Massey Yoshinkan Aikido Club

Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as ‘The Way of unifying with life’s energy’ or as ‘The Way of harmony’. Ueshiba’s goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to defend themselves while also protecting their attacker from injury.

Aikido techniques are applied by using your own power in harmony with your attacker’s power. This means, no matter whether you are strong or weak, big or small, young or old, you can do Aikido without having to be a top athlete.

Aikido is primarily derived from Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu, founded 800 years ago by Shinra-Saburo Minamoto no Yoshimitsu. The Kai Genji Takeda clan (local Samurai rulers) preserved Daito-Ryu as a secret martial art within the family. Nobody knew even the name of this martial art until Sokaku Takeda Sensei began teaching the art outside of the family in the late 19th century.