Spelthorne Aikido Club

Neil is shown airborne on the cover of the recent book "Aikido" by Peter Brady 6th dan. The author is a shidoin in the UKA, so if you're considering buying a book on aikido, this one is particularly appropriate to the style we practice.

Aikido is a martial art that has a deep spiritual side as well as a technical martial side. Both sides are not easy to understand and take many years to develop. Finding the balance and depth between the two is the goal an aikido student tries to master within their lifetime.

Beginners are taught basic body movements from the very start of their training. These body movements are based on natural movements used in everyday life. Beginners will eventually realise that these movements are linked together to create the techniques used in aikido. Developing this body movement is something which should be practiced both on and off the mat. The techniques that students are taught are techniques they will develop, with their instructor's help, throughout their aikido life to suit their physical and mental makeup.

The principle of aikido is not to confront power head on. It is more redirection and control of this power, with the help of basic foot movement and relaxed yet focused body and mind. Please do not make the assumption that, because an Aikido student avoids power head on, Aikido students are weak and have no power. There are a great many instructors in the world that posses a great deal of internal energy or Ki/Kokyu and can be immovable if desired.

Aikido is an art of blending. This is not only in the context of an attack but with everyday situations. With any art, to practice what is taught only on the mat is not going to be of any benefit. You must try to incorporate your learning into your daily lives.

Ukemi plays a large role in aikido and tends to be overlooked. People who have no experience of Aikido and watch from a distance can misunderstand ukemi as “falling over”. Uke (the person taking ukemi) is the aggressor when practicing aikido. Uke would attack tori (the person performing technique). Ukemi is allowing your partner to practice their technique to its fullest by extending and stretching your body; so in turn it forces Tori to extend their technique. When taking ukemi you should make sure your attack is positive and directed to the area intended. Also, you should make sure your intention to attack your opponent is there from start of technique through to finish.

The weapon work in aikido complements the basic body movements used in the open hand art. The weapon work is laid out in kata forms both for the individual to practice and for partner work. It is a very important part of aikido as you learn, amongst other things, your basic posture, your ma-ai or striking distance between you and your partner, and improves your relaxed movement to perform your cut. When practiced sincerely, it also trains a student to keep their mind focussed and not get slack or shorten their movements when performing techniques, for the simple reason that either their partner or themselves may get injured in some way.

The weapons used in aikido are mainly the bokken (wooden sword) or jo (wooden staff). The bokken is designed to resemble the katana and the jo can be considered as a spear. Some aikido clubs train in the use of the iaito, which is a katana with a blunt cutting edge. This is mainly individual practice and concentrates more on the way the sword is drawn from the scabbard although it does incorporate movements based on cutting an enemy down.

A basic point of aikido but the most difficult to obtain and master is the use of ki/kokyu when performing techniques instead of using brute strength. With the correct technique and a concentrated ki/kokyu, a smaller person can down a larger person who ordinarily could not be put down.