Please check back often on this particular article. I am in process of writing this and will provide hyperlinks to all the sub-articles within this one.

I need to point out that I am not an expert on this subject … I am an avid student whose research specifically into the meaning of, and application of, “aiki” has spanned many years. There are many much more qualified than I who have focused on the study of aiki that are challenged to answer the question. Professor Shishida of Tomiki Aikido in a recent presentation stated that he felt the real meaning of aiki was lost to history. I agree with him. All we can do today is to gather those bits of facts and evidence and try to reconstruct as much about the meaning of aiki as possible.

My starting point is to look at the two founders of the martial arts I study: Aikido, whose founder (Moreihei Ueshiba, O’Sensei) stood less than five feet tall and likely weighed less than 150 lbs and modern Daitoryu Aiki Jutsu, whose founder (Sokaku Takeda) stood less than five feel tall and weighed less than 120 lbs. There are considerable historical records of both showcasing their skills against formidable opponents much taller and heavier. History also shows that neither had any strength training … both were skilled in martial arts. Despite challenges by formidable opponents, both always overcame their attackers — and impressed the attackers so much so that they became students.

Clearly they did not have height or reach advantages. Clearly they did not have weight advantage. Clearly they dominated. And, clearly, history records them as grand masters recognized world-wide.

The common element in these two grand masters is aiki.

If you were to ask ten different aiki martial arts instructors “what is the meaning of aiki”, you will get at least seven or eight different answers. Most will center around the Japanese characters “AI” and “KI” where the definitions will include esoteric descriptions of blending, harmonizing … breath and inner strength.

The meaning of aiki cannot be contained in one simple phrase. It involves both concepts (ai, ki) and tactical applications (metsuke, zanshin, maai, kokyu, zenshin, ashi and tai sabaki, kuzushi).

Concept: Ai

Ai means “union, harmonize, blend”. Unlike the “hard” martial arts like karate, a defense in aikido or aiki jujutsu involves blending with the attack. Aiki is not meeting an attack with hard blocks, but rather to blend with the attacker and redirect the attack. When watching Aikido or Aiki Jujutsu, this often looks like a rehearsed or choreographed exchange. I’ve heard people comment: “it looks like they are dancing” or “very graceful exchange”. In a class setting, this is expected. Outside a class setting, this is completely unexpected. In a “real” fight, the attacker means to do harm. There’s a lot of shoving, finger poking, grabbing, punching and kicking — all meant to cause injury, disable or death. Both the person being attacked and the attacker are pumped with adrenalin. The person being attacked has a quick choice to make: fight or flight. Often the choice is not clear: flight may appear to be impossible leaving no choice but to defend.

There will always be someone stronger. There will always be someone faster. There will always be someone more skilled at fighting. The best response to an attack then, is to blend with the attack and redirect the strength and speed of the attacker to create a situation where flight is possible. For example, if an attacker punches, moving out of the way of the punch and using the attacker’s extended arm to keep motion going in the same direction as the punch will mean the attacker is unbalance enough to either stumble or fall. When that happens, the person being attacked has a flight option.

Concept: Ki

Ki is a japanese term that means “energy”. You’ll hear instructors refer to the “hara” or “ki center” … that is, a spot that is approximately the width of three fingers lower than your navel (belly-button). In Japanese tradition, the ki center is considered the body’s center of gravity and the source of one’s internal energy. This concept is not unique to Japan. Ki is considered roughly equivalent to the Indian concept of the manipura, or navel chakra. In yoga, it is thought to be the place of prana that radiates outward to the entire body. To the chinese chi (or qi) means “virtal energy” and is seen as a force similar to adrenaline in some cases, being able to empower a person to achieve things that they might not otherwise be capable of.

Tapping into your ki center can add considerable power in applying defense or martial techniques. Even more important in the concept of “aiki” is to blend your ki with your opponent’s ki. That is to use the tactical elements described below to “see” into your attacker and know his intent. Then harmonize your ki to your opponent’s ki to your advantage.

Tactical elements

Metsuke or more completely, Enzan no metsuke means “look at the whole body of your opponent rather than just looking at, for example, the focus of the attack” …

Zanshin means “to be aware at all times” or “relaxed awareness” … (see zanshin in wikipedia) …

Maai means “the physical distance between opponents” … (see maai in wikipedia) …

Zenshin means “whole body” …

Ashi and Tai Sabaki respectively mean “Foot and Body movements” …

Kuzushi means “unbalancing” or more completely means …

… more to come.