the belief that deception and trickery are not the needed things required to defeat our opponents. Brute force is also not one of these requirements. Rather a focus on concentration using the spirit is enough to strengthen.

Aikido is also a means by which we can discover our true paths and by so doing develop a sense of individuality. Aikido also teaches people who practice it to merge their bodies and minds and achieve a state of harmony with nature and the universe. The power and strength which they feel will come from this balance and harmony. When we use the term universe in Aikido it is not to refer to an obscure intangible and unattainable concept. It is an attainable concept that can easily be achieved through what goes on in our daily lives.

The movements in Aikido are movements of a circular nature. A circle movement protects the person within it from an opposing force. In order to create the right atmosphere however a firm center is needed. One analogy of what is required is in a spinning top rotating at a very fast speed. If no center existed then the speed would only result in imbalance. In the human body this firmness can only be achieved if the mind and body are completely clear, a state which might take a person a very long time to achieve.

In Aikido training is essential as well as concentration because the creation of a center may be easy in the confines of a dojo but the same conditions might not exist outside that dojo. Maintaining composure isn't easy when a person is confronted by circumstances that are not within their direct control. Maintaining calm isn't easy in this case. The discipline really aims to promote the maintenance of the composure of an individual even in extraneous situations which do not occur in areas which are within their control. This powerful martial art brings balance to all aspects of a person's life both within and outside the dojo and helps you combat the varying conditions that life throws at us.

Written by Darren Williger.

The Simple History of Aikido

Aikido is a simple Japanese martial art which was created in the early parts of the 20th century. It was created by Morihei Ueshiba (see the picture) who was also known as O Sensei or Great Teacher. The O Sensei was a disciplined master of different martial arts principles and philosophies. Out this exhaustive knowledge in both armed and unarmed combats Ueshiba formed Aikido. This far eastern discipline was termed a very efficient martial art but the training espoused is not for street fighting or the advancement of students in sporting tournaments. This sport focuses on the perfection of character as well as the development of positive human qualities like compassion, courage, endurance and inner strength as well.

Aikido training is taken not only to improve an individual but the general society as well. Tokyo was the founding center of Aikido and the main dojo or training hall is located at the Aikido World Headquarters there, known as the (Aikikai Hombu Dojo). The son of the O Sensei who was Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba has carried on the practice of the martial art to various places all over the world initially starting with Europe. In Europe, this martial art was first taught in France before it moved to the rest of the continent. In the Americas it started with Hawaii when the well know teacher of Aikido Koichi Tohei Sensei taught the art and he was followed by the O Sensei as well.

The first shihan of master of Aikido who qualified as instructors where direct students of the O Sensei. These students strove to help the master achieve his dreams of making this discipline a truly universal martial art. Today the art transcends both natural and cultural boundaries. Hawaii in the United States was the first country to experience true Aikido and it was then followed by California. This then increased quite exponentially with the arrival of the masters who came directly from the Aikido World Headquarters to establish outposts in major cities throughout the entire United States. Gradually the art spread to cover the entire country and today it is one of the more popular martial arts here.

From the year 1969 onwards the son of the O Sensei bred new breeds of Shihan through the means of the training program at the Aikido World Headquarters known as the uchideshi. These masters in turn have successfully spread the martial art by their use of a wide and broad reaching outreach program.

Over a relatively small amount of time and with the guidance of Doshu Ueshiba, this art has evolved from a simple path sought by few people into a martial art practiced by millions of people the world over. Doshu Ueshiba has been recognized for his many efforts and one of the laurels to testify as to his abilities and success in the world of martial arts was the medal given to him in the year 1995 by the Japanese emperor. Doshu Ueshiba was the president of the International Aikido Federations and the All-Japan Aikido Federation until his death in the month of January 1999 when he was almost eighty years old.

Written by Darren Williger

Aikido - Relax Your Way To Victory

The martial art of Aikido is special amongst other disciplines: it encourages relaxing behaviour and ensures that this, rather than strength or speed, will win the day. Harnessing the virtue of serenity and relaxation from everyday life and using it in physical engagement is the key philosophy behind Aikido.

