What is Aikido?
Aikido is a Japanese discipline rooted from the martial arts of Samurai. It is not a Sport. It is the Development and Strengthening of the spirit (KI), mind (Shin) and Body (Tai). An Aikidoist strives for self improvement and adheres to non-violence. Ai means harmony or coordination, Ki ( or Chi) means spirit or positive energy, and Do (or Tao in Chinese) means path or way of Life. On a purely Physical level, Aikido is an ingenious method of Self Defense Based on the Laws of Physics and Anatomy. Aikido Focuses not on punching or Kicking their opponents, but rather on using their own energy or strength to gain control of them or to throw them away from you through circular movements. It is not a Static art, but places great emphasis on motion and the dynamics of movements.
What will you get from Aikido?
You will discover that while training in Aikido, you will be enriching your whole being. A holistically healthy physical, Mental, emotional and spiritual state results from Aikido's multi level experience. Both hemisphere of the brain for example, learn to work together incorporating the intuition and feelings of the right brain with the analytical abilities of the left. People who are predominantly "right brain" or "Left brain" find themselves becoming much more integrated. The increased self confident and awareness you will attain will enable a feeling of balance and control to emerge in your life. In recent years the powerful positive effect of Aikido has been recognize by many major corporations and learning institutions. Aikido principles are now being taught by highly respected organizations as ideal methods for handling conflict resolution (Management) and stress reduction. Your Body, as well as your mind and character will inevitably change, gaining strength, flexibility, and resilience. Increased cardio vascular fitness, respiration and overall muscle tone will allow for a natural flow of energy. You will find that Aikido training develops not only a strong supple body but a strong supple character as well, able to stand with great dignity yet adjust to all of life challenges.
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Photo: Shihan-Dai Romeo Ballares 1st visit in Saudi Arabia
Nov.4, 2009)...
What is Yoshinkan Aikido?
The Yoshinkan 'House for Cultivating the Spirit' was founded after World War II. This style of Aikido is occasionally called the hard style because the training methods are a product of the grueling period of Soke Shioda spent as a student of Morihei Ueshiba (Founder of AIKIDO). Yoshinkan Aikido is the only Style of Aikido that is taught to Japanese Riot Police (Kidoutai) and is now offered Internationally. Yoshinkan Aikido has some 150 basic techniques which are practiced repeatedly; these enable the student to master the remaining ones, which total some 3000 overall. The Yoshinkan style of Aikido emphasizes the self-defenses aspect of the art. It is more practical and grueling than the other styles of Aikido and to an outsider may appear part of a violent Japanese tradition. Yoshinkan Aikido is not a sport. Aikido is the development and strengthening of the body and mind, and the practical side of Aikido must never be forgotten. However, Aikido is for all, irrespective of age, sex, race or culture.
While observing Aikido
MAKE NO MISTAKE about it. Aikido is a devastating martial art, the full power of which it is rarely seen. Those who do not realize this simply do not know aikido. An Aikidoist who knows this power will only demonstrate their full abilities on another Aikidoist who is fully trained to receive and survive it. When people first observe Aikido, they see the spectacular throws. They see the attackers fall and roll, but are often skeptical as to the real effectiveness of Aikido technique until they have actually felt and received an Aikido technique. They then realize that the "cooperation" with which they saw the attackers falling (Like it was rehearsed) is absolutely necessary to avoid serious injury. Those attackers are only demonstrating their knowledge of Aikido by blending with a powerful technique and showing how they can survive it safely. Aikido principles hold to a defensive mode rather than to a offensive one. One tends to lose his or her balance and inner peace when aggression is allowed to run the mind. The Aikidoist learn to trust natural instincts and intuition and to act appropriately without sacrificing internal equilibrium.
(Photo: O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of AIKIDO)...
Soke Gozo Shioda - Founder of Yoshinkan Aikido
Gōzō Shioda (塩田 剛三, Shioda Gōzō, September 9, 1915–July 17, 1994), was a Japanese aikido teacher and the founder of the Yoshinkan style of aikido. Shioda was a student of judo while young, and after being easily thrown by Morihei Ueshiba after a demonstration, became his student in 1932. He also studied aikijujutsu. He has become known as one of the most "fiery" or "vigorous" people of aikido history. In 1961 he was awarded a 9th dan rank by Ueshiba and in 1985 he received 10th dan and the title Sōke from the International Budo Federation.He returned to Japan after the war and after completing his formal aikido training, he began doing demonstrations of his art to police departments and army units. This laid the groundwork for him to open his own Yoshinkan dojo in 1955 in the Tsukudo Hachiman area of Tokyo. Since then, the dojo has changed locations a few times but is now situated in Kami-Ochiai, Shinjuku, next to Ochiai station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line. Yoshinkan aikido has spread around the world and there are now approximately 150 dojos affiliated wth the International Yoshinkai Aikido Federation outside Japan. Several famous people have visited the Yoshinkan Hombu dojo, including Robert F. Kennedy and Mike Tyson. The Yoshinkan style is known as being a hard and dynamic style concerned with the practicality of its techniques, but also remaining faithful to the ideals of peace and harmony laid out by the founder, Morihei Ueshiba.
Yasuhisa Shioda - New Kancho of Yoshinkan Aikido
The third son of Soke Gozo Shioda, He spreads Yoshinkan widely many organizations, universities, the police, etc with his father Gozo Shioda.
From 1984 he spent 3 years in England, and helped establish the basis for the spread of aikido overseas.
Yasuhisa Shioda, Born 15 November ,1952. Yasuhisa Shioda started practicing Aikido at the age of thirteen, training every day. He graduated in 1976 from the Economics Department of Chuo University in Tokyo. As a member of the Yoshinkan Aikido Dojo, he continued to undergo Aikido training with his father and helped spread Aikido by teaching it in universities, to police departments, and various organizations. Starting in 1984, he spent three years in England and helped establish the basis for the spread of aikido overseas. After returning to Japan, he concentrated on teaching young people, especially nursery school children , originating a unique instruction method that encouraged them to develop their character through the practice of Aikido. He also teaches at various community centers. After his fathers death in 1994, in order to spread his father痴 legacy throughout the world, he has been teaching Aikido and has also become an author.
Yasuhisa Shioda was elected and became the New Yoshinkan Kancho in June
14, 2007. (
Photo: Kancho Yasuhisa Shioda and uke Shihan-Dai Romeo Ballares)