The above pictures were taken during the Aikido training at the Tao Chi dojo, Wiesbaden.
“As ai (harmony) is common with ai (love), I decided to name my unique budo Aikido, although the word "aiki" is an old one. The word which was used by the warriors in the past is fundamentally different from that of mine.
Aiki is not a technique to fight with or defeat the enemy. It is the way to reconcile the world and make human beings one family. The secret of Aikido is to harmonize ourselves with the movement of the universe and bring ourselves into accord with the universe itself. He who has gained the secret of Aikido has the universe in himself and can say, "I am the universe." I am never defeated, however fast the enemy may attack. It is not because my technique is faster than that of the enemy. It is not a question of speed. The fight is finished before it is begun...” Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido. more