Developed between 1920 and 1960 by Morihei Eushiba in Japan, Aikido is a prime example of a 'modern day' martial art; its practise relies more on the attitude and philosophy of its students than the learning of techniques or development of strength. The philosophy has its foundations in Eushiba's background in the Omoto-kyo religion - a modern Japanese offshoot of Shintoism. While Aikido is not touted as a religious martial art, it is important to understand its origins among pacifist religious followers who embraced peace and shunned violence and war. Aikido is often referred to as the 'Art of Peace' -- perhaps a reverse reference to the often cited and widely known 'Art of War' by Shun Tzu.

Upon reaching his heightened state of relaxed consciousness, the Aikido student is able to perform the difficult grips, locks and throws required by the Martial Art. The concept and theory is that energy is not wasted on aggression or unnecessary force, and that all available resources will be used to their full extent, and totally to the practitioner's benefit.

Aikido, and the practice of Aikido, in modern society is more about the discipline and psychological benefits brought by relaxation and self-confidence, than it is about mastering techniques with which to disable an enemy. This is not to its detriment, however, and it cannot be argued that Aikido is an excellent choice for anyone wishing to take up a martial art.

Written by Andy Tees

A Basic Guide To Aikido

Aikido is a unique form of martial art. Its emphasis lies on the harmonious fusion of mind and body with the natural laws of Nature. Aikido focuses on accepting and respecting the energy of life and nature and channeling this harmony onto techniques that expresses this energy in physical forms.

Aikido is often viewed as more of a defensive martial art since its techniques and teachings are designed for you to avoid or get out of trouble. On the contrary, the techniques are very powerful and effective.

Basically, there are four levels of technique in Aikido training. These are the katai which refers to the basic training and is intended to build the foundation of body movements and breathing.

The yawarakai trains the defendant to deflect attacks and fuse movements to take control of the attacker or situation.

The ki-no-nagare which involves training the defendant to defend or counter attack by merging his movement with the attacker even before the latter makes contact. The ki which is the absolute Aikido technique, involves establishing a link of ki or spirit from the defender to the attacker.

When training for Aikido, you need a sparring partner. The uke and the nage. The Uke is the initiator of the attack and receives the Aikido techniques, while the Nage is the defender and the one that neutralizes the attack.

Aikido basic techniques include ikky which involves control an attacker by placing one hand on the elbow and one on near the wrist giving an opportunity to throw the attacker to the ground. The niky which draws in the uke using a wristlock and twists the arm while applying painful nerve pressure. Sanky is a rotating technique aimed at applying a spiraling tension on the whole arm including the elbow and shoulder. And yonky is a shoulder control technique with both hands gripping the forearm. Goky is another variant of ikky.

Wherein the hand gripping the wrist is inverted and is quite useful in weapon take-aways. Shihnage or the four-direction throw, kotegaeshi or wrist return involves a wristlock-throw that stretches the extensor digitorum, kokynage, also known as breath, throws or timing throws, iriminage or entering-body throws which resembles a "clothesline" technique, tenchinage or heaven-and-earth throw, koshinage or the Aikido's version of the hip throw, jinage or the shaped-like-'ten'-throw and kaitennage or rotation throw wherein the nage sweeps the arm of the uke back until it locks the shoulder joint after which the nage applies forward pressure to throw the attacker.

These are just basic techniques and from the list thousands of possible implementations or combinations can be drawn by the aikidokas. In Aikido, the strikes employed during the implementation of the Aikido technique are called atemi. For beginners, grabs are the first ones to be taught. It is safer and the aikidoka can easily feel the energy flowing from the uke to the nage.

Among the basic grab techniques are the katate-dori or single-hand-grab which involves using one hand to grab one wrist; morote-dori or both-hands-grab which uses both hands to grab one wrist; ryte-dori another both-hands-grab technique wherein both hands are used to grab both wrists; kata-dori or the shoulder-grab technique; and the mune-dori or chest-grab which involves grabbing the clothing of the chest of the attacker.

