With frenetic, confused minds and tension-ridden bodies, we attempt to solve our problems and wonder at how little success we have. Aikido recognizes the mind and body as one and holds that if our body is relaxed, our mind will be calm and perceive more clearly. The calm mind is never housed in a tight, rigid body. The discipline of Aikido is a way to unify the mind and body and bring them to a state of peace, while at the same time developing enduring energy so that we may better do whatever we do.

The founder of Aikido, Master Morihei Ueshiba, was a master of many martial arts. He won many matches and enjoyed a tremendous reputation as unbeatable with the sword and spear. Yet he felt that winning at someone else's expense was not really winning. With his already vast knowledge, he spent a long time working to solve this problem. Though he was an acknowledged master, he began again practicing movements, exploring them deeply, searching mentally, and sitting for long hours in meditation. As a result, Aikido was born as a way to divert harm away from one's own person while not inflicting permanent injury on an aggressor. As Aikido developed, it became clear that it was not only an effective means of self-defense, but truly a way to understand earthly life through the study of the energy flow of the universe. Master Ueshiba is known to us in Aikido as O Sensei or Great Teacher.

In Aikido, an attack is never stopped. It is met and guided in a way that causes the attacker to be controlled by the directional force of his own motion. In addition to throws, Aikido employs a number of locking and pinning techniques. Although these techniques can be painful, they are not designed to break bones or cause injury. Because Aikido is natural movement following physical laws, and because it is not based on pitting one's strength against another, it is practiced by men, women, children, and older people. However, the vigor with which Aikido is practiced assures a healthy, toned body with good circulation. Students report various benefits from clearer thinking to simply feeling real or "together."