| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | different styles of jujitsu, aiki-jujitsu, and spear |
| There’s no mistaken the fact that Aikido is | | | | and sword fighting techniques as well. |
| one of the best and most popular martial art in | | | | Even though a lot of us think of Aikido as the |
| the United States today. The art of Aikido is best | | | | ultimate martial art, it is an art that is based on |
| associated with actor Steven Seagal, who made it | | | | religion and harmony. Aikido uses joint locks, |
| even more popular with his movies. Aikido is rich | | | | weight manipulation, and throws to achieve |
| and history in tradition, an art that originally | | | | it’s purpose. The martial art is very |
| started in Japan back in the 1940s. | | | | effective, which were the intentions of Ueshiba |
| Aikido’s founder, Morihei Ueshiba, was born | | | | from the start. Aikido consists of many |
| on December 14, 1883. As he was growing up in | | | | techniques, and it is the result of Ueshiba’s |
| modern Japan, Ueshiba witnessed the local thugs | | | | creative innovation. |
| vandalize his father. The young boy decided that | | | | Aside from what many think, there really is no |
| he would make himself strong in order to seek | | | | unified belief or philosophy in the martial art of |
| revenge against the thugs. Ueshiba was strong | | | | Aikido. While Aikido is indeed rich in heritage and |
| willed, and devoted every waking moment to | | | | religion, it believes in harmony and peace of the |
| physical training and martial arts. | | | | spirit. By achieving a higher spiritual power, Ueshiba |
| He received a lot of certificates in jujitsu, spear | | | | has always believed that the human body is |
| fighting, and fencing. Even though he was very | | | | capable of anything. Even though he wanted |
| impressive with his abilities, he found himself not | | | | revenge, he still stated that Aikido wasn’t |
| happy with his skills. He knew that there was | | | | about fighting, but rather a way to reconcile with |
| more to it, and began to look into religion, hoping | | | | the world and make every human being on giant |
| that he would find a greater significance with life - | | | | family. |
| pursuing martial arts all the while. | | | | Over the years, Aikido was introduced in America |
| Ueshiba founded the martial art of Aikido by | | | | with amazing results. Steven Seagal is by far the |
| combining both his religious beliefs and his training | | | | most popular, showing the world the power and |
| in martial arts. At that time, the style was known | | | | harmony of Aikido through his many movies. |
| as aikibudo, it wasn’t until 1942 that he | | | | There are a lot of martial arts dojo’s |
| decided to go with the name Aikido. The style | | | | around North America that offer Aikido to study, |
| was quite different indeed, incorporating several | | | | possibly even some in your area. |