Aikido Success Blueprint

AIKIDO SUCCESS
BLUEPRINT
FAST-TRACK YOUR
AIKIDO TRAINING SKILLS
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INTRODUCTION
Welc ome to Your Ebook... 'Aikido Suc c ess Blueprint', it is written
and presented by Tony J. Wilden from the Aikido Health Centre.
You c an Fast- Trac k your Aikido skill levels by using these tips and tec hniques in your daily prac tic e.
In this Ebook we will foc us on the key areas you will need to look at in order to ac hieve Aikido
suc c ess. Here we give you an overview of the main subjec ts in the Aikido Suc c ess Blueprint. Of
c ourse, we will also inc lude other important information, along the way, that you may need on your
journey.
It is important not to overlook these important steps otherwise you may spend weeks, months, or
even years in unnec essary training patterns without gaining the valuable skills you want and need.
There are many pitfalls you will want to avoid, that c an bloc k your path to peak performanc e levels
and exc ellent Aikido skills. In the 'Aikido Suc c ess Blueprint' we will foc us in depth on the following
subjec ts...
How To Choose Your Aikido Instructor.
Focus Your Mind on Aikido.
Remove Ego from Aikido.
Aikido Ukemi & Breakfalls.
Learning Aikido Techniques.
Analyzing Aikido Posture and Form.
Aikido Pressure Points.
Studying Aiki Principles.
Aikido Life Lessons.
Aikido Harmony.
Summary.
These are the main areas we will be spotlighting in this Ebook, but many other important issues will
also be c overed along the road, so stay tuned and buc kle up for a fasc inating ride!
SOME OF THE PITFALLS TO AVOID
IN YOUR AIKIDO TRAINING
There are several areas that will reduc e the speed you c an learn the art of Aikido. Some of them c an
bloc k your path c ompletely and stop you from ac hieving your ultimate goal. After all, the amount of
effort to do it right is very similar to the amount of effort to do it wrong.
If you want to fast- trac k your Aikido skills, then it is important to have a good level of health... see
my Optimum Health Sec rets Ebook Collec tion for detailed info on the best ways to ac hieve powerful
energy.
Your fitness levels should be above average to speed up your Aikido development proc ess. This will
inc lude your ability to truly relax, flexibility, stamina, speed, and strength. These c an all be vastly
improved by regular and c orrec t exerc ise.
I highly rec ommend... walking, swimming, c yc ling, jogging (rebounder), stretc hing, yoga, tai c hi, and of
c ourse Aikido as exc ellent ways to prepare yourself for training.
If you do not have a good level of general health and fitness, then your Aikido training hours will not
be foc used on improving your skill levels, and this will reduc e your ability to learn the tec hniques,
postures and princ iples in a fast and effic ient manner.
I will inform you about more of the pitfalls on your journey to Aikido Exc ellenc e throughout this Ebook.
STUDY THE ART OF AIKIDO
BEFORE YOU BEGIN TRAINING
In my opinion, if you have made a dec ision to begin an Aikido training program, then it is a good idea to
make a study of the art, and all of the possible paths you c an take during your individual journey.
Remember when c onsidering the style of Aikido, and Instruc tor you will train with, who you may be
with for many years to c ome, it is very important to make an informed and right dec ision beforehand.
If you do not c onsider these details properly you may find yourself with regrets later. The following is a
short overview of the possible paths you may dec ide to take on your Aikido journey...
The founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, taught many different ways of understanding Aikido during his
lifetime. He began with a hard, powerful Aiki- Jujutsu style, and after many years developed the soft,
flowing style. Remember that his soft Aiki style was just as effec tive, in self- defense terms.
All of the following styles c ame direc tly from the teac hings of Morihei Ueshiba...
1 - Traditional Aikikai - as taught by the Ueshiba family.
2 - Ki Aikido - as taught by Koichi Tohei.
3 - Yoshinkan Aikido - as taught by Gozo Shioda.
4 - Iwama Aikido - as taught by Morihiro Saito.
There are many more styles and exc ellent individual instruc tors available depending on your needs, but
these are the main ones. Both Aikikai and Ki Aikido are more intellec tual and thoughtful approac hes to
the art. Yoshinkan and Iwama Aikido are harder, prac tic al styles for self- defense purposes.
How will I know? ... I hear you ask!
Well what are YOU drawn towards, there your answers will be found. I rec ommend that you read and
watc h a selec tion of Aikido Books and Dvds to help you dec ide what Aikido path is best for you .
One does not need buildings, money, power or status to practice the art of
peace. Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is the place to train
The secret of Aikido is not in how you move your feet, it is how you move your mind.
I'm not teaching you martial techniques, I'm teaching you non-violence "
Master Morihei Ueshiba
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HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR
AIKIDO INSTRUCTOR
Like many martial arts c lasses, aikido c an be found in most town's and c ity's around the world.
However, trac king down a good aikido instruc tor c an be a real c hallenge. You may be training with an
instruc tor for many years to c ome, so it is very important to do some serious researc h before you
begin.
Choosing the right Aikido Instruc tor is one of the most important dec isions you must make, and what
you dec ide c ould put you on a fast- trac k to suc c ess or lead to a bloc ked path. There are lots of
points you will want to think about, and you may wish to c onsider some of the following questions...
AIKIDO INSTRUCTOR
QUESTIONS
Many of the answers to these questions will be found by asking an instruc tor direc tly, or found in the
c lub leaflets or flyers. You may get further information from senior students etc . These answers will
help remove some of the doubts and give you the peac e of mind and c onfidenc e in your dec ision.
1 - How long has the instructor been training, and what is their rank?
Answer... 7- 10 years of training and a 2nd Dan with a rec ognized organization is the minimum you
should c onsider enough experienc e to teac h you.
2 - Have they completed an Aikido instructor training course?
Answer... If the instruc tor has not taken the time to c omplete a rec ognized aikido instruc tor training
c ourse, then you should not c onsider training with them, they are not qualified to teac h you.
3 - Who are their aikido instructors, affiliations, and governing body?
Answer - Find out who taught them and researc h (google) the bac kground of the instruc tor, their
instruc tors, and the organization. If they do not have a solid history, it is not wise to train with them.
4 - Does the instructor have public liability insurance?
Answer - If they are not fully c overed with public liability insuranc e, then you may not be protec ted.
This insuranc e is usually expec ted to c over them for $2- 10 million.
5 - Is the aikido instructor first-aid qualified?
Answer - If they, and their assistants are not first- aiders, then your safety is at risk, as sometimes
training ac c idents happen and you may need protec tion.
6 - Have they had a CRB (criminal records bureau) check, or equivalent?
Answer - You need to know if they have a c riminal rec ord, as this may seriously affec t your safety.
7 - How do they conduct their classes?
Answer - the c lasses may be disc iplined or relaxed, or somewhere in between, as there are many
different ways of teac hing the art of Aikido. The main point to notic e is that the students and
instruc tors must show respec t for eac h other. If any amount of 'bullying' takes plac e, that is not
c orrec ted by the instruc tor - leave.
8 - What is their training and grading schedule?
Answer - There must be a training syllabus that you c an work with, a list of tec hniques for eac h
grading level. This way you will know how far along the road you are, at any given time. Many
traditional c lasses do not have c olour belt grading's below blac k belt, but will still have a training
sc hedule.
9 - Do they offer access to other aikido dojo's?
Answer - If visits to other dojo's and seminars are not available, be suspic ious. They are essential, to
learn a variety of ideas from many different students and instruc tors.
10 - What is their personal background, and life experience?
Answer - An Aikido Instruc tor may have experienc e of other martial arts or self defense, this c ould be
helpful. A more mature instruc tor will have more life experienc e and more likely to have important life
skills and other info to pass on to you.
11 - Do they have a Holistic approach to their teaching?
Answer - Some instruc tors have a more balanc ed approac h to their aikido teac hing. In other words,
they are not just passing on tec hniques that they were taught, but also Aiki Princ iples and health and
harmony issues?
SUMMARY
Onc e you have made your dec ision on whic h aikido instruc tor to train with, you may want to begin
with a short period of instruc tion to make sure that what is being offered meets your partic ular needs.
It's important to allow a testing period before spending a lot of time with an instruc tor.
Of c ourse, if it doesn't feel right, move on to another aikido instruc tor who will serve your needs
better. If you live in an area that doesn't allow you muc h c hoic e, then you would be better off to
travel further, than tolerate a poor instruc tor.
Aiki is the power of harmony, of all beings, all things working together.
Relentlessly train yourself - followers of the way
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FOCUS YOUR MIND ON
AIKIDO TRAINING
In this c hapter I will inc lude some of the best mind power tips and tools, that I have found, to help
you ac hieve fast results with your training.
As you may know aikido has many different levels of skill training built in to the prac tic e. In fac t there
are so many aspec ts to the art that it c an bec ome very c onfusing and diffic ult to know where to foc us
your mind during regular prac tic e. Here are some of the areas you will need to c onc entrate on...
1 - Remembering exac tly where you should be and what you should be doing at all times in the dojo.
This will inc lude etiquette, and how to c onduc t your behavior while in the dojo (and in life).
2 - Conc entrating on your hara, posture or form, and how to improve your ability to c ontrol your mind
and body movements together.
3 - Foc using on how you should be c onnec ting with your training partners, whether nage (performer of
tec hnique) or uke (rec eiver of tec hnique).
4 - The c onc entration required to remember hundreds of different tec hniques that you must perform
when your instruc tor asks you to.
5 - Understanding the theory and princ iples involved in the art of aikido.
6 - Developing the mental c apac ity to go on to bec ome an aikido instruc tor yourself.
As you c an see, the list goes on and you soon realize that it may be a lifetime of study. In fac t it was
for Morihei Ueshiba and is for many Aikido Masters and Instruc tors. The tric k is learning how to
mentally plac e all of these subjec ts in your mind, in a way that c an be ready to ac c ess at any moment
in time.
MIND POWER
DISTRACTIONS
So, we have established that it is diffic ult to learn all of the aspec ts of the art of aikido in a short
period of time. But, is it possible to fast- trac k your training and avoid unnec essary delays and bloc ks
along your path to aikido exc ellenc e?
YES, I believe there are several key ways to ac hieve this. But before we look at some of them more
c losely, lets think about what may be slowing down the learning proc ess
The human mind c an only c onc entrate fully on one thing at a time. It appears that it c an do more, but
has developed the skill of jumping from one thing to another very quic kly. So, the less it has to think
about the faster it will pic k up and learn new things.
Your mind foc uses on what it needs to c omplete the task that you put before it, so how c an you take
away some of the distrac tions that will c ome up? If you solve the following issues then your mind c an
foc us on the more important parts of your aikido training, whic h will speed up the learning proc ess.

