"To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace," was once said by Ueshiba. This sentence seems to encompass both aikido's physical and philosophical teachings.

Along with this, aikido is primarily a defensive art. In other words, practitioners are taught to use their attacker's aggression and power against them. This is done through the use of throws, joint locks (particularly of the standing variety), and pins.

Aikido is generally learned through the practice of pre-arranged two person katas or forms. One person becomes the attacker in teaching (uke), while the other utilizes aikido techniques to subdue their attacker (nage). It should be noted that many of the pre-arranged strikes that are defended against in practice seem to resemble the possible movements of a sword, indicating that aikido had weapons defense significantly on the mind in the past.

The actual use of weapons, free sparring, and defense against multiple attackers are also sometimes practiced with higher level students.

Basic Goals of Aikido

The basic goal of Aikido is to defend oneself against an aggressor in the most peaceful and least harmful way possible.