Mastering each technique involves discipline and dedication. To be a good aikodoka, one must master both the techniques and principle of the marital art.

This article was written by John Nieto

Which Martial Art is The Best?

I'm often asked the question "Which is better, Karate or Taekwondo?"; "Which is stronger, Judo or Kung Fu?"; or more direct questions such as "Could you beat a Mixed Martial artist in a fight?"

Thanks to the current popularity of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) we are seeing a showcase of different styles being pitted against one another. However my answer to all of these questions has to do with the many different paths that are available in the martial arts, and the one common destination.

Before I elaborate on what that actually means let me first give you a situation. You are standing outside your local shopping mall and you want to get home. How many ways could you do it? Well you would normally drive, either in your car or someone else's but you could also take the bus, ride a bike, walk or even hitchhike. Which way is best?

Of course most of you will tell me to drive. It's quicker, you don't have to pay for a bus, you have control of your trip and you don't have to use much energy. But are any of the other methods any less valid? You still reach your objective, and that is to get home. Granted it takes longer but maybe you learn something along the way that could be valuable for the rest of your life; or maybe you just have a miserable journey and wish you had driven!

Different martial arts are very similar to that. Some of them are like riding your bike. You get some exercise without straining yourself too much, but it takes a little bit longer than you wanted to get to your destination, others are like walking the whole way - it takes hours to get there but you see all kinds of sights on the way and learn a lot. However, you have to decide whether the time it took was worth the effort. Then finally you have the quick option to get in your car and drive in order to get there quickly. Some martial arts offer you this too but you have to ask yourself if you were even looking at and enjoying the sights along the way, much less learning something.

So which is better, Karate or Taekwondo? Which is stronger, Judo or Kung Fu? I have an answer and here it is!

No one martial art is better than another, yet at the same time all martial arts have something that is better than the others, and ultimately the choice one makes as to which martial art to study comes down to personal preference.

Let me give you some concrete examples of what I mean by this answer. Firstly consider a 250-pound muscular, well proportioned man being pitted against a 150-pound toned guy of equal technical ability in a wrestling match. There is no doubt in my mind that the bigger guy will win 9 times out of 10 because of his sheer size and strength. There is a lot of skill involved in wrestling and that is why I said they have the same technical ability. But wrestling generally favors the bigger fighter.

So let's put these same fighters in a Karate tournament where the goal is not to pin your opponent into submission but to score points through quick, powerful and focused techniques. The small guy now doesn't have to worry about being smothered, he just has to worry about whether he is fast enough to get in and out of the big man's guard and score the point. The chances for each fighter winning are a little more even in this match.

Now let's make the small guy a ju-jitsu expert who understands wrist locks, arm locks and pressure points and let's make the big guy a lumbering yet strong oaf. I would almost guarantee that the ju-jitsu guy would win this fight in spite of the seeming size disadvantage.

I hope that you've understood what I'm trying to say in this brief article. The point I'm making is that the question of whether one art is better than another does not depend on the art itself, but rather on the person who is studying that art. If the art is suited to the practitioner, then the martial artist will ultimately become very skillful and very accomplished. On the other hand, if the martial artist can't kick, yet chooses Taekwondo as his style he will have a very hard time!

So which martial art is the best? In the end it simply depends on you and what your specific skills and talents are! It would probably be better to ask which martial art would suit you best, and how can you find this information? I can help you here by offering to help you by offering the additional information in my FREE Report "Beginners Guide to Karate". You will find out how to download it at http://www.freekarateinformation.com

Good luck and best wishes on your journey in karate.

I hope you take me up on this offer and save yourself a lot of wasted time and effort in choosing the right martial art.

