Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere An Illustrated Introduction

Aikido has often been referred to as the gentleman's fighting art. Though it is not an unfamiliar word, few outside the world of the martial arts can distinguish it from various other "methods of self-defense." Its trademark, however, lies partly in its sophisticated style and particularly in its essential motivations. Aikido is a method of self-defense which can be used against any form of attack and-at its highest levels-a Discipline of Coordination, a "way" of harmonizing all of man's vital powers. There is no attack in aikido; i.e., its goal is merely to neutralize an aggression and render the attacker harmless, without causing him any serious injury if at all possible. To do this requires skill, but even more, it requires an ethical intention. The very word aikido, in fact, contains the three elements which comprise the art: (ai), harmony or coordination; (ki), spirit or energy; (do), the method, the "way." A man who studies and practices aikido correctly desires only to defend himself without hurting others. To possess this attitude, one must achieve a very high level of integration of the powers of mind and body, the harmonious combination of physical means and ethical motives.Westbrook, A. M. is the author of 'Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere An Illustrated Introduction' with ISBN 9780804800044 and ISBN 0804800049.