"Learn How YOU Can Use Aikido Weapons Practise to Quickly Improve Your Aiki Skills"

By practising with Aikido weapons, you can raise your Aiki skills to a whole new level. You'll get plenty of benefits from using weapons in your Aikido training.

But first there is some debate about whether we should include weapons practise at all.

So, where did Morihei Ueshiba - the founder of Aikido, stand on the subject of weapons training?

Well, the major technical influence on aikido is the Daito-ryu aikijujutsu that he learnt from Sokaku Takeda. A system built on sword principles.

Morihei spent many years in Iwama experimenting with Aikido weapons - Ken (sword) and Jo (staff). One of his main students at that time, Morihiro Saito, witnessed this process and was one of Morihei's main uke (receiver of technique).

Also, many of the common technical terms in aikido... tegatana, shomenuchi, yokomenuchi, and shihonage are taken from kenjutsu. Iriminage comes from the entering movements with a sword, where all entering movements of Aikido come from.

The study and practice of weapons was a long-term passion of Morihei Ueshiba, who only allowed Saito Sensei’s Aikikai Hombu Dojo classes to include weapons practise. Morihei didn't teach weapons at Hombu dojo!

The Aikikai Hombu organization's official position excludes Aikido weapons practise, but many well-known teachers include iaido practise. Morihiro Saito's Iwama Aikido includes the weapons form as taught by O'Sensei.

Aikido weapons training is helpful for learning the correct distance, you need to be from your attacker, ensuring your safety. Repetitive moving in and out of the striking range of a weapon helps you develop an intuitive sense of distance and timing, which is essential in empty-hand training.

Also many advanced aikido techniques involve defenses against weapons. In order to ensure they can be practiced safely, it is important for students to know how to attack and defend with weapons.

Using weapons in Aikido training can add an element of intensity to your practice, that forces you to focus your mind. Also, You'll be able to understand important principles of aikido movement and technique.

Aikido Supplies and Equipment

Tanto - Wooden training knife is the smallest weapon in the Samurai's armoury, and is equal to a knife, broken glass or other stabbing weapon. Aikidoka are trained to disarm an opponent armed with a tanto, and how to use it effectively against an opponent. This training weapon is made of oak wood or rubber to encourage students to really attack, without fear of receiving an injury from falling onto or being hit with the weapon.

Jo - 4ft oak staff is a four foot wooden oak staff that is tough and flexible. The Jo is the main weapon of the Japanese Riot Police. In modern society this aikido weapon is similar to a pool cue or broom handle.

Bokken - wooden training sword is used to teach traditional sword techniques. This would equal a baseball bat or length of wood/scaffolding pole. The techniques used to disarm an opponent armed with a bokken can readily be adapted to these modern street fighting weapons.

Katana - the Samurai sword is generally only used by Dan grades. The practice of Iaido (sword drawing and fighting) helps to focus on your centre and at Nidan and above techniques may be demonstrated against live blades. Where as below this level the bokken is used.

I personally think it is good to include Aikido weapons practise to improve your skills. Obviously you must have a fully qualified Instructor to fully understand all of the technical ideas and principles.

To fully understand traditional Aikido it is essential. But to use Aiki principles in a modern society... maybe not so important.

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