What is Aikido? (goto to top)

• Aikido is very dynamic martial art that focuses on avoiding blows and using your opponent's energy to gain control of him. Punching and kicking are not central in Aikido techniques. Rather, the emphasis is on developing a good sense of timing and distance so you can use joint locks and throws to overcome your opponent.


• It is an extremely rich and complex art. A basic understanding of the physical techniques can be obtained relatively easily, but Aikido is very deep. Physical technique can continue to be refined over many years of practice. And the art ultimately goes far beyond the technical. Developing your mental condition as you refine the functional capacities of your body is one key to reaching higher levels. This presents a constant challenge and the very difficulty of doing it is what makes Aikido so interesting to practice for a life time as there is no limit to how far you can develop yourself.


• Because of this complexity people can have different motives for practicing Aikido. You may practice to maintain your physical condition, to learn an efficient art of self-defense, to develop your mind and body, or it can become a way of life. This mostly depends on how much you invest into it.


• Aikido is non-competitive. There are no tournaments.


• Regarding the ranking system there are two categories: kyu grades, which go from 5th kyu to 1st kyu, and dan grades which start at 1st dan. All kyu grades wear a white belt. Starting with 1st dan you wear a black belt and an hakama.

Practice (goto to top)

• In Aikido you always practice with a partner. One person attacks, the other person applies the technique. Roles are then switched. The degree of intensity during practice depends on your level. It is not a problem for two people of different fitness levels or ranks to practice together. Practitioners learn how to adapt their speed and strength to accommodate any situation.


• Aikido is first and foremost a physical practice. Therefore you need to acquire and maintain a certain level of physical fitness. This can be achieved through regular practice. How often you practice is up to you. You may practice every day, once a week, or anything in between, but regular practice is key. Needless to say, you will progress more quickly if you practice more often, but it also fine to progress at a slower pace.

How Can Aikido Improve Your Health? (goto to top)

We all know that that regular physical activity is critical if you want to remain healthy. Aikido practice will help you improve the following areas:

• Muscle Strength / Muscle Relaxation
  • By moving your body in response to your partner's movements, by using basic stances and steps, by rolling, falling and getting up, Aikido develops all the muscles in a harmonious way.
  • Regular practice teaches you to voluntarily relax specific muscles at will, allowing better control of and more efficient use of your muscles. This is not only essential for practice, but will also help you become proficient at detecting tension in your body during your daily life.

• Cardiovascular fitness / Breathing
  • In Aikido each one practices at his or her own rhythm. If you are willing to push yourself, the practice will give your heart a good workout and you will improve your stamina and endurance.
  • Proper breathing is important to perform efficient techniques. If, while training, you are focused on and aware of your breathing, in time you will see a change in your breathing habits.

• Balance / Coordination
  • Learning Aikido means learning to smoothly execute complex movements in order to take control of your opponent. This requires that you develop a strong center that allows you to maintain a stable posture even when in full motion.
  • The training is as much focused on doing a technique as on "receiving" it. "Receiving" the technique means that you learn to recover and react from forces that throw you off balance. Therefore, you naturally improve your balance and coordination.

• Flexibility / Joints
  • Aikido will definitely increase the range of movement in your joints because a lot of techniques involve joint rotation. For instance, when receiving a joint lock technique you can feel the tightness that comes from going slightly beyond your normal range of motion. And because you signal your partner when to stop, you can control how far you want to go and avoid over-stretching.
  • Back stretches and torso-twists are also routinely used. Each increases your overall range of motion and enhances the flexibility in your back, hips, and upper body.

• Skeletal Strength
  • Aikido provides a high-impact exercise, as we are constantly pounding the mat through falls. This is known to help fortify bones.