This article was written by Paul A. Walker

Steven Segal

watch the Segal

what i have done linkin park

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Great I've done from Linkin Park

Jeff Dunham Compilation

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Founding Principles of Aikido

Aikido means "The Way of Harmony with the Spirit" and is considered a non-violent form of martial art. However, don't be fooled. Aikido when used correctly is very powerful.

Morihei Ueshiba, now known as O-sensei to the world of Aikido, founded the martial art. O-sensei is a master of Jujitsu or unarmed combat, Kinjitsu or sword combat, and sojitsu or spear combat and studied philosophical and religious teachings.

Because of the religious and philosophical foundations of Aikido, principles of the martial art include ways to harmonize with the ki or spirit within oneself and the bigger spirit of nature. Among the principles of Aikido include oneness, circular motion and ki.

Among the philosophical teachings of Aikido, one of the more basics and more important is learning to control oneself. Maintaining an inner balance is necessary to harmonize with others enabling to control an opponent's attack or applying an effective technique. Self-control is the key to achieve and maintain harmony.

The Principle of Oneness is another basic principle in Aikido. An aikidoka must learn to become one with any situation. Becoming one means having an attitude of respect for all things and situations, friend or foe. By training to become one with every situation, harmonization will follow and it will become possible to execute techniques, movements and forms accurately and efficiently.

Harmony also means synthesis. And the spiritual circle which is a foundation of all Aikido techniques synthesizes everything. Aikido is a combination of circular movements. Its techniques and movements revolve around the concept of circular motions. When an opponent attacks, the aikidoka uses a circular motion of the lower abdomen to control the attack and execute techniques to counterattack.

It is said that defense is the greatest offense. In Aikido to defend properly an attack, one must learn to move away from the range of effectiveness of the opponent's attack. However, as you try to defend by getting out of the opponent's effective range, you must also try to maintain your own range of effectiveness in order to counterattack efficiently.

You won't be able to give an effective counterattack if you stepped too far away from your opponent. Similarly, being too close would definitely lessen the effectiveness of your techniques. Everything will depend on the situation. As an Aikido practitioner, you must learn to determine how to avoid your opponent's range while controlling your own in various situations.

Finally, the Principle of Ki involves believing that every thing in the universe is governed by a force or spirit. Ki is also the energy and our life force. Ki is the force that binds the mind and the body. It is the energy that harmonizes us to our surroundings. By learning to control our Ki, we will be able to unify our mind and our body maximizing efficient movements and execution of Aikido techniques.

Aikido focuses on the distance, motion, speed, and projection of an attacker. By using blending, spiraling, and extension techniques, the attack will be neutralized and by using one's centeredness and hips, the same amount of force can be applied to the attacker. In Aikido, the spiraling and circular movements reflect what the martial art is: a fluid and flowing movement of spirit and energy.

This article was written by John N.

Born into a military family John was raised in different parts of the world, is very private with his personal information but enjoys sharing his views and knowledge of the different martial arts that he has become familiar with through his travels and close associations.

Related Info Can Be Found At:

http://www.theartofaikido.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Nieto

Aikido Moves and Their Uses in Both Practice and CombatAikido Moves and Their Uses in Both Practice and Combat

In a single second a winner or loser can come out of a combat situation. A person can always examine the fighting situation in order to know whether they can become a better fighter by learning and correcting their mistakes in future. These things may also happen during a competition and this is why it is recommended that students familiarize themselves with the different Aikido moves every time that they can.

One example is considering the Ai hanmi Iriminage where a person grabs the attacker by the neck and forces him to the ground.

Ai hanmi Kokyuho, is quite similar to the former though the difference is that the arm is extended a little farther so that maximum effect can be achieved.

If the attacker has a knife then one recommended move is the Katate Ryotemochi where the individual can use both their hands to block the knife and disarm the person before they put the person on the ground.

If the person can get behind the attacker the Ushiro Ryokatatori may be a better move. If the individual is a tough person then temporarily applying the Ushiro Kubishime may render the person unconscious for sometime.

