Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969)
The word “aikido” is formed of three kanji:
– ai – joining, harmonizing
– ki – spirit, life energy
– dÅ – way, path
The term aiki refers to the martial arts principle or tactic of blending with an attacker’s movements for the purpose of controlling their actions with minimal effort. One applies aiki by understanding the rhythm and intent of the attacker to find the optimal position and timing to apply a counter-technique.
Historically, aiki was mastered for the purpose of killing; however in aikido one seeks to control an aggressor without causing harm. Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido declared, “To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace.” A number of aikido practitioners interpret aikido metaphorically, seeing parallels between aikido techniques and other methods for conflict resolution.