Onshinkan Dojo Frequently Asked Questions

What is Aikido?

The Japanese martial art of Aikido is a comprehensive system of throwing, joint-locking, striking and pinning techniques, coupled with training in traditional Japanese weapons such as the sword, staff and knife. Founded by Morihei Ueshiba early in the twentieth century following his own extensive study of various armed and unarmed martial systems, Aikido represents a potent distillation of centuries of Japanese martial knowledge. It is one of the most widely practiced budo, or martial way, in the world.

However, Ueshiba (commonly called O-Sensei, or "venerable teacher") was determined that his Aikido be practiced as more than simply a method of fighting. The Japanese martial arts, influenced by the internal and meditative disciplines inherited from India and China, have often carried with them an emphasis on the development of internal, as well as physical, integrity.

Wielding the life-taking sword with compassion and insight, the ideal warrior in Japanese thought is more than a simple killing machine; he is a model of uprightness, courage and loyalty, gladly sacrificing life (but never honor) in the name of principle and duty. Steeped in these traditions, O-Sensei conceived of Aikido as not only a means of vanquishing a foe, but as a means of promoting the positive character of the ideal warrior and ultimately of transcending dualistic conflict. For O-Sensei, Aikido was a path of self-development. He believed that it could be a means for anyone, of any nation, to follow the same path.

Aikido is shugyo: an intense physical and spiritual training to perfect human character and develop true wisdom.

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What Are the Benefits of Aikido?

The benefits of Aikido are many, and can last a lifetime. As a path of self-development, Aikido leads towards the integration of mind, body, and spirit – towards making us complete human beings, which not only benefits us, but benefits the people around us. As described in the Aikido Association of America website (www.aaa-aikido.com, “Benefits of Aikido”), “Everything in Aikido training is meant to develop not only a strong individual, but one with the wisdom and energy to positively benefit society.. A true martial artist views conflict not as merely a contest with others, but as an opportunity to forge oneself and overcome one’s true enemies, which are within.”

Physically and psychologically, Aikido is at the same time very complex and yet very simple. The changes it can make in our lives begin at the surface and go as deep as we let it.

Specifically, physical benefits of Aikido practice include increased balance, coordination, reaction, and sense of timing; improved posture, flexibility and aerobic conditioning; a greater awareness of our bodies and how we express ourselves through our bodies; and a more relaxed and confident presence.

Mental benefits include this increased self-awareness and relaxation; better ability to resolve conflicts and deal with stressful situations in a calmer and more positive manner; greater self-confidence and self-discipline; and the constant challenge of self-development and learning new skills.

Spiritual benefits include being able to improve one’s own quality of living; to break or change old habits and conditioning; to see things with greater clarity and perceptiveness; and to have a greater intuitive understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

One cannot fully separate the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of Aikido, nor of the benefits. None of these benefits come easily, yet if we train, they come. A good attitude, hard work, and self-reflection are necessary. One of O’Sensei’s favorite sayings was “Practice with fierce joy.” Relax, be patient with yourself, and train hard!

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Is Aikido Good For Self-Defense?

Aikido is well-suited for self-defense. Because it trains not only the body, but the mind and spirit as well, it is a holistic approach to defense and self-protection. Aikido training develops one's energy and expression of energy and enables the practitioner to maintain a calm state of mind under adverse conditions.

On one level, with increased awareness and self-confidence and better posture and movement, you will be able to avoid potential situations.

On another level, if someone does attack you, your training will enable you to react in a way the attacker may not expect, which may diffuse the attack by itself.

And on another level, if you are in a situation where you do have to do something, Aikido teaches you basic, effective body movement, techniques, escapes, and immobilizations that you can use to protect yourself in many situations.

One of the basic concepts is that an attacker attacks in such a way that makes you a victim and him the victor. The attacker's motivation may be based on ego (i.e. need for power over others), or on emotion (anger, fear, etc...) His or her intent is to place you at a great disadvantage, which he or she then uses to his own advantage. In Aikido we learn to redirect this intention - to either blend with the force of the attack and turn it back to the attacker, or to accept the attack but on our own terms, so that it is not us at the disadvantage, but the attacker. We maintain a calm, centered, state of mind and body and do not become the victim the attacker expects.

