Aikido - The Art

To the world, Asia has made the contribution of martial arts. Bruce Lee is the best example of this. He was first a martial arts master and then a Hollywood star. Martial arts have always been a favorite with movie makers and even now there are films like House of Flying Daggers and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon to name just a few.

Japan is where you will find a rich history of this sport but China is what comes to mind when anyone says martial arts. Modern Japan conducts tournaments and promotes this sport in a big way abroad and at home. The Japanese have an old heritage of contact body sport and they are very athletic as a race.

Aikido is one such sport that is promoted by the Japanese. The word Aikido is derived from three words where Ai which means joining, Ki which means spirit and Do which means way. This tells us that we are not just talking about a sport in the physical sense of the word but it emphasizes the philosophical and spiritual development of the student and this was given a lot of focus by the proponent of Aikido who was called Ueshiba.

Aikido dwells on the theory of using harmony to defeat the opponent rather than violence. It aims to catch the opponent where he is the weakest and then the aim is to divert his attack or then immobilize him but not to kill him. It is this theory that makes Aikido beautiful to watch and it is very positive in nature. Of the people fighting there is a minimum of one who is looking for harmony and he performs the movement with grace and elegance. There are calculated moves but they exude an air of finesse and grace that is not feminine in nature but one which exudes peace. The sport is also called the art of peace and it is known to have some very positive influences on its practitioners and on those who choose to learn this sport.

There are some techniques involved in Aikido. The first is Ikkyo where the opponent is controlled by using one hand to hold the elbow and the other at the wrist. This step will aid in pinning the opponent down. Nikyo is the next technique where an adductive wristlock will help you twist your opponent's arm and cause some pressure on the nerve. Sankyo is the third where tension is sent upward - arm to elbow to shoulder.

Aikido does not only mean developing your physical strength but also your mental strength and capacity to effectively defeat the opponent. Perfecting this art requires hours of practice and strict discipline. Those who want to get into this field must do their best and they must try and perform it to the best of their ability.

NRA News To Women: Don't Believe The Scarlett Johansson Hype, Buy Guns - Media Matters for America (blog)

NRA News To Women: Don't Believe The Scarlett Johansson Hype, Buy Guns Media Matters for America (blog) Whittle concluded his thoughts by explaining that he is "genuinely disturbed" about the presence of "women butt-kickers in movies" like Scarlet Johansson in The Avengers, because instead of thinking they can fight large men women should be buying guns. and more »

Takedown Piracy Celebrates 3-Year Anniversary - AVN News (press release)

Takedown Piracy Celebrates 3-Year Anniversary AVN News (press release) Only three days after I put out my completely independent movie, word was out it had hit the torrent sites, YouTube, and more. After funding the whole project myself, this was a scary thought. This is when Takedown Piracy came in and saved the day (and ...

8 Fighters Who Need to Spend Some Time with Steven Seagal - Bleacher Report

Bleacher Report

8 Fighters Who Need to Spend Some Time with Steven Seagal Bleacher Report Ever since Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida knocked their respective opponents out with Aikido's signature front kicks to the face, Sensei Seagal's phone must have been ringing off the hook. The thing is, one man, even a great man like Steven Seagal, ...

In the name of Wushu - VARSITY News

In the name of Wushu VARSITY News It was organised by the UCT Tai Chi club and attended by 46 students and coaches from the Tai Chi, Taekwon-Do and Aikido clubs. The purpose was to devote a full weekend to intensive martial arts practice, while fostering what Tai Chi coach Peter ...

Iraqi "Bruce Lee" carries on first martial arts school in war-torn Iraq - Xinhua

Iraqi "Bruce Lee" carries on first martial arts school in war-torn Iraq Xinhua He was totally carried away by the fluid kicking and punching in Lee's movies. In quite a coincidence in 1983, he met a Chinese engineer who was working with a telecommunication company in Baghdad and who happened to be a master of Chinese martial arts ... and more »