Aikido Fundamentals

Aikido is the result of a combination of many different disciplines. Created by a person named Ueshiba in the 1940s, the aim was to find a technique that helped attain fulfillment at the technical and the spiritual levels. The word Aikido is derived form three Japanese words Ai and Ki and Do which mean joining, spirit and way. So basically one can define Aikido as a joining of the spirit, body and mind to find the right way.

There are many techniques to the art of Aikido. Its takes its basic form from the Jujitsu style locks and throws and it also incorporates moves from the arena of sword and spear fighting by experts. There are some basic fundamental moves in Aikido which one must be aware of.

Ikkyo is the first technique. Here the point of control is by putting one hand near the elbow and the other near the wrist. This style of grip puts pressure on the ulnar which is located in the arm's medial portion. The next technique is Nikyo where painful pressure can be applied to the arm by the use of an adductive wristlock where the arm gets twisted. The third is called the Sankyo which is a pronating move. Tension is directed all the way up the arm, elbow right up to the shoulder. At number four you have the Yonkyo where the knuckles put pressure on the radial nerve. The movement is somewhat like that of an Ikkyo but the forearm is not gripped and the shoulder is used. The last technique is Gokyo which is similar to the Ikkyo but with a slight modification which involves a twisting and inverting of the hand holding the wrist.

After the basic techniques come some protective moves that one must know to effectively disarm the opponent.

The first move is called the Kotogaeshi which translates to a wrist return in English. Here the student places a wristlock and throw that stretches to the extensor digitorum. The next move is called Iriminage or the enter-body throw. Here the student or nage moves in to the opponent's or uke's space somewhat like a clothesline technique. Number three is Kokynage or breath throw which involves different types of timing throws. Koshinage is where the student lowers his hips to below the opponent's hip level, uses this as a fulcrum to flip the opponent. Tenchinage is also known as the heaven and earth throw. Here both wrists are grabbed and one hand holds the wrist high and the other low while moving forward which will make the opponent lose balance and fall.

Shihonage is a throw that goes in four directions. The hand folds back beyond the shoulders which then locks the shoulder joints. At number seven you have the Kaitennage or the rotation throw. Here the arm is pushed backwards so the shoulder joints lock and then pressure is applied. The last one is Jujinage where a throw will lock the arms together. This also goes by the name shaped-like-a-ten-throw because the cross shape resembles a 10 in kanji.

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