Aikido is a nonviolent Japanese martial art. Aiki is the core of Aikido. Aiki is a practical philosophy of peace. Martial practice is uniquely valuable for practicing peace because attack/defense drills offer the opportunity to train oneself to receive an opponent in an empathic and harmonious way.

Aiki means not going against the flow/movement (direction, speed, timing) of the attack, but instead sidestepping the power of the attack, joining into its flow (often called “blending”), then gradually adding to the flow so as to unbalance the attacker (often called “leading), and in the end controlling the attacker’s capability to move/attack (with a throw talking about the defender’s attitude, Aiki refers to a state of self-awareness, calm alertness, and compassionate power. Further, it refers to soft and full awareness of the environment, as well as respectful, compassionate and protective receiving of the attacker.

The term “aiki” is also used in discussing applications outside the self-defense area. One application is using Aikido patterns of posture and movement in non-martial art activities. For example one could teach how to hoe a garden using the same movements as a downward sword strike. Doing the movements in the Aiki way is safer, more efficient, and more effective.

Another application refers to an inner attitude of compassionate power and an orientation toward peace. For example, the common approach in a verbal dispute is built on a No… But framework: no your idea is wrong, but my idea is right. The Aiki approach would be a Yes… And approach. First blend with the content and energy of the opponent’s assertions; that is, find the core of the assertions and express understanding and appreciation for that perspective. And then gradually add new material to lead the discussion where you wish it to go.