Welcome to Aikido of San Jose!
Thank you for joining us in our training and we hope that we are able to help you along your training as well.
Founded in the late 1920s to 1930s by O’Sensei, Morihei Ueshiba, Aikido is a blend of the martial arts that O’Sensei had studied and his spiritual practices at the time. The Aikido name was not adopted until 1942 and the martial art was referred to as “aiki-jiujitsu” and “aiki-budo” before the official naming. The name “Aikido” can be interpreted in many ways - but the purely literal translation would be “the way of unifying energy.” Thus, the practice of Aikido is a martial art in which energies from attacker and defender are unified/blended.
There are many reasons to train in a martial art and we are glad you have chosen to practice Aikido. As with any martial art, it is important to remember that each of us are here to improve ourselves through the art, and that it is not a competition. Please always remember to treat your training partners with respect and care. May your journey in the art result in a clearer focus and a better understanding of yourself.
In this welcome packet, you will find some information that may be helpful in your journey, but keep in mind that any of the aikidoka at ASJ are always willing to help and answer any questions you may have. Aikido is an art derived from love and gratitude - let that be an anchor to your training and let us all travel this part of our journeys together.
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu - よろしく おねがいします
“True budo is a work of love. It is a work of giving life to all beings, and not killing or struggling with each other. Love is the guardian deity of everything. Nothing can exist without it. Aikido is the realization of love.” - O’Sensei, Morihei Ueshiba