1 - Be very enthusiastic to ac hieve a high level of skill and aim for your goals.
2 - You must be fit enough for it not to be an issue during your aikido training.
3 - You should have good stamina, c ore strength, flexibility, and be able to relax.
4 - You should be willing to help your training partners and students on the path.
5 - To help your instruc tor in any way you c an and get involved in your c lub or organization.
6 - Release and let go of any worries, anxieties, or problems in daily life while training.
If you solve the above issues, outside of the dojo, then you will be able to foc us your mind power on
the key skills required for peak performanc e in the dojo. This will speed up your ability to learn.
FOCUS YOUR MIND POWER
Well, so far we have looked at many of the different aspec ts of aikido training, and how to reduc e
mental distrac tions. Now, its time to look at some of the best ways to develop your skills in aikido.
The human mind learns new things by thought and repetition. So the fastest way to learn is to foc us
your thoughts on what you are doing and repeat it over and over again until it bec omes a fixed skill.
This repetitive behavior tends to bec ome boring, but if you stop foc using your mind on the inc reasing
detail of what you are doing, that is when you stop learning.
Who is in control here, You or your mind?
Mind is just a tool for your use. If you don't disc ipline it and use it, it will use you. So the use of
willpower is essential, in the beginning, until the habit is formed.
This is why so many aikido instruc tors c hop and c hange the training tec hniques so often, as they c an
see a glazed look c ome over the students fac es, when they bec ome bored with what they are
c overing. The wise instruc tors allow the students to c ontinue with the same tec hniques long enough
to c ontrol their minds, and improve tec hniques eac h time they are c overed.
So, now we have established that you must c ontrol your mind and disc ipline it to work for you. I
rec ommend that you foc us your mind on one thing at a time, study it, learn it, and digest it, until it
bec omes a habit and then move on to the next. Onc e you have done this you have taken a large leap
towards fast- trac king the development of your aikido skills to a c ompletely new level.
Standing amidst heaven and earth, connected to all things with Ki,
My mind is set, on the path of echoing all things
REMOVING EGO
FROM AIKIDO

Here we turn the spotlight on how to truly attac k (uke) and defend (nage), without the interferenc e of
arroganc e and ego. We do this by releasing, letting go and putting it aside.
Aikido students and instruc tors should not try to c ompete with eac h other. Competition c omes from
the animal drive to be superior to others by beating them. It often feels good when you beat someone
else, until you realize that suc h a feeling is merely one of petty c onc eit and ego.
We train to put the ego aside and rise above our animal mentality. We aim to be better today than we
were yesterday, and don't train to try and appear better than others by putting other people down.
The aim should be to esc ape our built- in animal instinc ts (lower self), and bec ome truly human (higher
self).
Competition is just ego returning to animal behavior, muc h the way animals behave when fighting over
food, but humans tend to do it for attention instead. Training and living from your higher self is to
c ooperate and help other people for mutual benefit.
People born in the West, tend to be more c ompetitive, and are brought up to believe that winning is
good and losing is bad, suc h as in c ompetitive sports that have too muc h ego invested in the
outc ome.
This c an be a major hurdle in Aikido training for people who are egotistic and self- c entered as they
may feel intimidated by senior students with a higher skill level. If people of this nature c annot put
their ego aside and begin to train genuinely they will usually drop out of c lass.
Bec ause of the fluid nature of Aikido, students should not resist the flow of the tec hnique's movement.
A beginner in Aikido will be able to advanc e muc h faster if they learn how to safely rec eive the
tec hniques as soon as possible. This involves going with the movement and learning how to protec t
themselves and fall safely with good ukemi.
The egoc entric , c ompetitively natured person often wishes to ac hieve their little ego- vic tories by
preventing their partner from throwing them. When a Teac her or senior student sees this happening
they will attempt to explain why the tec hnique must not be resisted.
In a real c ombat or self- defense situation, if someone resists, then the movement flows into another
tec hnique. Or if the movement has been c ompletely resisted we would 'relax' the attac ker, by
distrac ting them with a strike to a nerve c enter.
During my many years as a student and instruc tor, I have met many people who always had to resist
and c ompete. That type of person often enjoys hurting other people, and many students try to avoid
training with them.
If the Instruc tor is good, they will attempt to c hange this ego viewpoint through a variety of means. If
unsuc c essful they will then strongly enc ourage the unwilling student to leave the Dojo (for the benefit
of all). Of c ourse I have met Instruc tors who turn a blind eye to the situation, regarding it as part of
the learning proc ess for everyone... this is unac c eptable.
When pressure to c hange is put on people with too muc h ego and a resistant attitude, they tend to
either c hange or drop out of c lass fairly quic kly. Many people are resistant to tec hniques in a more
subtle way, and this is still the ego c oming through from the subc onsc ious mind.
Gradually after plenty of prac tic e and experienc e in the art of Aikido it is possible to almost remove ego
c ompletely. This c an be an enlightening experienc e where training bec omes easier, relaxed and muc h
more enjoyable. Of c ourse, the more relaxed you are the faster you will learn.
RELEASE THE ARROGANT 'I 'AND

LET THE E - GO
As you may know pain is a way to c ause growth and learning in Aikido, and it also direc tly enc ourages
you to move away from it, but c an also c ause ego resistanc e. If you c an learn to ac c ept the pain in
your training and move instantly away from it then it is very brief, and useful for learning. If you do not
adjust to pain immediately it c auses resistanc e in you... ego then shows its ugly head.
So out of suffering c omes relief and answers, but the learning proc ess c an slow down, as you c an get
used to experienc ing pain as a c ertain buzz of disc omfort. This will slow you right down on your path,
so try to avoid and move away from pain rather than ac c epting it.

Complaining about our c irc umstanc es is just an ego outlet that feeds the majority of people. You may
c atc h yourself doing it and even attempting to justify it when you do. Fear and ego c an c reate
jealousy, hate, inferiority c omplex, worry, etc . Just as love is the c ure, fear is what entangles us. Love
is ac c eptanc e of yourself first and foremost, so you c an reac h out and love others.
How c an you love others if you inwardly dislike or even hate yourself. The root problem is fear whic h
drags you down, and the solution is love. So, you must c ontinue to watc h yourself, but not judge, so
you c an reflec t on the c hoic es you make.
Through c ontinuous, regular training you learn to c reate positive new habits. You are then more
interested in the training experienc e of your fellow students, always trying to help improve eac h others
skills. This takes your training to a higher level, where you c an develop fast, as there are no roc ks and
boulders of resistanc e on your path to self- disc overy.
In this way you learn to self- analyze, c hange your own bad habits and adopt better ways of doing
things. This is one of the major ways to separate animals from human beings. Bad habits c an be broken
and replac ed with good habits, through foc used prac tic e.
When you first c ome to Aikido you learn a whole new way of doing things. You kneel and bow at the
beginning and end of c lass to remind yourself that the aim is to respec t all of life and remove ego. You
must be empty- minded with no expec tations.
You should aim to reduc e verbal c ommunic ation and learn with your body so that tec hniques c an flow
naturally from within yourself. You have to teac h your body new ways of moving and learn to extend Ki
energy instead of relying on musc le strength.
You c an also get new ways of learning by watc hing and listening with foc us and intent so that not
only do you see the tec hniques being demonstrated, but also feel how to do them within yourself.
Aikido is as infinite as the vastness of spac e and as in- depth as the studies of human behavior and
relationships. It inc ludes many ways for you to bec ome a better person and the potential for helping to
make the world a better and more peac eful plac e.

With your right hand showing yang and
your left hand showing yin, lead your opponent "
AIKIDO UKEMI
& BREAKFALLS
Aikido training is based on two partners prac tic ing pre- arranged forms (kata) rather than freestyle
prac tic e. The basic pattern is for the rec eiver of the tec hnique (uke) to start an attac k against the
thrower (nage), who c ontrols it with an aikido tec hnique.
Both halves of the tec hnique, that of uke and that of nage, are c onsidered essential to aikido training,
and both are studying aiki princ iples of blending. Nage learns to blend with and c ontrol attac king
energy, while uke learns to bec ome c alm and flexible in a disadvantaged, off- balanc ed position.
Uke c ontinuously seeks to regain balanc e and c over weak areas, while nage uses position and timing to
keep uke off- balanc e and weak. In more advanc ed training, uke will sometimes attempt to apply
reversal tec hniques to regain balanc e.
Of the two roles that exist in aikido, the one that most aikido students foc us on is the role of the
nage, whic h is the easiest to understand and puts us in the 'winning position'. In the West, people
have been taught all of their lives to win, and losing makes them feel bad.
In reality, winning and losing are two parts of the same positive and negative energy (Yin/Yang). We
win, we lose... this is life itself. We c an see both, not as mistakes, but as a lesson to learn more about
life. There is no losing, only life lessons that develop experienc e and c harac ter.

WHY IS AIKIDO UKEMI
SO IMPORTANT ?
Ukemi prac tic e involves rolls and other breakfalls. Here are a few of the reasons why we prac tic e
ukemi in Aikido, and why it is so important...
1 - To stay safe, not only to avoid injury in the c onfrontation, but to be aware of what is going on
throughout the whole enc ounter to be able to find and respond to openings and, perhaps, to esc ape.
2 - To experienc e the throw. Part of the learning proc ess must be to understand what the 'other' side
of the enc ounter is - what does it feel like to be tied up in a partic ular tec hnique? To observe the
other person's tec hnique, partic ularly if nage is a senior student or teac her.
3 - To learn to listen with your body. To throw well requires sensitivity to your partner. Often you are
so c aught up in the ac tive role of nage that you forget to be rec eptive to your partner and move in a
way that harmonizes with uke. By being uke you get a c hanc e to rec eive and ac c ept body movement.
4 - To assist your partner to learn. Being a good uke means maintaining the c onnec tion with nage, and
allowing nage to experienc e that c onnec tion and to really experienc e the tec hnique. Being a good uke
allows nage to perform the tec hnique without worrying about injuries.
5 - To c ondition the body. Taking good ukemi requires a lot of work to stay c onnec ted, flexible,
aware.
After plenty of Ukemi prac tic e, you may c ome to an understanding of the positive and negative flow of
life energy. This vital life forc e is often c alled Ki, Chi, Prana, Magnetism, Energy etc .
This will further give you many insights into nature and the universe, that you c an take and use in
your daily life. After all Aikido is not just an effec tive martial art, it is also an ethic al and moral way or
path.
Good Ukemi is moving through a tec hnique looking for an opportunity to educ ate your
opponent/partner, whic h raises both persons skill levels. Onc e you welc ome, allow and ac c ept energy,
as it is, then you c an take c ontrol by leading it.

