About Aikido

History of Halifax Aikikai

Halifax Aikikai is an Aikido dojo established in 1976, practicing in the Aikikai tradition. We are a provincially registered, not-for-profit organization run for the benefit of our members and the training of Aikido.

The dojo began as a small practice group formed by local enthusiasts. Momentum grew when brothers Peter and Paul MacLean joined; they later moved to Antigonish, where they founded Antigonish Aikikai.

Our early practitioners drew inspiration from Kawahara Sensei, who was teaching in Montreal at the time (Sensei’s profile here). Members attended many summer camps across Canada and the United States, accelerating the club’s development. Halifax Aikikai benefited from visits by advanced teachers including Jim Wright, Pierre Fortin, George Hewson, Alex Loo, the late Yumi Nakamura, and Robert Zimmerman (listed alphabetically). Kawahara Sensei visited regularly, often twice a year.

In the mid-1980s, Denis Adair became Chief Instructor. He had trained with early Aikido practitioners in Ontario and attended numerous seminars with Yamada Sensei, Kanai Sensei, and Kawahara Sensei. In 1998, Denis returned to Ontario, and Thomas Hackmann assumed the role of Chief Instructor.

We were saddened by the passing of Kawahara Sensei in 2011. We are grateful that Osawa Sensei (8th Dan, Hombu Dojo, Japan) accepted the role of Technical Director of the Canadian Aikido Federation (CAF).

About Aikido

Aikido was created in Japan by Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969). After years of development the Founder, often referred to as “O’Sensei” (Great Teacher), introduced a new emphasis into his training. He taught that the true purpose of Budo (martial arts) is the preservation of life.

This philosophy is demonstrated in the physical movements and mental attitude of the Aikido practitioner. The Founder believed that individuals could blend their “ki” (energy or spirit) with that of the universe. The result was a system of self-discipline based on non-resistance rather than opposition. The techniques are primarily joint-locks and projections rather than punches and kicks. Aikido contributes to physical fitness through cardio-vascular conditioning, weight control, and reflex improvement. It teaches how to coordinate mind and body through exercise, breathing, meditation, and the freeing of internal energy. In distinction to other martial arts there are no competitions in aikido.

At Halifax Aikikai, our dojo, we place an emphasis on learning and practicing in a safe, cooperative and enjoyable environment. As a general concept we do not consider opponents as “attackers” but rather as “partners”. Beginners start by learning basic movements through slowly executed exercises, how to stand and move correctly, how to learn to fall and roll when receiving a technique. The next step includes introduction to common techniques and variations thereof. At an advanced level practitioners will be able to apply and adopt techniques spontaneously, execute them powerfully but in controlled fashion, deal with several opponents, etc.

For an overview see here.

Mr. George Hewson (7th Dan) who has visited us as a guest instructor has an excellent website that details some of this information here.

There are countless videos of aikido and its various expressions on Youtube.

The Technical Director of the Canadian Aikido Federation, Mr. H. Osawa (8th Dan) gives an excellent demonstration in this video:

For a video that captures advanced, dynamic and athletic aikido training see here:

Aikido practitioners learn many things, including:

  • Agility, flexibility, strength, confidence, and self-discipline
  • Defences against various strikes and grabs
  • Joint locks, throws, and pins
  • Rolls, tumbles and somersaults (used to escape from throws, locks, and other precarious situations)
  • Use of three weapons: sword, knife, and jo (a 4′ wooden staff)
  • Defences against attacks with weapons
  • Defences against multiple attackers

A Typical Class

An aikido class typically includes the following elements:

  • Setting up the training space, including arranging training mats.
  • “Bowing in”: Sitting in a line on the mats and bowing to show respect for the Aikido traditions and the instructor
  • Warm-ups including calisthenics and stretches.
  • Footwork, striking, rolling or tumbling exercises where an instructor demonstrates a movement and each student copies it.
  • Paired katas (forms), in which an instructor demonstrates a technique (typically a joint lock or throw) and students practice the technique in pairs. Each student alternates between giving and receiving the technique. (It’s the receiving practice that makes aikido students so agile.)
  • (sometimes) Solo or paired weapons practice.
  • (sometimes) Randori (freestyle practice) where students face multiple attackers typically all attacking in the same prescribed manner.
  • “Bowing out” and putting away training equipment.

There is no sparring. No one intentionally strikes anyone in an Aikido class, and practitioners adjust intensity based on each other’s preferences and skill level. Aikido dojos use special mats that absorb impact when falling or rolling. Some aikido techniques can be uncomfortable but everyone decides for themselves how much discomfort they want to tolerate.