All Aikido moves aren't just about blocking and making a person fall to the ground. Different other moves exist such as the striking moves of the Kata Menuchi where the hand makes a slice to the middle of another person's forehead. If you're not trying to cause a concussion then you can try the Mune Tsuki which is a simple strike to a person's chest.

One good move when using the leg is the Aiki Otoshi it is also known as a leg sweep. By using this you can keep a person down especially when the attacker feels that the person defending doesn't have full use of the arms.

When the attacker has been subdued then you can easily keep the attacker immobilized in a Sankyo hold. This is one hold that law enforcement officials are familiar with as it is used to hold suspects until backup arrives on the scene.

More than 10 different moves exist in Aikido; a person should have the ability to differentiate between all these moves because all the terms are in Japanese. An individual may need one or more of these moves when in combat. One of the primary steps in learning this far eastern discipline is to enroll in a dojo. A person can easily take a look a directory in order to find a dojo that is quite near them and sign up if rates are quite affordable.

A student will be coached on rules on how to dress and how to use the proper moves in each stroke that they carry out. Any individual shouldn't expect to get it right the first time but they will succeed while they proceed with their education in this Japanese discipline.

It is important to remember that unlike many other martial arts, Aikido is primarily for defensive purposes. When a suspect has failed in attack the best thing an Aikido expert should do is not chase but get help instead.

Darren Williger is an over-caffeinated, low carbohydrate eating, winemaking enthusiast who writes for AikidoPages.com, CoffeeZen.com, and PrimeYoga.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darren_Williger

Positive Self Defense is a state of mind (PSD)

Self Defense is more then kicking, punching, it is more the carrying a knife, gun or having an attack dog. Question if you lock your doors are you safe? If you have a gun are you safe? Have you ever given any thought to why a person is picked by an attacker? There are hundreds and in many cases thousands of people that a murder, robber, rapist has to pick from in their list of people. So we are back to the question why?

Here is a better question if that person is you or someone you know what will they do? Please understand this article is not being written to scare anyone. I am writing this because I do not want you to be picked by anyone as their victim. So the way I see it this is my way of possibility helping you and others to be better prepared.

Self defense is much more then a lock, wall or weapon. The greatest weapon that you have is your mind. Your state of mind can help you to meet all challenges. Self defense it is more a state of mind then any other item and factor. Positive self defense is a way of having a better understanding of no only the physical but your mental weapons. PSD is designed to help the student to recognize potential hazards and provide them with realistic options for effective response. By empowering them to make positive choices, we hope to enable all to avoid or escape the cycle of violence.

The goal of positive self-defense is to give you a better understanding of yourself and your ability to protect yourself from harm. Taking action is a choice. Not taking action is also a choice. We are looking give you more and better options. We are looking at the mental and the physical sides of personal self-defense. PSD is a more holistic look or approach at you and your self-defense; we are not just covering the physical tactics regularly covered by other programs. Every day we work and live in this world. We are all in search of happiness and safety. We are all searching to find pleasure and to avoid pain. We all work to bring and share enjoyment with the people we care about and ourselves.

If you watch the television news, open the paper or just listen to the people around you, you hear about all the bad things that are happening on and in your offices, neighborhoods, towns, cities, counties and all over the world. There are also a lot of positive things in this world. Knowing that you can protect yourself and the people you care about is important. If you are a man or woman it does not matter; the first thing that you must do is know and truly believe in yourself. P.S.D. can help you with this goal.

Take control of the most valuable person you know, yourself. Our law enforcement community and our government systems are some of the best in the world. But they can only do some much. Unfortunately in most cases they just can not be there when we need them as they have to crystal ball to see the future.

PSD is about the way you:

Walk, Talk, Look, Dress, Think, Punch, Kick, Throw, Sit, Stand, and how even how you sleep and interact with others. Again it all starts with a good mindset a positive mindset. Positive self defense is not a matter of age, gender, size or occupation it works as long as you apply it. Please note that no one can change the past. However you have a lot to do with your future.