UKEMI SKILLS

These skills c an inc lude moves similar to tumbling and are often used as an exerc ise in itself. In aikido
training many c lasses begin with ukemi training as c onditioning exerc ises
1 - Zempo Ukemi, a forward roll, like a ball, ending on the feet, in a ready stanc e.
2 - Zempo Hyaku Ukemi, a forward breakfall, usually higher and further, using the arm to protec t the
body on landing, ending on the feet in a ready posture.
3 - Koho Ukemi, a bac kward half roll, returning to the feet, like a pendulum, in a ready position.
4 - Koho Kaiten Ukemi, a bac kward roll, ending on the feet, in a ready stanc e.
These are the basic methods used by Aikido uke to protec t themselves when they are thrown. Of
c ourse there are many variations, depending on the angle and power used by the nage (defender).
An essential ingredient of ukemi is awareness. The uke is able, with experienc e, to respond quic kly to
any ac tion. Truly grac eful ukemi c omes from serious training with harmony between partners.
UKEMI
THE ENERGY CONNECTION
Taking ukemi is far more than falling down, how to fall down, and about being thrown. It is about the
physic al and energy c onnec tion, the intention to attac k and the c ontinuation of that attac k. It is also
about looking for an opening to take bac k c ontrol after you have been unbalanc ed, c ontinuing the
attac k while keeping yourself safe, and c onstant awareness of all that is around you.
This awareness and c onnec tion with your surrounding environment is often missing in prac tic e. It is far
more important to foc us your attention on your training partner, than to look c ool and flashy, (ego).
In Aikido prac tic e both uke and nage are always attac king eac h other's c enter of gravity. Both must
keep themselves safe, and find a way to take the other's balanc e, to keep the c onnec tion.
How should the rec eiver of a tec hnique reac t? Taken too far one way, uke flinc hes from every strike
and rolls at the first sign of a throw. Too far the other way and nage is left with the c hoic e of either
doing it for real by breaking joints and noses, or walking away shrugging.
When a new student is first learning a tec hnique, a partner may need to perform their side of the
tec hnique regardless of its effec tiveness. Alternatively, uke may need to resist a tec hnique, perhaps
to demonstrate a weakness in the tec hnique, or to disc over whether or not the tec hnique is effec tive.
The preferenc e is for an ac tive uke, who is pushing the boundaries of the tec hnique for weaknesses
but ac knowledging the ac tions of nage. If uke is suffic iently responsive it is possible for nage to
perform tec hniques with c ommitment and integrity whilst uke survives to return another day.
Nage and uke form a partnership, and need good c ommunic ation between them in order to agree the
manner in whic h to perform. How do you ac hieve that c ommunic ation? There's no substitute for mat
time, but not just passively performing tec hniques. If you find that you are being thrown easily,
question it, try staying on your feet, moving beyond nage or just plain resisting.
Does the tec hnique still work? Constantly c hallenging your partner during training c an sometimes hurt,
but at the end of it you will know what works and what doesn't.
Are you the uke that no one c an throw? Are you failing to be honest with your partner? Are you
ignoring his potential c ontrol or attac king with a punc h that never c overs more than half the
distanc e?
Find a partner you trust, as on oc c asion, you are going to hurt eac h other, you need to both feel
c onfident in the other. Work through some of the basic tec hniques with full c ommitment from both
sides. Find out what works and what doesn't. Onc e you've experienc ed and understood a c ommitted
tec hnique, bring that feeling into your training when tec hniques are being performed at a lower
intensity.
And above all, don't forget to relax, enjoy your training, have fun and smile!
Do not look upon this world with fear and loathing.
Bravely face whatever the God's offer
LEARNING
AIKIDO TECHNIQUES
There are mental distrac tions to the learning proc ess, and your mind learns new things by thought and
repetition. So the fastest way to learn anything new is to foc us your thoughts on what you are doing
and repeat it over and over again until it bec omes a fixed skill and habit.
So, we have established that you must c ontrol your mind and disc ipline it to work for you. I
rec ommend that you foc us your mind on one thing at a time, study it, learn it, digest it, and then
move on.
We will now take a look at how you c an suc c essfully ac c umulate more and more tec hniques, without
being overloaded, and in a way that your mind c an get fast ac c ess to them.
I rec ommend that you take a basic tec hnique and work on it over and over again until you bec ome an
expert on one tec hnique. Then you just repeat the proc ess with the next basic tec hnique, and so on.
After a few months you will have many tec hniques in your arsenal that are far more effec tive and
powerful than many students who have been prac tic ing for years, hopping from this and that.
If you c arry on this proc ess over a number of years, you will go on to bec ome an expert in the art of
aikido. This is how many of the top instruc tors have developed themselves to suc h a high level of skill.
Of c ourse, there is a c omplete system to learn, to the point where it bec omes sec ond nature to you.
Onc e you ac hieve this level then you will be free to foc us more on the aspec ts of aikido training that
tend to be pushed to one side. These are the most interesting and the essenc e of Master Morihei
Ueshiba O'Sensei's teac hings. But first how to gather many tec hniques in your mind...
LEARNING LOTS OF
AIKIDO TECHNIQUES

First of all it is essential to study the basic tec hniques, to the point where you c an perform them
whenever your instruc tor requires it of you. Lets look at these basic tec hniques in an orderly fashion,
and see how you c an logic ally store them.
Your mind, in many ways is like a c omputer, and that c omputer c an be programmed to work fast,
effic iently and without errors. Of c ourse, like a c omputer, if you do not set your mind up c orrec tly all
sorts of problems c an oc c ur. So, how do you set up your mind to store lots of tec hnic al information?
Well, you use a simple filing system of c ourse!
And a good way of doing this is to c reate a Folder c alled Aikido Blueprint, whic h will have other folders
inside maybe c alled... Aikido Rules, Aikido Breakfalls, Aikido Tec hniques, Aikido Princ iples, Aikido Self
Defense, Aikido Freestyle and Aikido Misc ellaneous.
Now you have 1 main folder with 7 folders inside, and then you begin to build the information that you
will store inside, and make it simple and to the point. Any info that is vague, just put it in your Aikido
misc ellaneous folder, to be sorted later.
In order to easily remember eac h folder, you c an assoc iate them with c olors, images, sounds, numbers,
etc . This is how the memory experts do it in order to ac c ess the information fast. Of c ourse if you are
performing freestyle you will not use your brain to ac c ess info, but reac t naturally to c irc umstanc es.
GATHERING
AIKIDO TECHNIQUES

