The Relaxed Martial Art
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Traditionally, martial art systems were created as a documented practice of training for combat. Naturally, its modern day applications are primarily for self-defense, exercise and physical fitness. One form of martial arts, however, stands out from the rest in the sense that it espouses a relaxed way of life over cunning and physical strength.
At the heart of it, the Aikido spirit is about cultivating relaxation and a serenity throughout everyday life. In this way, you will be able to harness this virtue in actual physical combat.
Aikido is actually a modern Japanese martial art and the Aikido spirit continues to live on today years after it was developed by Morihei Eushiba between 1920 to 1960. This martial art is cultivates the Aikido spirit, resulting in spiritual and philosophical development, which in turn becomes the basis of the combative art. Modern day students of Aikido testify that they bring the Aikido spirit with them throughout ordinary daily life, forming a bridge between everyday life and combat on the training mat.
This spiritual and philosophical basis of the Aikido spirit is attributed to the founder’s background in Omoto-kyo religion. Omoto-kyo is a modern Japanese religion, which is said to be an offshoot of Shintoism. Omoto-kyo followers believe in beautifying the world with art because they believe that art brings humans closer to the divine.
Aside from this however, the Omoto-kyo followers are pacifists, espousing peace over war. This is the parallel between Omoto-kyo and Aikido. That is why the Aikido spirit is often paradoxically referred to as the art of peace. This comes from its philosophical and spiritual foundation of maintaining a constant state of relaxation.
In this relaxed state, the Aikido practitioner is able to perform difficult throws and maneuvers as taught by the martial art. The relaxed state can be attributed to a deep unshakable peace, free of aggression. The concept is that when we are tense and not relaxed, we needlessly waste energy on aggression and force. By going with the flow and not being afraid of what can or cannot happen to us, we cultivate a peace with a relaxed demeanor as its direct consequence.
The Aikido spirit aims to cultivate mental discipline, develop character and self-confidence and maintain peace and relaxation. It teaches that in peace one can realize true power: The power to spread peace further and the strength to be able to withstand the onslaught of everyday situations.