Aikido techniques are done against a variety of attacks - kicks, punches, strikes, chops, grabs by one or both hands to wrists, elbows, shoulders (from front or back), combination attacks, some knife or gun attacks, and attacks by more than one person.

In addition to regular Aikido training, Aikido of Northern Indiana also offers special half-day seminars which focus on applications for specific self-defense situations. Contact Aikido of Northern Indiana for more information.

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How is Aikido Different From Other Martial Arts?

Traditional Aikido is non-competitive and promotions do not come through besting an opponent, but through demonstrating understanding of basic exercises and techniques, which become more demanding or difficult as rank increases.

In Aikido we strive to work in cooperation with a partner, still employing effective technique against an energetic and realistic attack, yet doing so by blending with the attack and redirecting its energy back to the attacker. We practice defenses against a variety of attacks such as kicks, punches, strikes, single-hand or two-hand grabs from the front or rear, chokes, multiple person attacks, and attacks with weapons. In all of these we strive to resolve the conflict in a non-lethal, non-disruptive, yet effective manner. Techniques may end in joint locks or immobilization's, or in dynamic motions where the attacker is thrown forwards or backwards across the mat, or through the air into a spectacular breakfall.

Rather than using primarily linear motions, Aikido is comprised of blending, turning, pivoting, circling, and spiraling. We are learning to deal not only with our own energy, but with that of an attacker, other person, or situation as well. Aikido embodies concepts which are at the same time very simple, yet very complex.

Because of these and other differences, Aikido can be very challenging to learn, yet at the same time can be very rewarding because it is ultimately bringing us into harmony with ourselves and with our world, and helping us to become more complete and integrated human beings.

And it is fun! You find good people in an Aikido dojo.

The true spirit of Aikido is embodied in this favorite saying of Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei, the founder of Aikido: “Masakatsu Agatsu” (True victory is self victory).

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How Do I Train?

So just how do you train in Aikido? First of all, you need three things to practice Aikido: someone to teach you, a place to practice in, and people to practice with. There is a lot of information available on Aikido, through web sites, books, and videos, but nothing can replace actual instruction and practice. First of all, find a place that offers Aikido instruction in your area. This might be an actual dojo; a high school, community college, university, Parks District, YMCA, or community center. You might find Aikido being offered as a five- to ten-week introductory class, or as an ongoing class. It may be a college credit course, adult education class, or leisure learning program.

Once you have found one or more places that offer Aikido instruction, contact them for more information. It is best to visit the location in person; this way you can meet the instructor, see the other students and how the classes are conducted, and get a feel for the energy of the dojo. Because this is a place you may be spending some time, it is important that you feel comfortable with the place and the people. If it doesn’t feel good, trust your instincts and continue looking.

The founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, said one should always “practice with fierce joy”. In other words, be intense, but have fun. Being intense means concentrating on what you are doing with full awareness, giving the training your full effort, expressing your energy vibrantly and strongly.

When in class, keep an open mind and try your best to do the things you are shown. If the instructor tells you to do something, and you aren’t sure you can, try it anyway. Watch closely and pay attention to how your own body feels as you do the technique or have the technique done on you – both sides are equally important. Keep an open mind – don’t be limited by previous conditioning. Between classes, especially if you are only attending once per week, you should practice the basic “aiki taiso” (body movement) exercises, the stances, and the breathing that you will learn in class. You can even move through the techniques you’re learning (feet here, hands here, turning like so), imagining the opponent attacking as they did in class.

Whenever possible, attend Aikido training seminars in your area. Seminars are 2-3 day events conducted by a high-ranking instructor. Generally they begin Friday evening and finish midday Sunday. These 10-12 hour events give students at all levels an opportunity for intensive training with a wide range of people. You will find your skills improving by leaps and bounds after attending such an event.

Now, go have fun!

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How Can Practicing Aikido Help Me In My Daily Life?