Now its time to open your Aikido tec hniques folder, and store the very basic tec hniques inside...
Kokyu- ho, Kokyu- nage, Shiho- nage, Tenc hi- nage, Irimi- nage, Kaiten- nage, Kote- gaeshi, Hiji- jime,
Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo, Gokyo, etc.
Also inside this folder are two sub- folders, one with the Aikido attac ks... Katate, Kata, Yokomen,
Shomen, Mune, Ushiro, etc . and the other with positive or negative movements... Ic hi (forward,
positive, ac tive), Ni (bac kwards, negative, reac tive).
There are a few more tec hniques and attac ks to add to these lists, but I am sure that you get the
pic ture. Onc e you have all of this info neatly stored in the files and folders of your mind, then with
prac tise you will have easy ac c ess to them, very fast... this is how I use it in my own personal
training!
It may be diffic ult at first, but when you get the hang of it, you are muc h less likely to stand there like
a lemon with a glazed look on your fac e, when your instruc tor c alls out your tec hniques...
...Prac tise makes perfec t :)
Onc e you have all of these files and folders developed in your brain, and as you gather new aikido
information, you will now know exac tly where to store it for easy ac c ess. This way, you will get to the
point where you have the basic s sorted out, where more interesting princ iples and advanc ed
tec hniques c an be worked on.
You c an be an Aikido expert, and the sure way to ac hieve it is to foc us your mind, train hard and train
smart. Of c ourse you will greatly improve your speed of learning if you also relax deeply, enjoy your
training and have fun.
Aikido is the manifestation of love
ANALYZING
POSTURE AND FORM
In this c hapter we will examine some of the most important points regarding good posture and form.
Correc t posture and how you hold yourself is vital to ac hieve suc c ess in your Aikido development.
Creating and developing a good posture, one that will hold up while moving takes a lot of
c onc entration, in the beginning.
One of the best ways to gain benefit, is to separate posture and movement in order to work on eac h
aspec t separately. After some prac tise you c an then put them bac k together to perfec t your posture
and movement as one.
So, what is good form? It is a way of holding yourself that allows you to move freely without losing
your balanc e. Having good posture will also allow you to apply power to your training partner
(opponent, attac ker), at any time throughout the movement.
There are many different types of posture in the martial arts that are exc ellent for developing speed
and power in your movements. But many of them are only useful in a training atmosphere, a dojo, or a
c ompetition with dozens of rules.
In reality, the posture you dec ide to prac tise needs to be able to func tion under extremely stressful
situations. For example a real street fight or c ombat situation does not allow you the time to get into
posture. You would have to reac t instantly to the c irc umstanc es you find yourself in, whic h will often
not be ideal.
With this in mind, you c an now eliminate those types of posture that are not natural. This will leave
you with only three c hoic es in how you hold yourself. A natural standing and walking posture will flow
between weight over the front foot, weight over the bac k foot, and weight in the middle.
You will find yourself moving through all three of these postures naturally as you go from plac e to
plac e during your daily life. Breathing deeply and relaxing your weight down c reates stability and
power.
There are two basic aikido postures... migi Hanmi Kamae (right) and hidari Hanmi Kamae (left). Here are
some of the postures, stanc es, and spec ific positioning you will take with your attac ker during your
regular Aikido training...
Shizentai Kamae (natural), Migi Hanmi Kamae (right side forward), Hidari Hanmi Kamae (left side
forward), Ai Hanmi Kamae (same as attac ker), Gyaku Hanmi Kamae (opposite to attac ker), Ma- ai (safe
distanc e), and your hand positions may be - Gedan (low), Chudan (natural), or Jodan (high).
AIKIDO
POSTURES AND STANCES
In the early years of Aikido development, Master Morihei Ueshiba O'Sensei made a transition from the
old Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu postures and forms. This was mainly with 60- 70% of the weight over the
front foot with the front foot turned out, as seen in Aikido Yoshinkan. This type of prac tise helped to
develop a very strong posture.
Later on, as Aikido c ame out of the old forms, O'Sensei taught a more natural posture with the weight
distributed evenly between the front and bac k foot, and sometimes 60- 70% over the bac k foot.
Inc luded in this the front foot pointed straight forward, and sometimes pointed inwards slightly. This
took some of the pressure away from the knees and was a more natural stanc e.
Of c ourse, there are many high ranking and highly qualified instruc tors who swear that their way is
c orrec t. There are lots of positive and negative, plus and minus points for all of these different
postures. The main thing to remember is that with lots of training, all are effec tive.
" It is not how you move your feet, but how you move your mind that matters "
Whether moving or standing still in Aikido, your body should feel strong and resilient, without undue
tension or stiffness. Your hands should be extended in front of you with your fingers slightly spread, a
posture very similar to that adopted while holding a Japanese sword. Visualize your Ki (energy)
projec ting out through your fingers.
The leading hand (on the same side as your front foot) guards the head and upper body, while the
other hand protec ts the lower body and thighs. Try to avoid lifting your weight up and down as you
step. Be sure to keep your weight low and your movement fluid and even. Your hips and shoulders
should remain at the same level as you move, and your spine should remain upright.
It c an help to visualize all of your motion as being c entered around a point a c ouple of inc hes below
your navel this is c alled your hara or 'one point', and is your c enter of gravity.
If you need to get lower, keep your bac k upright and bend your legs, but don't bend over at the hips.
This way you c an maintain your posture, without the risk of losing your balanc e.
CHOOSE YOUR POSTURE
AND WORK ON IT
Aikido posture takes time to get used to, and you have to train until it feels natural to you. The
various sc hools of Aikido all have their own ideas on what good posture is and another point of
c onfusion is how to hold out your arms...
Firm Arms... This dic tates stric t posture with arms somewhat forc efully extended. It c an be a useful
starting point for beginners to get into the shape of Aikido from a mec hanic al point of view.
Sword Arms... Imagine holding a sword and stand ac c ordingly to make posture. Naturally, it works a
lot better if you ac tually train with a bokken (wooden sword) from time to time. Sword work puts the
posture and mind in order and c ontributes a lot to good Aikido tec hnique. Some people don't put
enough extension in the arms when holding and too muc h when striking.
Floppy Arms... Bec ause Aikido is supposed to take little effort, you should raise your arms into
posture with as little effort as possible, whic h is c onfusing at first. It helps with development as people
use the weight of their arms c ombined with speed of movement to make tec hnique.
Heavy Arms... Developing this is thought to be a sourc e of strength or power in tec hnique, but some
tend to overly c onc entrate on the arms and forget to apply heaviness to the rest of their body, as in
weight dropping or weight shifting.
Extended arms The arms reac h out naturally, without bec oming absolutely straight or over
extended. Correc t extension produc es an unbendable arm. It c an be gentle, to the extent of seeming
floppy, or hard, to the extent of appearing stiff.
Correc tly extended arms offer a c lue to the true feeling of aiki, and all of the tec hniques of Aikido c an
be performed in this way. To think only one of these methods to be c orrec t is to rob yourself of ideas
that might aid your development. Of c ourse, it is not only the arms, but the legs and body that also
need the same treatment, or 'ki extension'.
Posture is often thought to be the point of readiness before tec hnique begins but this kind of thinking
offers only a limited view into the nature of posture. Rather, 'posture' should be there at every point
throughout the tec hnique, and in your daily life. As a keen aikido student you should look for key
'posture' positions within a tec hnique and aim to join them together in one powerful motion.
" The great universe is itself the way of ai-ki "
AIKIDO
PRESSURE POINTS
There are many areas of the body where intense pain develops when they are attac ked. At these
points, energy c an be transmitted into a nerve very effec tively, and as a result, they are known as
pressure points or nerve c enters.
Pressure points of this type oc c ur where a nerve branc h c onnec ts to a major nerve pathway or where
several major nerves join together to form a nerve plexus.
When suc h a point is stimulated by pressing or striking, the resulting pain registers on more than one
nerve pathway. As a result, the brain rec eives signals from multiple nerves and the pain felt is
amplified.
In Martial arts, nerve c enters or pressure points are used to disable and defeat opponents. However,
the same points are used in ac upunc ture and ac upressure to heal the body and restore harmony.
Different pressure points respond to different kinds of stimulation. Some respond to striking, others to
pressing or rubbing. In addition, the angle at whic h a point is attac ked is c ritic al to proper ac tivation.
In many c ases, the full effec t of pressure point ac tivation c an only be felt if the angle of attac k is
suc h that the entire nerve plexus or c onnec tion is stimulated.
Nerve c enter pressure point attac ks are very effec tive in self defense situations. Some martial arts are
built almost entirely upon the applic ation of pressure point knowledge, but it should be used in addition
to the art, not instead of it. These points are used to c ontrol or to quic kly inc apac itate an opponent.
Ac tivation of a pressure point c an c ause exc ruc iating pain c apable of making almost any adversary
bac k down. When the pressure point is released, the pain subsides. Therefore, c omplianc e c an be
gained without inflic ting serious injury.
PRESSURE POINTS
IN AIKIDO
Nearly all of the tec hniques of Aikido have the elements of pressure point strikes available in them.
These c an be very useful in reduc ing the strength and foc us of your attac kers, in order to suc c essfully
esc ape or apply a c ontrolling tec hnique.
If the tec hnique c hosen, is the c orrec t c hoic e in the c irc umstanc es, and has perfec t timing, then
pressure point strikes will not be nec essary. So most of us (who are learning to get our moves right),
may have use of this information, even if it is just as a bac k up skill to your normal training experienc e.
In Aikido, 'Atemi' is the term used for a distrac ting strike to give you an advantage over your attac ker.
When distrac ted an attac ker may foc us on your hand, or their pain, rather than their strike or grasp.
Some instruc tors insist on more rigorous definitions suc h as only strikes to pressure points.
In this c ontext, you c ould regard atemi as 'Ki energy disturbanc e'. You may not even need to touc h
the attac ker with your atemi to upset their physic al and psyc hologic al balanc e. Some c laim that the
best way to unbalanc e an attac ker is to deliver a real strike, espec ially where there is potential for
strong resistanc e, as in a real street c ombat situation.

Be sure to inc lude a distrac ting Ki- ai (shout), at the same time as your atemi strike. This is likely to
have a greater effec t on your attac ker, by distrac ting their attention and inc reasing the power of your
strike.
Atemi does inc lude a wide range of applied forc e, from striking without touc hing to striking vital points
with the intent of c ausing unc onsc iousness. Knowing about the different effec ts that a strike on
various parts of the body c an have, will improve your tec hnique and self defense skills.
The largest weapon available to you, wherever you are, is the planet Earth itself. Hitting your attac ker
with this weapon, by unbalanc ing them, so they fall down, will gain you valuable time to retreat or
take c ontrol of the situation.
DOES YOUR INSTRUCTOR
TEACH PRESSURE POINTS?

Most of the pressure points are not usually prac tic ed in mainstream aikido dojo's. There may be one of
three main reasons for this...
1 - Your Instruc tor does not know about pressure point applic ation bec ause their instruc tor did not
teac h it or know it, and they have not researc hed the subjec t etc .
2 - Your Instruc tor does not have time to teac h pressure points during normal c lasses, but may teac h
it in their 'extra c lasses'.
3 The suc c essful applic ation requires prac tic e to be effec tive, and it is diffic ult to teac h this to large
amounts of people in a safe manner.
Either way you are unlikely to find an Aikido instruc tor who c an or will pass this on to you. So, if you
want to inc lude this in your aikido arsenal of skills, you will need to do a lot of individual researc h on
the subjec t and find someone who c an and will teac h you.
This is what I have done myself... I have spent many years of time and effort studying ac upressure
points for healing and self defense purposes. I then used two of my top students to help me develop
the skills further for aikido prac tise.
It is interesting to know that the hand positions in most aikido tec hniques are ready for pressure point
applic ation. If used c orrec tly you c an make your tec hniques twic e as powerful and muc h more
effec tive, even on those 'resistant training partners'.

Yonkyo or yonkajo (wrist/arm tec hnique) is often disc ussed in assoc iation with a partic ular pressure
point on the forearm. There are many points available during the applic ation of tec hniques like...
kote- gaeshi, nikyo etc .
Knowledge of pressure points inc reases your awareness of the c onnec tions within the body and
provides a more prec ise manipulation of an opponent. There are also many healing applic ations
assoc iated with these points.
PRESSURE POINT
SUGGESTIONS
1 - Experiment with spots that you know from past experienc e hurt. For example the mastoid proc ess
is the soft spot behind the ear. Press that indentation lightly to feel the pain involved. Also, just
above the inside of the elbow when performing ikkyo.
2 - Join a martial arts c lass that foc uses on self defense. Good c lasses may inc lude some of the
pressure points in their training sc hedule.
3 - Find Chinese health c harts that show meridians and pressure points - near where musc les,
ligaments, and tendons are attac hed often offer some painful points.
4 - Read more artic les on the subjec t and take notes.
OR you c an save yourself months and years of study time and learn, in my opinion, the very best
information on the subjec t... it really works!

