Aikido
Harmony in Confrontation
Harmony of Intent
Aikido was founded by Morihei Ueshiba during the early part of the twentieth century following his own detailed study of various other armed and unarmed martial systems. It is a modern Japanese martial art that teaches practitioners to neutralize aggression through harmony of movement and precise timing. It is a comprehensive system of throws, joint-locks, strikes and pins. Aikido training also typically includes training in traditional Japanese weapons such as the sword, the staff and the knife.

Aikido is an extremely effective self-defence art that is both non-competitive and non-aggressive. It does not meet force with resistance or brute strength. Instead it redirects an aggressor’s force with well-timed, flowing, circular movements. The techniques of Aikido are designed so that students can protect themselves and, at the same time, protect their attackers by neutralizing their aggression. In this way, rather than relying on one’s strength to overpower an attacker, their own movements and momentum are utilized to compromise their balance and stability. Once they are unbalanced, the attacker is subdued or dealt with through the a wide range of joint locks, pins or throws.
Aikido is one of the most widely practiced martial arts in the world today. It originates from ancient forms of Samurai unarmed combat and so represents a potent distillation of centuries of Japanese martial knowledge. Today, this deep history continues to be studied and maintained and this brings traditional Japanese insights to today’s students.

Aikido was founded by Morihei Ueshiba during the early part of the twentieth century following his own detailed study of various other armed and unarmed martial systems. It is a modern Japanese martial art that teaches practitioners to neutralize aggression through harmony of movement and precise timing. It is a comprehensive system of throws, joint-locks, strikes and pins. Aikido training also typically includes training in traditional Japanese weapons such as the sword, the staff and the knife.
Aikido is an extremely effective self-defence art that is both non-competitive and non-aggressive. It does not meet force with resistance or brute strength. Instead it redirects an aggressor’s force with well-timed, flowing, circular movements. The techniques of Aikido are designed so that students can protect themselves and, at the same time, protect their attackers by neutralizing their aggression. In this way, rather than relying on one’s strength to overpower an attacker, their own movements and momentum are utilized to compromise their balance and stability. Once they are unbalanced, the attacker is subdued or dealt with through the a wide range of joint locks, pins or throws.
Aikido is one of the most widely practiced martial arts in the world today. It originates from ancient forms of Samurai unarmed combat and so represents a potent distillation of centuries of Japanese martial knowledge. Today, this deep history continues to be studied and maintained and this brings traditional Japanese insights to today’s students.



“To injure an opponent is to injure yourself. To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace.”
Morihei Ueshiba
In Aikido there are no competitions, no tournaments and no trophies to win. On a physical level, the focus is on self-protection rather than fighting. On a personal level, the focus is on achieving victory over oneself rather than victory over the opponent.

One of the Founder’s most gifted students was Gozo Shioda. After WWII, Shioda went on to establish a very practical approach to Aikido which became systematized as Yoshinkan Aikido. This is the same style that is taught to the Tokyo Riot Police and other elite Defence Forces around the world.
This is also the style practiced at the Shindokan Dojo.