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O'Sensei
Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969)
In the words of O'Sensei:
"Budo is not a matter of physical
strength, the handling of weapons
with great skill, nor the ability
to strike another person down
before he can do the same to you.
It is the path toward eternal wisdom
and spiritual understanding.
Nevertheless, if it is not
effective in actual practice,
it loses its spiritual value and
uniqueness as well.
In true budo, there is no enemy.
You shouldn't train to become
strong or to be able to defeat
an enemy but rather that you
can be of use to world peace."
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What is Aikido?
Aikido is an effective, yet non-violent, traditional Japanese martial art.
AIKIDO was developed by Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969), a Japanese philosopher and master of kendo, spear-fighting, and jujitsu.
O'Sensei (great teacher, as we refer to Ueshiba) was disillusioned with the endless cycle of violence and competition in the martial arts, so he designed AIKIDO as a discipline of personal refinement.
Master Ueshiba taught the aikidoist to move with, rather than against, the attacker by drawing on our internal energy, or "ki".
One's goal in AIKIDO is to redirect the opponents' energy and neutralize an attack without harm.
AIKIDO is non-competitive, taught in a cooperative manner, good exercise, and fun!
Why do Aikido?
The practice of AIKIDO is characterized by a clear extension of power, resulting in fluid, functional movements
for effective, non-violent, self-defense. Most people, even athletes, find that AIKIDO is helpful in developing
coordination and reflexes. Most important, AIKIDO can teach one how to deal with the stresses of daily living and
acquire a general sense of well-being. The ultimate goal in AIKIDO is for the individual to develop mental,
physical, and spiritual integration.
Who can do Aikido?
Anyone can practice AIKIDO. Almost any age person, from children to grandparents, can perform AIKIDO techniques.
Each of us has some physical limitations of one type or another. Each person trains within their own abilities.
In AIKIDO, we learn to enhance our strengths and minimize our weaknesses. Blue Ridge Aikido & Yoga offers classes
for children, youths, adults, and seniors!
How do I start Aikido?
STARTING AIKIDO begins simply with interest and a desire to learn. Beginning students are accepted into the dojo
at all times. Required clothing is a loose sweatsuit with a long sleeve top or a martial arts uniform with a white
belt (available at the dojo). Beginners get individual attention from the instructor and senior students to become
familiar with the basics of AIKIDO practice. The best way to find out what AIKIDO is about is to come try a class
-- you are under no obligation.
For more details, check out our new Frequently Asked Questions page about getting started in Aikido.
Ready to start? Contact us today for more information or to register for a class or workshop!
Ask how you can get one month's free classes!
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Be sure to watch this video of
a demonstration of Aikido versus Karate!
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Sensei Ron, Sandan
Ron Malachowsky,
co-founder/owner of
Blue Ridge Aikido & Yoga LLC
Affiliate of
Takemusu Aikido Association
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