BEST PRESSURE POINT SYSTEM
FOR EFFECTIVE RESULTS
Master Russell Stutely has been ac knowledged as Europe's Leading Authority on the use of Pressure
Points in the Martial Arts. He is one of the best sourc es of inspiration in street effec tive pressure
points, and has been instrumental in dragging Traditional Martial Arts into the 21st Century.
Russell is a regular Columnist for the UK's most prestigious Martial Arts magazines... Martial Arts
Illustrated, Traditional Karate and Combat. He is also one of the leading Seminar Instruc tors in the UK
and Europe.
He has rec ently developed a set of Dvd's c alled 'Pressure Points Black' c overing all of the essentials
required to help you make this art effec tive in your aikido prac tise. You will also learn some prac tic al,
easy- to- apply methods that are effec tive in a real street attac k.
I personally have this series and use many of the amazing tec hniques that are shown in great detail. I
c an, without hesitation, Highly rec ommend 'Pressure Points blac k' for more info, see the resourc es
page.
When you bow deeply to the universe, it bows back;
when you call out the name of God, it echoes inside you
STUDYING
AIKI PRINCIPLES
Princ iples are the key lessons you learn from any study or ac tivity you take part in. During your short
visit to the planet earth, there are many lessons you need to learn. If you get too bogged down in the
details you will experienc e an overload to your system, whic h stops you from learning effec tively.
So, in order to learn your life lessons you will need to make some dec isions. If you dont do this then
you will eventually have the same regrets as millions of other people who didn't realize their goals in
life. The following may be of some use to you on your unique journey through life...
1 - List your dreams, desires and life goals and put them in order of importanc e.
2 - Imagine them c omplete, how they make you feel, and list the nec essary steps to get there.
3 - Take massive ac tion and work through the steps one by one until c ompleted.
This plan is surprisingly simple and is a good example of what learning powerful princ iples c an do for
you. If you c arry out the above 3 steps then you will reac h peac e and happiness... it is as simple as
that!
I will now turn your attention to the subject of Aikido Principles...
If you are making a serious study of Aikido, then it is going to take you many years to master the art.
Yes you do have to study all of the details involved in your training, but, if you ask yourself (and your
instructor)...
What are the key principles I need to learn from this? There your real answers may be found!
You see, the aim is to free your mind so you c an perform your aikido tec hniques in a flowing, relaxed
but powerful way. You c annot do this if you are bogged down with mental baggage like... 'My way is
right and yours is wrong'. Using princ iples of aikido you c an free your mind of its baggage and just let it
go.
Aiki Princ iples teac h a deeper understanding of Aikido. The aim of Aiki is to lead the mind and the body
will follow, and as an instruc tor the best way to lead the mind of your students is through motivation,
inspiration, enc ouragement, and then disc ipline.
See below for a list of Aiki Princ iples that you may wish to inc lude in your studies. Many of these c an
greatly enhanc e and develop your Aikido skills to a muc h more advanc ed level.
BASIC
AIKI PRINCIPLES
What did the founder of Aikido, Master Morihei Ueshiba O'Sensei prac tise on a daily basis? After all this
is what he thought was most important... right?
During his personal training he would perform a series of aiki exerc ises, misogi purific ation rituals,
kototama sound vibration c hants and also inc lude many hours of pure prayer to divine spirit.
The aim of these prac tic es was to purify his mind, body and spirit. Also to harmonize and balanc e his
energy c enters (c hakras), and develop massive amounts of powerful healing energy (ki). In this way he
greatly influenc ed the positive energy of people and the planet in his goal of World Peac e.
So it really is your dec ision how far you wish to go with your training. Develop powerful tec hnique,
understand aiki princ iples, experienc e the flow of universal energy, or even raise the level of
c onsc iousness of humanity, as OSensei did.
Anyway, if you are thinking of joining an Aikido c lass, are a student or an instruc tor you will be working
on a variety of ways to c ontrol your attac kers through the use of their own energy. The following may
be a typic al c lass struc ture that you will be, or are working on to develop your aiki skills...
Aikido Class Blueprint
Rei (bow), Mokusu (breathing meditation), Warm- up, Ukemi (breakfalls), Kihon Dosa (basic postures),
Waza (Basic Tec hniques, Advanc ed Tec hniques, Applied Tec hniques), Jiyu- Waza (freestyle) Kokyu
Nage (breath throw), Kokyu Ho (harmonizing exerc ises), Cool- down, Mokusu (breathing meditation), Rei
(bow)
Aikido Attacks and Techniques
Ai, Katate, Ryote, Mune, Kata, Hiji, Eri, Shomen, Yokomen, Shomen Tsuki, Ushiro, Ikkajo (ikkyo),
Nikkajo (nikyo), Sankajo (sankyo), Yonkajo (yonkyo), Gokajo (gokyo), Iriminage, Sokumen- Iriminage,
Kote - Gaeshi, Kaiten- Nage, Kokyu Ho, Kokyu Nage, Jiyuwaza, Kaeshawaza, Bokken Happo Giri, 31 Jo
Kata etc .
AIKI PRINCIPLES
AND TRAINING IDEAS
There are so many princ iple lessons learned during your aikido training, and here are many of the ways
I have improved my training experienc e, and ability. I rec ommend you look through them, try them out
and if useful add them to your arsenal of skills, or if you find them useless, throw them out.
Assessing Students Ability
Etiquette, Attitude, Mindset, Disc ipline, Effort, Conc entration, Relaxation, Kamae (posture), Ma- ai
(distanc e), Ki- ai (shout), Atemi (distrac ting strike), Ukemi (breakfalls), Kihon (basic moves), Evasion,
Balanc e- taking, Immobilization (c ontrol), Throw, Waza (tec hnique), Jiyu- Waza (freestyle tec hnique),
Awareness of Surrounding Environment, Coac hing Potential etc .

It is essential to instill disc ipline in students regardless of the qualities and c harac teristic s they bring to
the Dojo. Disc ipline is often something the ego does not enjoy, but c ould save lives one day.
Aiki Principles
Aiki is Hidden in the Open, and What You See is Not What You Get.
You Think Where You Feel, Flow like Water, Sensitivity,
Don't Try to Make it Work, Allow it to Work... Just Do it.
Aikido Tec hniques are Learnt Big to Small, Slow to Fast,
Tensed to Relaxed, and Stylized to Realistic .
Kamae (basic posture) is for Training and
Shizentai (natural posture) is for Sudden Attac k Defense.
Skeletal Loc king - sequential loc king to affec t the spine indirec tly.
Mind Moves Body
Keep One Point, Relax Completely, Keep Weight Underside, Extend Ki.
Breath Control, Relaxation, Non- Resistanc e, Allow, Avoid Direc t Conflic t, Connec tion,
Circ les, Leading the Mind, Ki Energy Extension, Balanc e Taking, Pain Inc entive.
There are 3 Methods of Training
Ac c umulating Tec hniques, Analyzing Form, Understanding Princ iples.
Strong Posture
Mind on Hara, Control Weight by Relaxing the Centre of Gravity Down,
Weight shifting (push with rear foot - pull with front foot),
Establish a momentary base and pull your weight to it,
Methods of Power
Alignment, Relaxation, Foc us, Intention, Ki- Extension, Penetration, Ac c eleration.
Relax/Tense... Sudden Tension gets Uke's Reac tion in a Predic table Manner,
Sudden Weight Dropping & Relaxation Compliments the Direc tion,
A Very Relaxed Applic ation Creates a Void for Uke to Fall Into the Emptiness,
Contrac tion - breathe energy in, Expansion - breathe energy out,
Sudden energy in and out, c hange of pac e, vibration.
Balance Taking
Being Aware of Angles of Pressure to the Triangulation Points,
Throw Uke by Created Co- operation, Prepare Uke To Unwillingly Throw Himself,
Prepare and Base uke by Double- Weighting before off- balanc ing.
These are just some of the princ iples you may wish to work with, and it will be surprising how many
c an be worked on and used during your normal aikido training ac tivity. To understand many of these
princ iples then you must work on them, and most of them c an be found in your Aikido tec hniques.
In 2009, I will be writing a book, in full detail, all about Aiki Princ iples. This will c over all of the
princ iples listed here and many, many more. I may even add a series of video tutorials... so stay
tuned! Of c ourse, I am available for private lessons on the South Coast, in West Sussex, UK. ;- )
The Art of Peace is medicine for a sick world.
There is evil and disorder in the world because people have
forgotten that all things emanate from one source.
Return to that source and leave behind all self-centered thoughts,
petty desires, and anger. Those who are possessed by nothing possess everything
AIKIDO
LIFE LESSONS
Morihei Ueshiba O'Sensei c ombined the princ iples and philosophy of Buddhism, Shintoism and the Way
of the Samurai to c reate modern Aikido. The art is great for personal growth, self defense, mind and
body meditation, and for reac hing a state of single mindedness, oneness, and enlightenment.
Aikido has a philosophy that c an be applied to everyday living. Through physic al training, you learn to
harmonize with the energy of your uke (training partner), using flowing dynamic motions to 'c ontrol'
them. From here you learn to balanc e your own energy with the world around you and learn to take
c ontrol of your own life experienc e.
Although many people think of martial arts as a set of fighting tec hniques, Aikido was c reated to help
its students bec ome better human beings by prac tic ing non- aggressive ways of dealing with c onflic t
and stress. The name 'Aikido' literally means 'the way of harmonizing energy' bec ause the aim is to
learn how to harmonize your own personal energy with that of others and your environment.
What you learn in aikido c an be applied to life outside of c lass and what you learn in life c an be applied
to Aikido during prac tic e. You grow through regular prac tic e of c entering, harmonizing with people, and
using c onstruc tive responses to diffic ult situations. The ultimate goal of Aikido is to develop habits
allowing you to bec ome more effec tive in daily life.
In your training you learn never to go against the power of your attac kers, so in life you c an avoid
c lashing with energy by being more passive when c onfronted by aggressive people. If someone is
intentionally argumentative and you do not respond, their aggression has nowhere to go. This c alms
them down, where you c an take c ontrol of the situation and steer it in another direc tion.
EFFECTIVE
AIKIDO HABITS
Take Responsibility for making dec isions based on your values rather than your environment,
situation, or other people. Through training, you aim to develop the knowledge and skill to respond to
c onflic t without resorting to more. The belief that you are free to make this c hoic e is at the very c ore
of Aikido.
Beginning With The End In Mind is about reac hing for your values. If you do not know what you are
trying to ac hieve you c an be very busy doing the wrong things. Morihei Ueshiba wrote that the goal is
not to c onquer the opponent but to c onquer your own ego, your fears, and your desire to dominate.
Put First Things First so you progress towards what is most important to you. Although this sounds
obvious, we often tend to follow the path of least resistanc e or of responding to peer pressure or
expec tations. You should think or talk about peac e and harmony, but not ac t in ways that involve
violenc e and c onflic t or are ego- driven. You need to ac t in a manner that is c onsistent with your
goals.
Thinking Win/Win is at the c ore of Aikido, both the philosophy and the daily prac tic e. You are
searc hing for a way to respond to c onflic t whic h protec ts yourself while protec ting your prac tic e
partners. Daily prac tic e is not a c ompetition, and no- one should lose dignity or be put in danger. One
c onc ept in aikido is that the person falling down is not the 'loser', but suc c eeds in protec ting himself
and may suc c eed in esc aping or reversing the tec hnique. Bec ause win/win solutions require balanc e,
aikido helps timid people bec ome more c onfident and arrogant people gentler.
Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood is a key c onc ept in both the philosophy and
prac tic e of aikido. Basic movements often involve turning your body to look in the same direc tion that
your partner is looking, and see the world as your partner sees it. You first blend with the attac k, then
c hange the direc tion. By learning to 'listen' with your whole body, you c an find a pathway to peac e.
Harmony is about c ollaborating to make the whole more than the sum of its parts. Through
c ooperation, both the person doing and rec eiving the aikido tec hnique learn and ac hieve more than
either c ould individually. Harmony is the best win/win result. When trust and c ooperation are absent,
the interac tion is defensive and one person wins and the other loses. Aikido strives for training in
whic h both partners feel both c hallenged and c apable of meeting that c hallenge.
Self-Improvement is about investing time and energy to learn better ways of doing things so that
you c an be more effec tive in the future. The c onc ept of self- improvement is also at the foundation of
aikido, as you never finish learning aikido, you only progress further along the path.
You prac tic e tec hniques over and over so that you c an c hange the ways that you instinc tively
respond in diffic ult situations. In aikido, you c onstantly think about how life applies to prac tic e and
how prac tic e applies to life; sinc e life is filled with c hallenges, aikido prac tic e is a c onstant exploration
of how to meet those c hallenges. Aikido's emphasis on mutual respec t fosters a supportive learning
environment that helps promote self- c onfidenc e and poise, developing mind, body and spirit.
AIKIDO
IN DAILY LIFE
You prac tic e being both uke and nage in the dojo, and sometimes it is important to attac k. While at
other times it is important to relax during an attac k, allow it to happen, then redirec t that attac king
energy in another more harmonious direc tion.
You c an be in either the role of the attac ker/uke, or the defender/nage, on the dojo mat. You as a
human being c an also play both parts in life. Sometimes you are just straight up attac king life and
doing it well, setting goals and then ac hieving them.
You are staying grounded and are c onnec ted to those dreams. This is what it is to be a good uke in
life, and what it means to attac k life. So if you are not attac king life, life is attac king you, and is
c onstantly throwing things at you, hitting you, and trying to push you off balanc e and take you off
c enter.
When uke attac ks the first thing you as nage do is breathe deeply and relax into the attac k to allow it
to happen. The next thing to do is stand strong in your own presenc e. This means to have faith in
yourself, to believe that the dec isions and c ommitments you c hoose are dec isive.
Extend Your energy right through Life (or uke). Move through life relaxed and c entered as it attac ks,
and do the same to uke on the mat. When uke on the mat attac ks and nage stops at any point during
the tec hnique, things break down, and life c an be the same way. When life attac ks, a good thing to do
is breath deeply and relax. It is healthy to believe in who you are.
It is important to extent right through life, and keep moving forward. Aikido is a template for life and
life is a template for Aikido, and to prac tic e one is to prac tic e the other. To live one is to live the
other... breathe deeply, relax and enjoy your prac tise of life and aikido.
Create each day anew by clothing yourself with heaven and earth, bathing
yourself with wisdom and love, and placing yourself in the heart of mother nature
AIKIDO
HARMONY