One translation of “Aikido” is “The Way of Harmonizing Energy.” This means the way of bringing our own energy into harmony with itself, as well as bringing our energy into harmony with the world around us. The Eastern cultures traditionally do not view mind as separate from body, while in Western culture, there is usually quite a dichotomy viewed between the two. If we can integrate this, and not be fighting ourselves or the world around us, how much more easily we could move, and accomplish what we need to! We can be more efficient, more effective, and more healthy, physically, mentally, and spiritually. One goal of Aikido is to help us regain our natural state (with which we were all born), to not get in the way of ourselves with whatever we are doing. We relearn how to just Do something, rather than Thinking about it, or Talking About doing it.

Many of us, when we begin practicing Aikido, think we are only practicing Aikido on the mat, when we come to class and are inside the dojo. However, the true practice of Aikido comes when we bring its principles to every moment of our lives, wherever we are, whatever we are doing. On the mat, we are trying to learn how to maintain a calm state of mind under adverse conditions - how to be centered and balanced even while under attack from one or more opponents. On the mat it is delivered as a physical attack, but our reaction to this includes physical, mental, and emotional components. But attacks (or adverse conditions) in daily life can also be mental or emotional as well as physical. Some common examples include: being caught in traffic; dealing with rude or incompetent people; being in an argument; dealing with a busy or intense schedule at work or school; feeling pressure to perform or succeed or win; the illness or death of a loved one; communicating with coworkers, significant others, or our children; and interactions with people or events in any other aspect of our lives.

The skills we learn in the dojo to deal with physical attack can be transferred to dealing with any kind of attack. So what skills are we learning? What is, and how to maintain, proper posture and breathing. What are proper space and timing, and how to use them. How to get off the line and redirect the energy of the attack. How to relax one’s sense of ego enough to blend with another person or situation, to be able to perform the technique without extra effort. How to be aware not only of our own body/ stance/ condition, but to be aware of the other person’s body/ stance/ condition. How to be aware of the situation as a whole – the space, the timing, the movement, the energy. When moving or being thrown, how to keep centered. How to deal with a variety of types of people – of different sizes, personalities, and experience levels. Realizing that in any interaction between two people, the two are both one and yet two (or neither one nor two).

We learn that to have a calm mind, we need to relax our body. We straighten up, drop our weight, and breath deeply and slowly. When attacked, we don’t throw up walls, close our eyes, and stand rigid, nor do we clench our teeth and rush forwards head down to steamroll the opposition. We breath, we watch, we keep our feet under us, and when the timing is right we either get off the line, or turn, or step in, or retreat – whatever is appropriate to the situation. And this is the situation as it really is, not what we think it is, or imagine it to be, or anticipate or fear it to be.

A calm mind and calm body lead to expanded awareness, deeper clarity, and greater perceptiveness.

Another challenge we face in Western cultures is the emphasis on competition. We are so used to comparing ourselves to other people and making value judgements accordingly, that it becomes easy to say “I want to do the best – do better than him.” We try to beat the other guy, or keep up with the Jones’s, or whatever. But the Aikido mat is a perfect place to discover our own center, and to realize that a true victory is victory over oneself (“masa katsu agatsu”, one of O’Sensei’s favorite sayings). Rather, we should say “I want to do the best that I can do”. And in doing this, we truly test our own boundaries and limits, and may realize they are not real, but self-imposed. The best you can do is not fixed, but must needs apply to every instance, every situation. Best doesn’t mean “perfect” as defined in our culture – it means full effort, full commitment, full concentration. Being honest with yourself, not holding back, following through, finishing. Having the courage to take on the hard parts as well as the easy.

When doing an aiki taiso exercise (happo undo is a good example), it is crucial that we don’t just follow what other people are doing. We need to feel it in our own selves, how our own body moves on each count. It may take effort, but we gain confidence. Likewise, we should not judge our own ability or progress by watching those around us. Each of us is different. We come from different backgrounds and experience levels, we have different learning styles. It is crucial to sink our awareness inside our own selves (Is my posture stable? Is my back heel down? Is my arm unbendable? Did I pivot fully? Did I step back or step forward?) This develops an increased awareness, and the more we practice it, the less conscious thinking will be involved. But by doing so, we are truly learning from the inside out, not from the outside in. It is not just matching the appearance, but creating true substance.