You can start on your own type of positive self defense program by reading positive books, listening to tapes, getting into a fitness program, taking a self defense course, eating better and more health foods. Spending less time in front of the TV, spend more time with the people you care about. Finding positive things to do that empower you. Things that add you over the things that, take away from you. Stay away from the negative people. You have but one life and one chance to live it so what are you waiting for Start today.

"It is not a good idea, to use the same mindset to solve the problem as was used to create the problem in the first place, as Mr. Einstein would say." We are trying to assist with that change of mindset.

We at the San Yama Bushi & Combination GoJu (SYBCG) School of Self Defense offer a PSD course. Our course also comes with an information review booklet. Our 31 pages are full of information that you can use for your review of the course after you complete this 4-hour program. The P.S.D. Personal Empowerment and Personal Safety Education Program has been developed after years of research and refinement with dedicated education professionals, law enforcement professionals, sexual assault counselors, self-defense experts, and of course, a concerned instructors and our goal is to empower you in the way of balance. So let the journey begin, you have everything in the world to gain. You can learn more about us by visiting the writer's website. By Zurriane Bennett San Yama Bushi & Combination GoJu School of Self Defense http://www.sybcg.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Z_Bennett

The Easy Way and The Hard Way To Create Your Web Page

You are ready to start your sales page layout. You have your sales letter written so now all you need to do is lay out the page and the rest of the site. You have two options, you can do it the easy way or you can do it the hard way.

Here is the hard way. First, you have to decide on the overall layout. Do you want a header or not. Most sites you have seen have headers but how do you create one. You open Photoshop and start to play with some shapes, colors, find some clip-art and when you are all done you have something that doesn't really look very professional, and it took you all day to create.

Now you have to think about the rest of the layout. You know you need a headline, but how big should you make it? What color should you make it? How big should your sub-headline be? What color should that be? You spend about three hours playing back and forth with sizes and colors and you finally think you have it.

Now you look at your other text. Your bullet points listing the benefits don't really have the impact you want. But you don't know how to add those big check marks that you see on other sites. You know your testimonials should be segregated in boxes with different backgrounds but you aren't sure how that works. You think it has something to do with tables but they don't seem to work right when you try to insert them. You look at the HTML code to see if the answer lies there, but you realize you may be in over your head.

That's the hard way, here is the easy way. Find a reputable graphic design shop that knows how to put a sales page together. Tell them what you want and how much you want to spend, they design the page, and you are done. While they were doing that, you spend all the time you would have spent trying to design your site, working on your marketing plans so that when your site goes live you are ready to drive traffic to it and generate sales.

If you choose the easy way, there are some things you should look for when hiring a graphic design group to do your work. There are lots of graphic designers that will create wonderful looking pages for you. The problem is, those wonderful pages won't sell anything. You need to find graphics professionals who are also sales professionals. That is much harder to do.

You want a graphics company that knows internet marketing. You want to find graphic designers that know how important headlines are, the importance of a good header, how sub-headlines work through the sales letter, how testimonials should be used and how they should be formatted. The graphic designers should know the flow of the sales page process from the attention grabbing headline all the way down to the prominent guarantee with the large guarantee badge to make sure the viewer doesn't miss it.

You also want a graphics group that won't cost you an arm and a leg. You don't want to mortgage your house just to have a website designed. Good graphic design groups should have some reasonable cost packages that you can use without breaking the bank. Sales page templates are a good example of a value priced solution. A good firm will be able to provide you with templates, optimized as sales pages, that you only have to cut and paste your text into.

You have two choices when it comes time to put your sales page together. You can spend a lot of time and effort on your own, get frustrated and end up with a less than professional looking site, or you can do it the easy way. Hire a good graphics group with internet marketing knowledge, and let them do it. Spend your time on marketing, which is how you make money and let someone else take care of the mechanics.

To find out how you can utilize graphics and design templates to enhance your online business, and get profitable advice to making money online, talk with Ray Johnson - Google.com No.1 Ranked eSeller: http://www.ray-johnson-online-design.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ray_Johnson