Aikido is based on the philosophy of creating harmony by mastering oneself and respecting another's energy. Translated literally, Aikido means "the way [do] of harmony [ai] with the life force [ki]"
Unlike many fighting techniques that focus on defense while disabling the opponent, Aikido focuses on finding unity. The intent of Aikido is not acquiescence, but to establish a relationship of peace in the face of conflict. It requires a keen awareness of oneself and the environment. Rather than assuming a fighting posture and reducing the amount of exposure to the opponent, Aikido teaches us to face the opponent openly.
Standing with confidence, the Aikido master (Sensei) makes eye contact with the opponent, and gets ready to move with the opponents' energy, rather than countering his moves. As the Sensei respects the other person's power, they move together in ways that result in both people facing in the same direction. With each blow, more energy is spent by the attacker than by the Sensei, leaving the Sensei with increased power, and the other person exhausted. Watching the practice of Aikido looks more like a graceful dance than a fight.
This page applies aikido principles to coaching.
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