Aikido is a traditional Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba. Aikido is oftentimes translated as "the way of unifying life energy" or as "the way if harmonious spirit".
The underlying goal of Aikido is to protect your self while mitigating injury to your assailiant.
The word Aikido itself holds clues into this martial arts basic philosophy.
Ai - joining, unifying, combining, fitting
Ki - spirit, energy, mood, morale
do - way, path
From a literal interpretation, Aikido means the "Way of combining forces".
Aikido like Jiu-Jitsu is a grappling heavy martial arts that places a heavy emphasis on safetly subduing your attacker. Both martial arts pursue controlled relaxation, fluid movement of joints like your hips and shoulders and relies on endurance and flexibility.
Also, like jiu-jitsu there are a lot of basic circular movements. Both martial arts believe in harmony, rather than confrontation. Aikido take an aggressive linear attack and converts it into a circular motion that neutralizes the attacker.
Aikido techniques are practiced as a self defense from a linear attack.
Unlike jiu-jitsu Aikido training is centered around partners rehearsing a set of pre-arranged forms rather than sparring or any freestyle type practice.
The other major difference between the two martial arts is Aikido is not a competitive art form. Jiu-jitsu can be used in competition and as a result has continue to grow in relevance. Whereas Aikido isn't and testing your skill set against a resiting opponent is difficult.
Common Basic Attacks:
Front of the head strike - consist of a vertical knifehand strike to the head.
Side of the head strike - a diagonal knifehand strike to the side of the head or neck
Chest thrust - a punch to the torso
Face thrust - a punch to the face
While Aikido is centered around reacting to strikes jiu-jitsu offers a bit more offense to the martial arts practioner. Traditional jiu-jitsu has some basic strikes along with an emphasis on taking the fight to the ground and utilizing pressure or attaining a dominant position to set up submissions.
Jiu-jitsu has several submissions which can be used both offensively and defensively like joint locks, heel hooks, chokes and strangles.
Its fairly safe to say people question Aikidos effectiveness both in a self defense situation and a sport combat application. I'm sure you've been on youtube recently and have seen the Aikido guy trying to spar with MMA fighters. It hasn't gone so well for him.
However, jiu-jitsu's effectiveness has been proven time and time again. For example, the gracie challenge was an open invitation issued by members of the famous Brazilian Gracie family known for their jiu jitsu mastery. It stated to all other martial artist of various style to fight them in a vale tudo match. They did this to solidify the effectiveness of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
No one in the Aikido discipline has ever been able to do this. Nor any other traditional martial art.
Originally went Aikido arrived it Europe it had two colored belts White and Black. But it was difficult to implement.
In many Western Aikido schools the belt system is similar to this structure:
6th kyu – white
5th kyu – yellow
4th kyu – orange
3rd kyu – blue
2nd kyu – brown
1st dan – black
2nd dan – black with thin gold stripe
3rd dan – black with red stripe
Aikido works in the gym when both parties are cooperating and can help in some self defense applications. However, as a combat sport it is not effective.
Aikido is a modern japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a result of his philosophy studies, religious belieffs and culmination of his total martial arts studies. Aikido focuses on: irmi (entering), and tenkan (turning) movements.