There are many paths to harmony, but the art of Aikido has the power to c reate real balanc e in your
life. It examines, through c ombat, the many different aspec ts of life energy. Apart from the vast
variety of tec hniques used in Aikido, there are two main princ iples involved...
1 - Positive Energy, Yang, Fire, Male, Hard, Direc t etc .
2 - Negative Energy, Yin, Water, Female, Soft, Indirec t etc .
The perfec t balanc e between these two energies c reates harmony and peac e. In order to c reate true
balanc e and harmony, first you must establish your c enter of gravity whic h is about an inc h below your
navel (belly button). This is the c orrec t plac e to foc us your physic al and mental energies. The
Japanese c all this the 'Hara' or 'Seika- no- itten' (one point) and is where your life energy is loc ated.
HARMONY
EXERCISES
To focus your physical energy ... align your body by standing or kneeling with your spine straight,
push your hips forward, shoulders bac k and down, breathe deeply and c ompletely relax into this
posture.
Then take deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. As you breathe in, tense
your musc les, as you breathe out, c ompletely relax down and release all of your tension. After doing
this several times, tension and stress will leave your body and you c an c ontinue while fully relaxed.
To focus your mental energy ... c onc entrate your mind on your c enter or 'one point' and imagine
energy as a ball of white light getting smaller and smaller OR as ever dec reasing c irc les. With this, it is
important to keep your mind busy, so this proc ess is c ontinuous and never ends.
After some c onsc ious effort and willpower, your mind will learn how to do this naturally, and you will be
c entered and in harmony. Your mind will try to rebel against you, but remember who is in c harge here,
your mind is just a tool to be used for your benefit, so be strong.
Please, do not expec t this to be easy, after all anything worthwhile takes c onsiderable effort and
patienc e. After a while your mind will ac c ept its true position as your servant, not your master.
Eventually you will begin to feel a strong c onnec tion with people, nature and the universe. When you
feel c onnec ted you c an read the intention of your partner or attac ker and reac t ac c ordingly. As you
bec ome more relaxed you begin to tune in to the subtle energy that surrounds you.
Onc e you have reac hed this level you will naturally avoid direc t c onflic t in your Aikido prac tise and
your daily life. Like water you will flow with and not against the natural life- stream. You c an then
ac c ept life and allow it to be as it is.
When you lose the desire to c hange life to fit your individual needs and wants, you lose your ego mind
and you c an relax into and enjoy life just as it is... this is true mastery of balanc e and harmony.
YOU CAN
CHOOSE HARMONY
Aikido teac hes you to get in touc h with and understand the patterns that you go into to protec t
yourself, both physic al and emotional, and that there is an alternative to this behavior. Consc ious
response and c hoic e, rather than unc onsc ious reac tion.
Knowing what it would feel like to have your own feelings 'violated', you then do not go out and violate
someone else's. You c an also be aware that most people ac t aggressively or defensively bec ause they
are responding unc onsc iously to their own vulnerable feelings.
With an awareness of the other person's intent and blending with that, you begin to enter into the
experienc e of Aiki. So, in Aikido, rather than bloc k and punc h or hurt and maim, you blend with the
energy/intention/movement of the aggressive ac t and redirec t it to a more benefic ial c onc lusion.

Being c entered, extending Ki energy, blending, and leading are basic to Aikido training. The nature of
Aikido movements are designed so that you ac tually move from a different plac e, from Center with Ki,
and c an address the nature of the interac tion, rather than getting c ompletely c aught up in the
attac k.
Aikido then bec omes a form to let go of the things inside of you that awakens you to the harmony and
true nature of all things big and small, personal and spiritual, and apply that knowledge and experienc e
to anything you wish to in life.
Breathe deeply, relax and let all of your worries just go - you don't need them anymore!
Foster and polish the warrior spirit while serving in the world;
illuminate the Path in accordance with the divine will
Master Morihei Ueshiba O'Sensei
AIKIDO SUCCESS
BLUEPRINT
SUMMARY
In this Ebook we looked at some of the key areas to work on in order to fast- trac k your training for
Aikido suc c ess and mastery. You must have a good level of general health and fitness, for your Aikido
training time to be foc used on improving your skill levels.
The founder of Aikido, taught many different ways of understanding Aikido during his lifetime. He began
with a hard, powerful Aiki- Jujutsu style, and after many years developed the soft, flowing style. All of
the following styles c ame direc tly from the teac hings of Master Morihei Ueshiba...
1 - Traditional Aikikai - as taught by the Ueshiba family.
2 - Ki Aikido - as taught by Koichi Tohei.
3 - Yoshinkan Aikido - as taught by Gozo Shioda.
4 - Iwama Aikido - as taught by Morihiro Saito.
I rec ommend that you read and watc h a selec tion of Aikido Books and Dvd's to help you dec ide what
Aikido path is best for you... what are you drawn to? there your answers will be found!
The secret of Aikido is not in how you move your feet, it is how you move your mind.
I'm not teaching you martial techniques, I'm teaching you non-violence

CHOOSE YOUR
AIKIDO INSTRUCTOR
Choosing the right Aikido Instruc tor is one of the most important dec isions you c an make, and what
you dec ide c ould be a fast- trac k to suc c ess or a bloc ked path.
In my opinion, 7- 10 years of training and a 2nd Dan with a rec ognized organization is the minimum you
should c onsider enough experienc e in your Aikido Instruc tor.
If the instruc tor has not taken the time to c omplete a rec ognized aikido instruc tor training c ourse,
then you should not c onsider training with them, they are not qualified to teac h you.
Find out who taught them and researc h (google) the bac kground of the instruc tor, their instruc tor,
and the organization. If they do not have a solid history, it is not wise to train with them.
If they are not First- Aid qualified, then your safety is at risk, as sometimes training ac c idents happen.
Find out if they have a c riminal rec ord, as this may affec t your safety and sec urity.
The c lasses may be very disc iplined or very relaxed, or somewhere in between, the main point to
notic e is that the students and instruc tors must show respec t for eac h other. If any 'bullying' takes
plac e that is not c orrec ted by the instruc tor... leave.
There must be a training syllabus that you c an work with, a list of tec hniques for eac h grading level.
This way you will know how far along the road you are, at any given time, although many traditional
c lasses do not have belt grading's below blac k.
If visits to other dojo's and seminars are not available, be suspic ious, you dont want to be isolated.
Visits and seminars are essential to learn a variety of ideas.
An Aikido Instruc tor may have experienc e of other martial arts or self defense, this c ould be helpful. A
more mature instruc tor will have more life experienc e and likely to have important life skills and other
info to pass on to you. Some instruc tors have a more balanc ed approac h to their teac hing, and are
not just passing on tec hniques that they were taught, but also aiki princ iples and health and harmony
issues.
Onc e you have made your dec ision on whic h aikido instruc tor to train with, you may want to begin
with a short period of instruc tion to make sure that what is offered meets your partic ular needs.
" Aiki is the power of harmony, of all beings, all things working together.
Relentlessly train yourself - followers of the way "
FOCUS
YOUR MIND
It is diffic ult to learn all of the aspec ts of the art of aikido in a short spac e of time, but is it possible to
fast- trac k your training and avoid unnec essary delays and bloc ks along your path to aikido exc ellenc e?
YES, I believe there are several key ways to ac hieve this.
The human mind c an only c onc entrate fully on one thing at a time, so the less it has to think about
the faster it will learn new things. Your mind foc uses on what it needs to c omplete the task that you
put before it, so take away some of the distrac tions that may c ome up.

1 - Be very enthusiastic to ac hieve a high level of skill and aim for your goals.
2 - You should be fit enough for it not to be an issue during training.
3 - You should be relaxed, have good stamina, c ore strength and flexibility.
4 - You should be willing to help your training partners and students on the path.
5 - Help your instruc tor in any way you c an and get involved in the c lub or organization.
6 - Release and let go of any worries, anxieties, or problems in daily life while training.
If you solve the above issues, then you will be able to foc us your mind power on the key skills required
for peak performanc e in the dojo and fast- trac k to higher peak performanc e levels.
The human mind learns new things by thought and repetition. So the fastest way to learn is to foc us
your thoughts on what you are doing and repeat it over and over again until it bec omes a fixed skill.
You must c ontrol your mind and disc ipline it to work for you. I rec ommend that you foc us your mind on
one thing at a time, study it, learn it, and digest it, until it bec omes a habit and then move on.
" Standing amidst heaven and earth, connected to all things with Ki,
My mind is set, on the path of echoing all things "
REMOVE EGO
FROM YOUR AIKIDO
In Aikido we train to put the ego aside and rise above our animal mentality. We aim to be better today
than we were yesterday. We don't train to try and appear better than others by putting other people
down, but aim to esc ape our built- in animal instinc ts (lower self), and bec ome truly human (higher
self).
Bec ause of the fluid nature of Aikido, students should not resist the flow of the tec hnique's movement.
A beginner in Aikido will be able to advanc e muc h faster if they learn how to safely rec eive the
tec hniques as soon as possible. This involves going with the movement and learning how to protec t
themselves and fall safely.
Many people are resistant to tec hniques in a more subtle way, and this is the ego c oming through from
the subc onsc ious mind. Gradually after plenty of prac tise and experienc e in Aikido it is possible to
almost remove ego c ompletely. This is an enlightening experienc e where training bec omes easier,
relaxed, fun and more enjoyable.
Through c ontinuous, regular training we learn to c reate positive new habits. We are then more
interested in the training experienc e of our fellow students, always trying to help improve eac h others
skills. This takes our training to a higher level, where we c an develop fast, as there is no resistanc e on
the path to self- disc overy.
If we c an learn to ac c ept the pain in our training and move instantly away from it then it is very brief,
and useful for learning. If we do not adjust to pain immediately it c auses resistanc e in us.
" With your right hand showing yang and your
left hand showing yin, lead your opponent "

AIKIDO
UKEMI & BREAKFALLS
Aikido training is based on two partners prac tic ing pre- arranged forms (kata) rather than freestyle
prac tic e. The basic pattern is for the rec eiver of the tec hnique (uke) to begin an attac k against the
thrower (nage), who c ontrols it with an aikido tec hnique.
Both halves of the tec hnique, that of uke and nage, are c onsidered essential to aikido training. Both
are studying aiki princ iples of blending. Nage learns to blend with and c ontrol attac king energy, while
uke learns to bec ome c alm and flexible in a disadvantaged, off- balanc ed position that nage puts them
in.
Uke c ontinuously seeks to regain balanc e and c over weak areas, while nage uses position and timing to
keep uke off- balanc e and vulnerable. In more advanc ed training, uke will sometimes attempt to apply
reversal tec hniques to regain balanc e.
Of the two roles that exist in aikido, the one that most aikido students foc us on is the role of the
nage, whic h is the easiest to understand and puts us in the 'winning position'. We have been taught all
of our lives to win, and losing makes us feel bad. In reality, winning and losing are two parts of the
same positive and negative energy. We win, we lose... this is life itself. We c an see both, not as
mistakes, but as a lesson to learn more about life and develop experienc e and c harac ter.

