|
In Aikido a person has the ability to defend himself without harming their attacker. It has been called the ultimate self-defense
because it is entirely and exclusively defense. Aikido moves are almost always circular, revolving around your center of gravity.
You learn to apply joint locking techniques, which immobilized but do not have to harm your opponent. You do not fight with
the attacker. In Aikido you take control of the force directed at you and use it to lead your opponent where you want them
to go. Aikido, which has been called the most sophisticated of the martial arts, is relatively new. Morihei Uyeshiba, one
of the greatest Japanese martial artists of all time, created Aikido early in the 19th century. He studied over two hundred
arts and was a master of many. Morihei dreamed the highest art would be one that enabled us to defend ourselves from attack
without making an attack of our own. It would be a way to overcome violence entirely by turning its disruptive energy into
harmonious energy. He introduced Aikido as a system that would do this.
Jujitsu is an ancient oriental art of self defense and counter attacks. In Jujitsu the person never attacks, but instead
waits for the attacker to make their move and then counters. If necessary, he or she ends the fight quickly with a well aimed
punch or kick, or uses a holding technique to contain the attacker. In some cases, the fight may be ended by throwing the
attacker. With proper throwing techniques, a person skilled in Jujitsu can often stop a stronger and heavier opponent. Jujitsu
is a self defense method that depends on skill and judgement rather than sheer physical strength. When a person studies Aiki-jujitsu,
he or she learns not only the physical techniques but a philosophy as well. The philosophy stresses self-control.
|
