David’s Reviews > The Philosophy of Aikido > Status Update

The Way of Aikido and the Path of Tantra both begin with action, in the form of physical and mental techniques. During training one must be devoted to the teaching and its teachers.

Return to that source and leave behind all self-centered thoughts, petty desires, and anger."

The secret to good health and longevity is, according to Aikido, "a pure heart and few desires."

Master Ueshiba left these encouraging words:
"Aikido is medicine for a sick world. We want to cure the world of the sickness of violence, malcontent and discord -- this is the path of aiki. There is evil and disorder in the world because people have forgotten that all things emanate from one source.

Like any system of physical culture, Aikido promotes health through thorough stretching of the body, deep breathing, ki development, and balanced movement . . . Master Ueshiba said: Aikido is good for health. It helps you manifest your inner and outer beauty. It fosters good manners and proper deportment. When one's ki is circulating freely, sickness does not arise.

Technically, aiki is used to harmonize oneself, both mentally and physically, with an attack . . . In Aikido we train to sense aggression and then to redirect the actual attack . . . In the dojo, we stress a straight, balanced ki-filled posture that leans neither to the right nor to the left. In daily life, this would be a centered attitude that avoids bias.

One of Master Ueshiba's key messages was that the old martial arts were primarily based in nature, centered on fear, aggression, conquest, and brute force. Aikido, however, stresses fearlesssness, harmonization, peace, and spiritual strength.