Aikido
Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba in the first half of the 20th century. Instead of meeting an attack with force, you move out of its line and use the attacker's own movement to lead them into a throw or a joint lock. Training is in pairs, and most styles have no competitions.
What it is for
Section titled “What it is for”- Learning to fall and roll safely — a skill that is useful off the mat too.
- Balance, coordination, flexibility, and a sense of timing and distance.
- Throws and joint locks that control a partner rather than strike them.
- Calm and focus: staying relaxed and centred when somebody attacks.
- A practice for life — many people keep training well into older age.
Equipment
Section titled “Equipment”- A white training uniform (keikogi) and a belt. For the first classes, comfortable sports clothes with long sleeves and long trousers are fine.
- In many schools experienced students also wear a hakama, wide pleated trousers; when you start wearing one depends on the school.
- Training is barefoot on tatami mats; bring flip-flops for walking off the mat.
- Wooden weapons — the bokken (sword), jō (staff) and tantō (knife) — are used in many classes, and dojos often lend them at first.
How training goes
Section titled “How training goes”- 60–90 minutes, with a bow at the start and the end; etiquette is part of the art.
- A warm-up, stretching, and practice of rolls and falls (ukemi).
- The teacher shows a technique, and you practise it in pairs, taking turns as the attacker (uke) and the person who applies the technique (nage or tori, depending on the school).
- Speed and force grow with experience. You tap the mat or your partner when a lock is enough, and your partner lets go at once.
- Some classes include weapons work, and at higher levels some styles practise defence against several attackers.
- Grades (kyu) lead to the black belt (dan). On a first visit you learn how to bow, roll and move with a partner.
Who it suits best
Section titled “Who it suits best”- People who want a martial art without sparring or blows to the head.
- Those who value technique, etiquette and a calm atmosphere as much as fitness.
- Adults of any age, including those who start later in life, and children in their own groups.
- Anybody who wants to learn to fall safely.
- It is less suited to anybody who wants to compete or wants fighting skills quickly — look at judo or Krav Maga. Joint locks, falls and kneeling put load on the wrists, shoulders, neck and knees: with an injury or a back problem, ask a doctor and tell the teacher.