The same thing applies at work, at school, at home. If we try to just do what we see the others do, we lose sight of our own potential or our own capabilities. We lose the opportunity to truly test or redefine our own limits.

Another level in practice is to see beyond the form to the underlying meaning. Just sliding to the side and extending our arm down is not enough if it doesn’t unbalance uke. What is the meaning of this first tai sabaki (body motion) – not just foot here, hand here, but to off-balance uke. Likewise, stepping through and throwing is no good if we don’t keep our balance afterwards. Off the mat, this might relate to not just blindly doing an assignment, but trying to understand what the assignment is about and being able to find the proper approach. It means not losing sight of the forest for the trees.

So keeping an open mind, being willing to admit that there may be something we aren’t doing quite right, or could be doing better, and being willing to work to improve it, are important, not only on the mat, but off.

Aikido and daily life – no different. Stay aware, stay relaxed, do your own best, get off the line.

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Where Can I Learn Aikido?

New introductory and ongoing Aikido classes in the Northern Indiana area are listed at the link below. These classes are open to everyone, regardless of previous experience. A new class for children and young teens has been added, as well as a women's self-defense class and an Aikido weapons class. If you do not see location listed in your area, please contact us. If you have a location at which you would like to have an Aikido program offered, or would like to schedule an Aikido demonstration or Aikido or self-defense seminar, please also contact us.

Each session listed in our schedule provides a solid foundation for future study, and teach the basics of posture, breathing, movement, and technique. Ongoing classes are designed for more long-term or intensive training, and will continue year-round.

Click here for a schedule of Aikido and self-defense classes currently offered in Northern Indiana.

Sign up for classes in your area now !

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Hey Dad, Grab My Wrist!

An eight-year-old stands in good hanmi with right hand extended in invitation, “Hey Dad, grab my wrist.” Dad walks up taking his son’s invitation in a cross hand grab. Dad is quickly introduced to the mat as son steps in performing a kokyunage. Father and son exchange grins, the elder’s in approval, the child’s in glee. As father gets up off the mat he is met with the next invitation, this time from Mom.

This scene is played out every Friday night during family class at Onshinkan Dojo. What started out as a coincidence of convenience has turned into a well-attended high-energy class held Friday night and Saturday morning where youth and adults are encouraged to train together. With a very family-oriented student base, we count among our members nine family groups – some combination of parents and siblings all training in Aikido. Imagine if you have one adult and two youths training in the same family this could mean four to six trips to the dojo per week, possibly two trips in a day. By training together one or two of these trips can be eliminated.

The real benefits go far beyond logistics. In these classes we emphasize the non-competitive, cooperative aspects of Aikido. Relationship and communication issues can be explored on the mat. The different generations are given a common platform to build future discussions. Families have a chance to spend that all-so-important quality time together that we hear so much about.

Good role modeling is an important aspect of any child’s development. Our parents are our first role models. When we are young we just figure our parents know everything. We seldom stop to wonder how they came to know everything. What a great opportunity it is for a child to watch his or her parent struggle with and learn something new, to make mistakes and constructively enter into the learning process.

As an instructor, the family class may be your biggest challenge. You must not only deal with varying degrees of ability, but also with the physical extremes of pairing an eight-year-old with a forty-year-old, and with vastly different attention spans. You must choose techniques that both can do safely. You must also mix traditional Aikido teaching with activities common to youth and children’s classes. Although we have found that parents are just the big kids on the mat and are happy to join in with the more youth-oriented activities.

If you have families that are members of your dojo, consider setting aside a class for them to train together. If you don’t have families training, consider encouraging their participation. There is nothing like the support of a spouse, parent, or child to keep you coming to the dojo on a regular basis.

When we have new students join the dojo we gather in a circle for introductions. Part of the introduction is to tell why you train or what you get out of the training. The adults always come up with some philosophically important reason for training. The kids cut right through and touch upon the reason we all continue to train: it’s fun! Family class reminds us of this important truth.

"Hey Dad, Grab My Wrist" contributed by James Landry, Shodan, Onshinkan Dojo – Aikido of Northern Indiana (as submitted to the Aikido Association of America "Aikido World" newsletter)

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You are always welcome to come visit!