Aikido and Weaponry Tactics Articles | Self Esteem

By: Darren Williger

Aikido is often seen by some as the modern Japanese Budo. This martial art places and emphasis on a person developing their physical and spiritual selves, Aikido basically means a way for the body to harmonize with the spirit. It is also a study of the laws of nature and how best these laws can harmonize perfectly with the mind and body of an individual.

Aikido is am all-encompassing martial art. A practitioner of these arts will be taught methods of using both armed and unarmed combat effectively. If you have to execute armed attacks you will have different throws to study which can guarantee you maximum efficiency. Other things that you will have to study include strikes, joint lock techniques as well as vital points. You will also learn mystery attacks that teach you how to immobilize your opponent without physically laying your hands on the, Armed attacks will also involve the use of different kinds of weapons such as swords, knives, sticks as well as spears. Anything that can be used as a weapon in Aikido will be employed here.

On the whole a huge number of Aikido classes are taught using some weapons exclusively these weapons are the jo or staff, tanto or knife and the bokken or sword. These three weapons are the main weapons of choice and combat when practicing Aikido and there are a number of reasons why these are the choice of weapons. Aikido has a strong foundation in different martial arts and proficiency with these weapons will lead to equal proficiency with other different types of weapons.

Aikido’s founder Morihei Ueshiba who was also called O Sensei or Great Teacher by his students was particularly skilled with the use of the staff. He incorporated the use of the staff as a weapon technique with some basic Aikido movements. Of all the weapons however, the most influential of the lot is the sword which has its influence on all the development stages of Aikido and its techniques.

Aikido students can measure the distance between attacks with effective weapons training. Distancing is called ma-ai in Aikido and it is very important in the timing or defense of an attack. If you’re considering defense it is also necessary to train with weapons as well since Aikido techniques which are advanced involve you training against people who carry different types of assault weapons.

One other weapon which is used when training in Aikido is the katana, which is a single edged and slightly curved sword which is known in the world of martial arts as the sword of the samurai. Weapons training in Aikido will involve you also learning how to handle the tanto which is a short blade. The tanto was a favorite of male and female samurai during their time as well.

One more weapon in Aikido training is the ninja-to , a sword which is a favorite of Ninjas. Samurais also have wakizashi swords to use as well. These swords are two feet long and can be used together with the katana. The jo is a four feet long wooden staff which is used in Aikido and other martial arts. When you use Aikido with a jo , the resultant technique is known as Aiki-Jo. This involves and integration of the techniques of Aikido along with the use of the jo to show the principles of Aikido along with a weapon.