Philosophy of Aikido

Basically, the mission of Aikido is to learn how to harmonize with all persons, places and situations. Each technique teaches an intuitive lesson directly to our spirit selves. One cannot truly learn Aikido with the rational mind. It is a spiritual art learned physically. Training in Aikido gives many benefits. In the book Aikido, by Kisshomaru Ueshiba (Hozansha Publishing, 1978), O’ Sensei wrote (in part) the following in his treatise about the mission of Aikido:

"Aiki is not a technique to fight with or defeat the enemy. It is a way to reconcile the world and make human beings one family.

The secret of Aikido is to harmonize ourselves with the movement of the universe and bring ourselves into accord with the universe itself.

Aikido is non-resistance. As it is non-resistance, it is always victorious.

Those who do not agree with this cannot be in harmony with the universe. Their Budo is that of destruction. It is not constructive Budo.

Winning means winning over the mind of discord in you.

In Aikido, we control the opponent's mind before we face him. That is we draw him into ourselves. We go forward in life with this attraction of our spirit, and attempt to command a whole view of the world."