About Aikido

The founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba (O Sensei or ‘Great Teacher’), created the art in the early 20th Century. Having practiced and mastered several martial arts, he came to believe that fighting and endless conflict is never the answer. Rather, peaceful resolution of conflict, without causing harm, is the greater path. So ‘Ai’ (harmony, love, collaboration) ‘Ki’ (power, energy) ‘Do’ (way or path) was created to provide a way of cultivating and practicing the ‘art of peace’.

At NOLA Aikido, we strive each day to live up to O Sensei’s ideal, working to create a community that is equitable, inclusive, and diverse. We see these values as central to our practice, and are dedicated to enabling everyone to join us in a safe, and cooperative environment. Because Aikido techniques are purely defensive, we never meet force with force. Instead, we learn to redirect an aggressor’s attack, leading to a peaceful resolution. Size or physical strength is far less a factor in Aikido than it may be in other martial arts; so anyone, large or small, young or old, can practice effectively.

To get a better idea about Aikido and how we practice, we encourage you to watch our video.