Ukemi prac tic e involves rolls and other breakfalls. Here are a few reasons why we prac tic e ukemi in
Aikido, and why it is so important...
1 - To stay safe, not only to avoid injury in the c onfrontation, but to be aware of what is going on
throughout the whole enc ounter to be able to find and respond to openings and, perhaps, to esc ape.
2 - To experienc e the throw, to understand what the 'other' side of the enc ounter is and to observe
the other person's tec hnique, partic ularly if nage is a senior student or teac her.
3 - To learn to listen with your body, as to throw well requires sensitivity to your partner. Often we
are so c aught up in the ac tive role of nage that we forget to be rec eptive to our partner and move in
a way that harmonizes with uke. By being uke we get a c hanc e to be sensitive to body movement.
4 - To assist your partner to learn. Being a good uke means maintaining the c onnec tion with nage, and
allowing nage to experienc e that c onnec tion and to really experienc e the tec hnique. Being a good uke
allows nage to perform the tec hnique without worrying about injuries.
5 - To c ondition the body. Ukemi requires work, and mind foc us to stay c onnec ted, flexible and
aware.
An essential ingredient of ukemi is awareness. The uke is able, with experienc e, to respond quic kly to
any ac tion. True ukemi c omes from serious training with harmony and balanc e between partners. And
above all, don't forget to enjoy your training, relax and smile!
" Do not look upon this world with fear and loathing.
Bravely face whatever the God's offer "
LEARNING
AIKIDO TECHNIQUES
There are mental distrac tions to the learning proc ess, and that your mind learns new things by thought
and repetition. You must c ontrol your mind and disc ipline it to work for you. I rec ommend that you
foc us your mind on one thing at a time, study it, learn it, digest it, and then move on to the next.
Take a basic tec hnique and work on it over and over again until you bec ome an expert on one
tec hnique. Then, just repeat the proc ess with the next tec hnique, and so on. After a few months you
will have many quality tec hniques in your arsenal. Carry on this proc ess for years, and you will bec ome
an expert in the art of aikido. This is how many instruc tors have developed to suc h a high level of
skill.
Your mind, in many ways is like a c omputer that c an be programmed to work fast, effic iently and
without errors. Of c ourse, like a c omputer, if you do not set your mind up c orrec tly by using a simple
filing system, to store tec hnic al information, all sorts of problems c an oc c ur.
And a good way of doing this is to c reate a Folder c alled Aikido Blueprint, whic h will have other folders
inside maybe c alled... Aikido Rules & Etiquette, Aikido Breakfalls, Aikido Tec hniques, Aikido Princ iples,
Aikido Self Defenc e, Aikido Freestyle and maybe Aikido Misc ellaneous.
Now you have 1 main folder with 7 folders inside, as you begin to build and store the information
inside. Make it simple and to the point, any info that is vague, just put it in your Aikido misc ellaneous
folder.
To easily remember eac h folder, you c an assoc iate them with c olors, images, sounds, numbers, etc .
This is how the memory experts do it in order to ac c ess the information fast. Of c ourse if you are
performing freestyle you will not be using your brain to ac c ess info, but reac ting naturally to your
c irc umstanc es.
Now its time to open your Aikido tec hniques folder, and store the very basic tec hniques inside...
Kokyu- ho, Kokyu- nage, Shiho- nage, Tenc hi- nage, Irimi- nage, Kaiten- nage, Kote- gaeshi, Hiji- jime,
Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo, Gokyo, etc.
Also inside this folder are two sub- folders, one with the attac ks... Katate, Kata, Yokomen, Shomen,
Mune, Ushiro, etc . and the other with positive or negative movements... ic hi (forward, positive, ac tive)
Ni (bac kwards, negative, reac tive).
Onc e you have all of these files and folders developed in your brain, and as you gather new
information, you will know exac tly where to store it for easy ac c ess. You c an be an Aikido expert, and
the sure way to ac hieve it is to foc us your mind, train hard and train smart. Of c ourse you will greatly
improve your speed of learning if you also relax deeply, enjoy your training and have fun.
" Aikido is the manifestation of love "
ANALYZING
AIKIDO POSTURE AND FORM
We found that c reating and developing a good posture, one that will hold up while moving takes a lot
of c onc entration, in the beginning. So, what is good form? It is a way of holding yourself that allows
you to move freely without losing your balanc e. Having good posture will also allow you to apply power
to your training partner (opponent, attac ker), at any time throughout the movement.
In reality, the posture you dec ide to prac tise needs to be able to func tion under extremely stressful
situations. For example a real street fight or c ombat situation does not allow you the time to get into
posture. You need to reac t instantly to the c irc umstanc es you find yourself in, whic h will not be ideal.
There are two basic aikido postures... migi Hanmi Kamae (right) and hidari Hanmi Kamae (left). Here are
some of the postures, stanc es, and spec ific positioning you will take with your attac ker during
training...
Shizentai Kamae (natural), Migi Hanmi Kamae (right side forward), Hidari Hanmi Kamae (left side
forward), Ai Hanmi Kamae (same), Gyaku Hanmi Kamae (opposite), Ma- ai (safe distanc e), Hand
Positions - Gedan (low), Chudan (natural), Jodan (high).
A natural standing/walking posture has weight over the front foot, in the middle and over the bac k
foot, c hanging as you move from plac e to plac e in daily life. Whether moving or standing still in Aikido,
your body should feel strong and resilient, without undue tension or stiffness. Your hands should be
extended in front of you with your fingers slightly spread with ki (energy) projec ting out through your
fingers.
In all Aikido movement, be sure to keep your weight low and your movement fluid and even. It c an help
to visualize all of your motion as being c entered around a point a c ouple of inc hes below your navel
this is c alled your hara, c enter of gravity or 'one point'.
Avoid lifting your weight up and down as you step, your hips and shoulders remain at the same level as
you move, and your spine remains upright. To get lower, keep your bac k upright and bend your legs,
but don't bend over at the hips. This way you maintain your posture, without the risk of losing your
balanc e.
Aikido posture takes time to get used to, and at first does not feel natural, so you have to train until it
does feel natural. The various sc hools of Aikido all have their own ideas on what good posture is, and
should be there at every point throughout the tec hnique. As a keen student you should look for key
positions within a tec hnique and aim to join them together.
" The great universe is itself the way of ai-ki "
AIKIDO
PRESSURE POINTS
We saw that there are many areas of the body where intense pain develops when they are attac ked.
At these points, energy c an be transmitted into a nerve very effec tively, and as a result, they are
known as pressure points or nerve c enters.
In Martial arts, nerve c enters or pressure points are used to disable and to defeat opponents.
However, the same points are used in ac upunc ture to heal the body by restoring balanc e and
harmony.
Different pressure points respond to different kinds of stimulation. Some respond to striking, others to
pressing or rubbing. In addition, the angle at whic h a pressure point is attac ked is c ritic al to proper
ac tivation. In many c ases, the full effec t of pressure point ac tivation c an only be felt if the angle of
attac k is suc h that the entire nerve plexus or c onnec tion is stimulated.
Nerve c enter pressure point attac ks are very effec tive in self defense situations. These points are
used to c ontrol or to quic kly inc apac itate an opponent. Ac tivation of a pressure point c an c ause
exc ruc iating pain c apable of making almost any adversary bac k down. When the pressure point is
released, the pain subsides, therefore, c omplianc e c an be gained without inflic ting serious injury.
Many Aikido tec hniques have the potential elements of pressure points available in them. These c an be
very useful in reduc ing the strength and foc us of your attac kers, in order to suc c essfully esc ape or
apply a c ontrolling tec hnique. If the tec hnique c hosen, is the c orrec t c hoic e in the c irc umstanc es, and
has perfec t timing, then pressure point strikes will not be nec essary, but its good to have bac k up
skills.
In Aikido, 'Atemi' is the term used for a distrac ting strike to give you an advantage over your attac ker.
When distrac ted the attac ker may foc us on your hand, or their pain, rather than their strike or grasp.
Some c laim that the best way to unbalanc e an attac ker is to deliver a real strike, espec ially where
there is potential for strong resistanc e, as in a real street c ombat situation.

Atemi does inc lude a wide range of applied forc e, from striking without touc hing to striking vital points
with the intent of c ausing unc onsc iousness. Knowing the different effec ts that a strike on various
parts of the body c an have, will improve your tec hnique.
It is interesting to know that the hand positions in nearly all aikido tec hniques are ready for pressure
point applic ation. If used c orrec tly you c an make your tec hniques twic e as powerful and more
effec tive, even on those 'resistant training partners'.

