| Aikido is often seen by some as the modern | | | | was particularly skilled with the use of the staff. |
| Japanese Budo. This martial art places and | | | | He incorporated the use of the staff as a weapon |
| emphasis on a person developing their physical | | | | technique with some basic circular movements. Of |
| and spiritual selves. This far eastern philosophy | | | | all the weapons however, the most influential of |
| basically means a way for the body to harmonize | | | | the lot is the sword which has its influence on all |
| with the spirit. It is also a study of the laws of | | | | the development stages of this art and its |
| nature and how best these laws can harmonize | | | | techniques. |
| perfectly with the mind and body of an individual. | | | | Martial arts students can measure the distance |
| This is a Japanese all-encompassing martial art. A | | | | between attacks with effective weapons training. |
| practitioner of these arts will be taught methods | | | | Distancing is called ma-ai in Aikido and it is very |
| of using both armed and unarmed combat | | | | important in the timing or defense of an attack. If |
| effectively. If you have to execute armed | | | | you're considering defense it is also necessary to |
| attacks you will have different throws to study | | | | train with weapons as well since Aikido techniques |
| which can guarantee you maximum efficiency. | | | | which are advanced involve you training against |
| Other things that you will have to study include | | | | people who carry different types of assault |
| strikes, joint lock techniques as well as vital points. | | | | weapons. |
| You will also learn mystery attacks that teach | | | | One other weapon which is used when training in |
| you how to immobilize your opponent without | | | | Aikido is the katana, which is a single edged and |
| physically laying your hands on the, Armed | | | | slightly curved sword which is known in the world |
| attacks will also involve the use of different kinds | | | | of martial arts as the sword of the samurai. |
| of weapons such as swords, knives, sticks as well | | | | Weapons training in Aikido will involve you also |
| as spears. Anything that can be used as a | | | | learning how to handle the tanto which is a short |
| weapon in Aikido will be employed here. | | | | blade. The tanto was a favorite of male and |
| On the whole a huge number of Aikido classes | | | | female samurai during their time as well. |
| are taught using some weapons exclusively these | | | | One more weapon in Aikido training is the ninja-to |
| weapons are the jo or staff, tanto or knife and | | | | , a sword which is a favorite of Ninjas. Samurais |
| the bokken or sword. These three weapons are | | | | also have wakizashi swords to use as well. These |
| the main weapons of choice and combat when | | | | swords are two feet long and can be used |
| practicing this discipline and there are a number of | | | | together with the katana. The jo is a four feet |
| reasons why these are the choice of weapons. | | | | long wooden staff which is used in Aikido and |
| Aikido has a strong foundation in different martial | | | | other martial arts. When you use Aikido with a jo |
| arts and proficiency with these weapons will lead | | | | , the resultant technique is known as Aiki-Jo. This |
| to equal proficiency with other different types of | | | | involves and integration of the techniques learned, |
| weapons. | | | | along with the use of the jo to show the |
| Aikido's founder Morihei Ueshiba who was also | | | | principles along with a weapon. |
| called O Sensei or Great Teacher by his students | | | | |