Aikido in Kyoto

Kyoto Budo Center Dojo

Osaka Aikikai Foundation

京都武道センター道場 合気道

About Aikido
Kyoto Budo Center Dojo

Aikido is a traditional Japanese martial art that emphasizes harmony of mind and body, as well as peaceful interaction with others. This page provides an easy-to-understand introduction to Aikido, including its history, philosophy, and modern-day significance.

The beginning of Aikido

Aikido is a modern martial art founded by Morihei Ueshiba, from the early to mid-1900s. He studied traditional martial arts such as jujutsu, kenjutsu, and sojutsu from a young age, forming the foundation of Aikido’s techniques. Aikido includes various throws, joint locks, and weapon techniques, emphasizing harmony between mind, body, and the opponent.

The Aikikai Foundation, established by the founder in Shinjuku, Tokyo, was succeeded by the second Doshu, the late Kisshomaru Ueshiba (1921–1999), after the founder’s passing. It is now led by the third Doshu, Moriteru Ueshiba. As the largest organization preserving the direct lineage of Morihei Ueshiba, Aikikai promotes Aikido in approximately 140 countries and regions worldwide and supports interaction and development among around 2,400 dojos across Japan.

Aikido is a martial that trains both the mind and body.

Traditional martial arts were originally focused on mastering combat techniques, but their significance has evolved over time. As a modern martial art, Aikido is more than just acquiring techniques—it is a “way” that pursues both physical and mental training as well as personal growth. Thus, self-reflection and the pursuit of inner development are essential. Through Aikido training, practitioners not only enhance their physical abilities but also cultivate qualities such as focus, perseverance, morality, and self-discipline. Aikido serves as a guiding philosophy beyond mere martial techniques.

In Aikido, there is no competitions between individuals.

Aikido is not a sport that competes in terms of victory, defeat, or technical superiority. Rather than competing in strength, its purpose is to achieve harmony between mind and body and foster personal growth. The goal is not to defeat others, but to overcome conflict, which is believed to lead to a freer mind and body. The idea that “what you must overcome is not others, but yourself” can be applied to daily life, work, and relationships.Since there are no specific victories, defeats, or numerical goals, training can be conducted freely. However, this also requires a constant self-discipline and a sincere commitment to practice.

In Aikido, there is no emphasis on strength or speed of movement.

Aikido training is adjusted according to each individual’s physical fitness and body type, with the speed of movement and strength of force being modified accordingly. This makes it appealing as people of all ages, from young to elderly, can participate in training together.

Many people associate Aikido with the impression of using mysterious techniques to throw opponents who are larger than oneself. However, the actual techniques of Aikido differ from this perception. Aikido techniques are based on mechanical principles, such as changing the direction of force, utilizing timing and momentum, and applying the principles of leverage. At the core of these techniques is a scientific understanding of human physical characteristics, which allows practitioners to use the opponent’s force to break their balance and control that force to subdue them.

The Aikido practice is conducted with great care and attention.

Aikido practice is conducted with great care, tailored to each individual’s level of proficiency and physical ability. We begin and end with a bow. At the start of the practice, we bow to the front, and then both the instructer and students bow to each other. It is important to perform these bows with sincerity. The practice of techniques is divided between the defence and offence, and is carried out in pairs. By alternating roles, we focus on both technical skills and physical conditioning.

What is important is to accumulate a lot of practice. If you focus too much on the small details and let your movements come to a halt, the flow of the practice will be interrupted. Rather than aiming for perfection, focus on learning the flow of movement and the sequence of steps.

For more information about Aikido, please refer to the FAQ section .