Aikido Self Defense Techniques

Aikido is a martial art and spiritual philosophy founded by Japanese soldier, farmer and philosopher Morihei Ueshiba. Ueshiba created aikido as a defensive martial art that used the momentum and negative intent of the attacker rather than an aggressive action by the defender. The word aikido is most commonly translated as “the way of harmony.”

  1. Defense Against Weapons

    • Aikido techniques such as tachi dori protect unarmed victims from armed assailants.

      Aikido uses a number of techniques that help practitioners defend themselves against attackers with weapons. The jo dori technique is a series of defensive moves designed to defend against attackers with a shaft. Jo dori has variations, though the basic principle is to neutralize the weapon by using the attacker’s momentum as a defensive tool. Tachi dori is a similar technique, designed to defend against attackers with swords. Because a sword is a potentially more lethal weapon than a shaft--think decapitation--tachi dori techniques focus on immediately neutralizing the sword by allowing defenders to access the handle and take the weapon from the attacker.

    Throwing an Attacker

    • Aikdo teaches how to throw an attacker from various positions.

      For those faced with hand-to-hand combat situations, aikido offers techniques that allow practitioners to throw attackers in all situations. Katatetori kokyunage is a defensive technique that teaches students how to defend against attackers who attempt to grab their hands or wrists. Ryotetori ikkyo is a similar technique that teaches how to throw an attacker who has grabbed either the hands or wrists. Finally, Ryokatatori kokyunage is used to throw an attacker who grabs the shoulders or clothing of the victim.

    Seated Defense

    • Aikido helps seated victims defend themselves.

      A number of techniques are designed to defend practitioners who are attacked while seated. These involve a good deal of scuttling on the knees and using swift turns, body weight, and inertia. Hanmi handachi waza is a self-defense technique for seated victims that uses an attacker's momentum to knock him to the ground. Suwariwaza is more hypothetical in that it teaches seated participants to defend against seated attackers, which doesn’t often occur in real world attacks.