Aikido literally means: The „path (Do) of harmony (Ai) with the energy of life (Ki)“. Aikido is most of all a way for the development and setting out of spiritual power and physical skills and their harmonisation.
Aikido is part of the Japanese Budo arts, it stands out however from other Budo versions because of its specific external and internal features. The Japanese Budo master Morihei Ueshiba (1883 – 1969) created this art in the first half of the 20th century from a creative synthesis of old Japanese (unarmed) martial arts, from Japanese fencing techniques and stick fighting. He continued developing it consistently until he died in 1969. He transformed the fight minded techniques of the old Japanese war arts into harmonious and peaceful movements which make an effective control of the opponent possible but which donīt have serious or mortal injuries as a consequence. At a confrontation the energy of the attacker gets transformed by exercising specific body movements and shifts, and by using neutralising techniques the energy is put back into the attacker.
In Aikido there is no competition. There is however the possibility to prove oneīs skills at examinations.