Our Aikido Philosophy
“AIKIDO is essentially a modern manifestation of the Japanese martial arts (budo). It is orthodox in that it inherits the spiritual and a martial tradition of ancient Japan….This does not mean that aikido blindly carries on the tradition of the ancient fighting arts, merely preserving and maintaining its original form in the modern world.”1
At Ronin Aikidojo, we respect the history and tradition of Aikido while also being open to continuing its evolution. We believe that anything that does not continue to grow and develop will die. We strive to maintain the balance of preservation and growth.
“The Founder of Aikido, Master Ueshiba Morihei…dedicated himself to establishing a martial art that would meet the needs of contemporary people….Ultimately, Master Ueshiba concluded that the true spirit of budo is not to be found in a competitive and combative atmosphere where brute strength dominates and victory at any cost is the paramount objective....In contrast, Aikido refuses to become a competitive sport and rejects all forms of contests or tournaments, including weight divisions, rankings based on the number of wins and the crowning of champions. Such things are seen as fueling only egotism, self-concern and disregard for others.” 1
At Ronin Aikidojo, we believe that the ultimate goal is not simply to build our ego by destroying others, but rather to develop ourselves as true human beings in mind, body, and spirit. Our goal is not necessarily to win, but rather, not to lose. This does not mean that the art of Aikido is weak compared to those martial arts whose function is to dominate and destroy enemies in combat. We do not forget the martial aspect of aikido, and we train to effectively defend ourselves in case of attack. But in the end, once we learn how to blend with one another, both on and off the training mat, no one will leave broken but rather enlightened and fulfilled.
1 Kisshomaru Ueshiba, The Spirit of Aikido (New York: Kodansha International Ltd, 1984), 14-15
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