"Aikido is the way of nonresistance and is therefore undefeatable from the start. Fast and slow are of no consequence. Merely by having the intention to fight with one who embodies the universal law, they have fixed their mind on violating the harmony of nature itself. The person with evil or malicious feeling is defeated before he makes the first move. The contest has already been decided"

O'Sensei

Events

Brief Aikido description

Although the art of Aikido is difficult to describe since, as in every other art, personal experience gives the best picture, the syllabus that the student is required to learn and apply is divided into five parts:


Preparation

Consists of classic stretching exercises for the entire body combined with specific exercises for stretching of the joints, necessary for Aikido training. Usually executed in the first 15 – 30 minutes of every lesson.

Unarmed techniques

Consists of the main body of Aikido exercises and is an important part of its inheritance – there is a school of Aikido that teaches only unarmed techniques (or taijutsu), considering that the essence of the art to be found here. Even if such an extreme viewpoint is not shared, undisputedly unarmed techniques are one of the most important parts of Aikido and are divided into:


a) Falls (ukemi waza)
b) Throws (nage waza)
c) Immobilizations (osae waza)
d) Defense against an opponent
e) Defense against multiple opponents (randori)


The above can be executed either from a standing position (tachi waza), or from a kneeling position (suwari waza), or from a standing position for the attacker and kneeling position for the defender (hanmi handachi waza).

Techniques are executed either on the basis of a scenario in which both participants know the attack and defense technique to be conducted beforehand, or semi open in which the attack is known but not the defense (or vice versa), or entirely open in which both attack and defense are unknown.

A general term for the last two cases is jiyu waza.

Armed techniques

Armed techniques are also an important part of the teaching syllabus of Aikido since:


a) They explain the origin of Aikido to the practitioner in a better way (some of the unarmed techniques of Aikido derive from sword fighting moves)
b) they offer a better feeling of the correct distance, balance and stance between practitioners
c) they include muscle strengthening exercises


Weapon techniques are divided into:


a) Repeated exercises (suburi), to acquire proper stance and technique
b) Kata, in other words a series of movements based on a pre set pattern executed alone by the practitioner
c) Kumi exercises where the two armed practitioners execute a pre set scenario of defense and attack
d) Unarmed defense against an armed opponent (with ken, jo, tanto), and disarming of the armed opponent
e) Armed defense against an unarmed opponent (in which the armed participant keeps his weapon)
f) Unarmed defense against numerous armed opponents (randori)


Developing Ki

These exercises aim to develop internal strength which is fundamental to the development of Aikido. The exercises consist of breathing exercises (Ki breathing) and balance and movement exercises which are executed either individually or in pairs. It is worth noting that Ki exercises can also be executed by people who do not practice Aikido, as exercises which are beneficial to general health and well being.


Meditation

Involves exercises of silent meditation for several minutes before the start of training, or following the end of training. Meditation exercises frequently include breathing exercises.


Links

Akikai Foundation

Aikicosmos


Address

FukuShinKan Dojo, 12 Davaki st.and 18 Mylpotamou st., 1st floor
Mobile phone: 694-7544557 (Monday - Friday 12:00 - 20:00)
Email : hellenicaikidoassociationjagcc12@yahoo.com