STUDYING
AIKI PRINCIPLES
Princ iples are the key lessons you learn from any study or ac tivity you take part in. The aim is to free
your mind so you c an perform your aikido tec hniques in a flowing, relaxed but powerful way. You
c annot do this if you are bogged down with mental baggage, and using princ iples of aiki c an free your
mind.
Aiki Princ iples teac h a deeper understanding of Aikido. The aim of Aiki is to lead the mind and the body
will follow, and as an instruc tor the best way to lead the mind of your students is through motivation,
inspiration, enc ouragement, and disc ipline.
What did the founder of Aikido, Master Morihei Ueshiba O'Sensei prac tise on a daily basis? After all this
is what he thought was most important... right?
During his personal training he would perform a series of Aiki Exerc ises, Misogi Purific ation rituals,
Kototama sound vibration c hants and inc lude many hours of pure prayer to divine spirit. The aim of
these prac tic es was to purify and harmonize his mind/body/spirit, and balanc e his energy c enters.
If you are thinking of joining an Aikido c lass, are a student or an instruc tor you will be working on a
variety of ways to c ontrol your attac kers through the use of their own energy. The following may be a
typic al c lass struc ture to develop aiki skills...
Aikido Class Blueprint
Rei (bow), Mokusu (breathing meditation), Warm- up, Ukemi (breakfalls), Kihon Dosa (basic postures),
Waza (Basic Tec hniques, Advanc ed Tec hniques, Applied Tec hniques), Kokyu Nage (breath throw),
Kokyu Ho (harmonizing exerc ises), Cool- down, Mokusu (breathing meditation), Rei (bow)
Aikido Attacks and Techniques
Ai, Katate, Ryote, Mune, Kata, Hiji, Eri, Shomen, Yokomen, Shomen Tsuki, Ushiro, Ikkajo (ikkyo),
Nikkajo (nikyo), Sankajo (sankyo), Yonkajo (yonkyo), Gokajo (gokyo), Iriminage, Sokumen- Iriminage,
Kote - Gaeshi, Kaiten- Nage, Kokyu Ho, Kokyu Nage, Jiyuwaza, Kaeshawaza, Bokken Happo Giri, 31 Jo
Kata etc .
Assessing Students Ability
Etiquette, Attitude, Mindset, Disc ipline, Effort, Conc entration, Relaxation, Kamae (posture), Ma- ai
(distanc e), Ki- ai (shout), Atemi (distrac ting strike), Ukemi (breakfalls), Kihon (basic moves), Evasion,
Balanc e- taking, Immobilization (c ontrol), Throw, Waza (tec hnique), Jiyu- Waza (freestyle tec hnique),
Awareness of surrounding environment, Coac hing Potential etc .

It is essential to instill disc ipline in students regardless of the qualities and c harac teristic s they bring to
the Dojo. Disc ipline is often something the ego does not enjoy, but... c ould save lives one day.
Aiki Principles
There are so many princ iple lessons learned during your aikido training, and here are many of the ways
I have improved my training experienc e, and ability. I rec ommend you look through them, try them out
and if useful to you add them to your arsenal of skills, or if useless, throw them out...
Aiki is Hidden in the Open, and What You See is Not What You Get.
You Think Where You Feel, Flow like Water, Sensitivity,
Don't Try to Make it Work, Allow it to Work... Just Do it.
Aikido tec hniques are learnt Big to Small, Slow to Fast,
Tensed to Relaxed, and Stylized to Realistic .
Kamae (basic posture) is for Training and
Shizentai (natural posture) is for Sudden Attac k Defenc e.
Skeletal Loc king - sequential loc king to affec t the spine indirec tly.
Mind Moves Body
Keep One Point, Relax Completely, Keep Weight Underside, Extend Ki.
Breath Control, Relaxation, Non- Resistanc e, Allow, Avoid Direc t Conflic t, Connec tion,
Circ les, Leading the Mind, Ki Energy Extension, Balanc e Taking, Pain Inc entive.
There are 3 Methods of Training
Ac c umulating Tec hniques, Analyzing Form, Understanding Princ iples.
Strong Posture
Mind on Hara, Control Weight by Relaxing the Centre of Gravity Down,
Weight shifting (push with rear foot - pull with front foot),
Establish a momentary base and pull your weight to it,
Methods of Power
Alignment, Relaxation, Foc us, Intention, Ki- Extension, Penetration, Ac c eleration.
Relax/Tense... Sudden Tension gets Uke's Reac tion in a Predic table Manner,
Sudden Weight Dropping & Relaxation Compliments the Direc tion,
A Very Relaxed Applic ation Creates a Void for Uke to Fall Into the Emptiness,
Contrac tion - breathe energy in, Expansion - breathe energy out,
Sudden energy in and out, c hange of pac e, vibration.
Balance Taking
Being Aware of Angles of Pressure to the Triangulation Points,
Throw Uke by Created Co- operation, Prepare Uke To Unwillingly Throw Himself,
Prepare and Base uke by Double- Weighting before off- balanc ing.
These are just some of the princ iples you may wish to work with, and you will be surprised how many
of them c an be inc luded in your normal aikido training ac tivity. To truly understand these princ iples
then you must work on them.
In 2009, I will be writing a c omprehensive 'Aiki Princ iples Software Ebook', in full detail. This will c over
all of the princ iples listed here and many, many more. I may even add a series of video tutorials... so
stay tuned! Of c ourse, I am available for private lessons on the South Coast, West Sussex, UK. ;- )
The Art of Peace is medicine for a sick world.
There is evil and disorder in the world because people have forgotten that all things emanate from
one source. Return to that source and leave behind all self-centered thoughts, petty desires, and
anger.
Those who are possessed by nothing possess everything
AIKIDO
LIFE LESSONS
Aikido has a philosophy that c an be applied to everyday living. Through physic al training, you learn to
harmonize with the energy of your uke (training partner), using flowing dynamic motions to 'c ontrol'
them. From here you learn to balanc e your own energy with the world around you.
Although many people think of martial arts as a set of fighting tec hniques, Aikido was c reated to help
its students bec ome better human beings by prac tic ing non- aggressive ways of dealing with c onflic t.
What you learn in aikido c an be applied to life outside of c lass and vic e versa. The ultimate goal of
Aikido is to develop habits allowing you to bec ome more effec tive in daily life.
In your training you learn never to go against the power of your attac kers, so in life you c an avoid
c lashing with energy by being more passive when c onfronted by aggressive people. If someone is
intentionally argumentative and you do not respond, their aggression has nowhere to go. This c alms
them down, where you c an take c ontrol of the situation and steer it in another direc tion.
You prac tic e tec hniques over and over so that you c an c hange the ways that you instinc tively
respond in diffic ult situations. In aikido, you c onstantly think about how life applies to prac tic e and
how prac tic e applies to life. Sinc e life is filled with c hallenges, aikido prac tic e is a c onstant exploration
to solve them.
Aikido's emphasis on mutual respec t fosters a supportive learning environment that helps promote
self- c onfidenc e and poise, developing mind, body and spirit.
You prac tic e being both uke and nage in the dojo, and sometimes it is important to attac k. While at
other times it is important to relax during an attac k, allow it to happen, then redirec t that attac king
energy in another more harmonious direc tion.
You c an be in either the role of the attac ker/uke, or the defender/nage, on the dojo mat. You as a
human being c an also play both parts in Life. Sometimes you are just straight up attac king life and
doing it well, setting goals and then ac hieving them. It is important to extent right through life, and
keep moving forward... breathe deeply, relax and enjoy.
Create each day anew by clothing yourself with heaven and earth, bathing
yourself with wisdom and love, and placing yourself in the heart of mother nature
AIKIDO
HARMONY
There are many paths to harmony, but the art of Aikido has the power to c reate real balanc e in your
life. It examines, through c ombat, the many different aspec ts of life energy, and there are two main
princ iples involved, and t perfec t balanc e between these two energies c reates harmony and peac e.
1 - Positive Energy, Yang, Fire, Male, Hard, Direc t etc .
2 - Negative Energy, Yin, Water, Female, Soft, Indirec t etc .
In order to c reate true balanc e and harmony, first you must establish your c enter of gravity, whic h is
about an inc h below your navel (belly button). This is the c orrec t plac e to foc us your physic al and
mental energies. The Japanese c all this the 'Hara' or 'Seika- no- itten' (one point) and is where your life
energy is loc ated.
To focus your physical energy... align your body by standing or kneeling with your spine straight,
push your hips forward, shoulders bac k and down, breathe deeply and c ompletely relax into this
posture.
Then take deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. As you breathe in, tense
your musc les, as you breathe out, c ompletely relax down and release all of your tension. After doing
this several times, tension will leave your body and you c an c ontinue with deep breathing while fully
relaxed.
To focus your mental energy ... c onc entrate your mind on your c entre or 'one point' and imagine
energy as a ball of white light getting smaller and smaller OR as ever dec reasing c irc les. With this, it is
important to keep your mind busy, so this proc ess is c ontinuous and never ends.
After some c onsc ious effort and willpower, your mind will learn to do this naturally, and you will be
c entered and in harmony. Eventually you will begin to feel a strong c onnec tion with people, nature and
the universe. When you feel c onnec ted you c an read the attac kers intention and reac t ac c ordingly.
Onc e you have reac hed this level you will naturally avoid direc t c onflic t in your Aikido prac tise and
your daily life. Like water you will flow with and not against the natural life- stream. You c an then
ac c ept life and allow it to be as it is. When you lose the desire to c hange life to fit your individual
needs and wants, you lose your ego mind and you c an relax into and enjoy life as it is... this is true
mastery.
Aikido teac hes you to get in touc h with and understand the patterns that you go into to protec t
yourself, both physic al and emotional, and that there is an alternative to this behavior. Consc ious
response and c hoic e, rather than unc onsc ious reac tion.
Being c entered, extending Ki energy, blending, and leading are basic to Aikido training. The nature of
Aikido movements are designed so that you move from a different plac e, from Center with Ki, and c an
address the nature of the interac tion, rather than getting c ompletely c aught up in the attac k itself.
Aikido then bec omes a form to let go of the things inside of you that awakens you to the harmony and
true nature of all things big and small, personal and spiritual, and apply that knowledge and experienc e
to anything you wish to in life.
Foster and polish the warrior spirit while serving in the world;
illuminate the Path in accordance with the divine will
Well that's it, I hope you enjoyed the Aikido Suc c ess Blueprint Ebook, and found some valuable
prac tic al information and tec hniques that you c an use in your aikido training sc hedule. By using these
ideas you will have many of the tools nec essary to fast- trac k your Aikido skills to peak performanc e
levels!
Warmest Regards
Tony Wilden
Aikido Health Centre
P.S. Kindly take the time to give us a positive and honest review of this ebook. In return for allowing
us to use your testimonial on our site and in our promotions... You will get a Fantastic Free Gift worth
$47
P.P.S. Visit our health sec rets page for amazing information to boost your energy levels using the six
essential ingredients for real health and well- being - http://www.aikido- health.c om/health- sec rets.html

" Sincerity! Cultivate this virtue and realize the
profound truth that the manifest and hidden are one "
AIKIDO
HEALTH CENTRE
Harmony of Mind-Body-Spirit
RESOURCES
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Info on the author of this e- book and his extensive training and experienc e in the Aiki and Healing
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EBOOK
DISCLAIMER
At the Aikido Health Centre, throughout our Web- pages, in our Ebooks and online Harmony Newsletter,
our intention is to supply valuable, unique and original information and resourc es to help you to take
c ontrol of your own health and well- being. Use of this knowledge with the professional advic e of your
instruc tor, health c are advisor or Doc tor is rec ommended for c omplete peac e of mind.
(c) 2009 Tony J Wilden Aikido Health Centre - All Rights Reserved
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER AND
ACTION IS THE KEY TO YOUR SUCCESS!

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