"Aikido is nothing but an expression of the spirit of love for all living things."
Morihei Ueshiba
Founder of Aikido
Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, is commonly referred to as O- Sensei, meaning great teacher.
Akira Tohei Sensei
August 20, 1929 - July 2, 1999
Alamo Area Aikikai's present-day aikido is founded in the tradition of the master teacher, the late Akira Tohei Shihan.
What is Aikido?
The name Aikido is composed of three Japanese words: ai, meaning harmony; ki, spirit or energy; and do, the path, the system, or the way. Aikido is the way of the spirit of harmony.
Aikido is not a sport; it is a martial art. There are no competitive tournaments, and a competitive attitude towards one's training is generally discouraged. The aikidoka (student) views practice as a partnership, with attacker (uke) and defender (nage) constantly switching roles in effort to aid one another in the study of the principles of movement known as the Art of Peace. Because of this mutual gain and altruistic approach, students are soon able to practice safely at full force and still maintain a positive relationship with their partners. Aikidoka are able to get a feel for real-time interfaces and apply the skills learned through basic practice of Aikido techniques to increase awareness of their surroundings, their balance, their fitness level, and even improve their relationship to others, all the while cultivating a mental clarity only a martial discipline can instill, as well as a calming of the spirit reinforced in the compassion that O Sensei established as the root of intention for all Aikido technique applications. Aikido can be practiced by young and old alike and by all types of athletic ability. Being mindful about one's partner's limits as well as one's own allows for an increased longevity in Aikido training that may not persist in other martial arts or fitness communities that are competition based. In addition to austere training of our minds, bodies and spirits, the community that forms around the practice is one that approaches familial, and one that instantly connects people from all over the world to practice and commune with one another through the Art of Peace. Practitioners often travel to train with each other every year many times over for decades, building lifelong friendships and supporting the growth of Aikido for generations to come. It is our mission to keep these principles and goals accessible to the San Antonio Area for many years to come.
Ai
(Harmony)
Ki
(Spirit/Energy)
Do
(Way/Path)
