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.

For the Participant, May 20: A list of events in central Pennsylvania - PennLive.com (blog)

For the Participant, May 20: A list of events in central Pennsylvania PennLive.com (blog) Upper Allen Baseball Association 8U and 10U all-star tournaments, June 16-22 for 10U and June 23-29 for 8U at Fisher Park. Fee is $200; eight teams in each bracket. Contact Scott Cavada at rscavada@verizon.net or 717-712-8517 for details.

Local sports arnnouncements: Updated list of sign-ups in the area - Gaston Gazette

Local sports arnnouncements: Updated list of sign-ups in the area Gaston Gazette Golf Gaston County Senior Golf Association — Upcoming schedule: May 17: River Bend; May 21: Deerbrook; May 24: Lincolnton CC; May 29: Woodbridge: May 31: Westport. There is an 10 am shotgun start. Call 704-461-8567. Forestview Booster Club tournament ...

For the Participant, May 6: A list of events in central Pennsylvania - PennLive.com (blog)

For the Participant, May 6: A list of events in central Pennsylvania PennLive.com (blog) Hershey Area Umpire Association, seeking umpires for the 2012 baseball season. Personal training given. Association works Little League, teener and tournament baseball games on the East Shore. Contact Wayne Jewell at 717-319-3688 or Craig Grimes at ...