Aikido training

Anyone can learn the Aikido practice, regardless of the age, sex, height, weight or stregth. As strong as one might be, there will always be somebody stronger. Therefore, in order to really learn Aikido, one must understand its spirit and respect its principles. This means that you don't fight to win, but you defend yourself in order to protect and save your life.

The Aikido training consists of the following sections:

1. Phisical training - includes a series of exercises meant to develope stamina, fizical endurance and speed. These exercises are done exclusively using your own bodyweight or the weight of your partner's body (pushups, genuflexions, exercises for the abdomen, running etc);

2. Breathing training - includes breathing technics specific to Aikido, designed for a better understanding of the breathing action as source of energy and life. These exercises are typical to the technics of Zen training.

3. Harmony training - includes technics exercised together with one or more partners, in order to achieve the dexterity and skills to move efficiently during a multiple atac situation and to lead the aggressors and determine them to react the way you want them to. This type of training allows the student to develop a sence of optimal placement during a fighting situation, in a "neutral" space, where the risk of being hit is minimum and the opportunity to control the others is maximum.

4. Energy training - includes technics for controlling and using the aggressor's energy.

5. Mental training - has the goal of achieving the awareness for coordonating the whole body, in order to be tolerant, understanding, but at the same time firm towards the aggressors. The student must also realize that every life is important, including the aggressor's.

6. Tactical training - how to apply the principles of a fighting technique in general, and especially of a fight in Aikido style and spirit. The student is taught to determine a series of favourable events, as well as exploiting weaknesses or other situations during the fight.

7. Phychic training - has the goal of making the student understand what is his purpose and how he can live by the priciples of Aikido

TYPES OF TRAINING

1. Pasive training (contemplative training) - the student looks from the side at the others training, trying to see the mistakes and correct them in his mind.

2. Individual training - has three components:

- Suburi - striking the air with the boken (wooden sword) sitted (in Zarei) and standing (in Ritsurei).

- Taren - uchi - using a jo (wooden stick) or a boken (wooden sword), stike a foreign object, like a wattle, twig, branch or other similar objects.

- Fighting with the shadow - fighting with a virtual partner, blindfolded or in the dark.

3. Training with a partner (in the DOJO).

4. Training with more then one partner.

5. SHIAI Training or RANDORI - real fight simulation (free fighting/freestyle).