Aikido kanji by Windsong Dojo T-Shirt

Aikido, often translated as “the way of unifying with life energy,” is a modern Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies and spiritual philosophies. His goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to defend themselves while also protecting their attacker from serious injury. Unlike most martial arts which focus on punching or kicking, aikido utilizes an opponent’s own force or momentum against them, resulting in a throw or joint lock intended to bring about a peaceful resolution to conflict.