history
The basic skills of aikido probably originated in Japan in about the 14th century. In the early 20th century they were systematized in their modern form through the work of the Japanese martial-arts expert Ueshiba Morihei. often referred to by his title 'O Sensei' or 'Great Teacher'. Translated into English, aikido means "The Way of Harmony of the Spirit."
On a purely physical level, aikido is a martial art involving throws and joint locks that are derived from Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu, Judo and Ken-Jutsu. There are no offensive moves in aikido. As taught by Ueshiba, it was so purely defensive an art that no direct contest between practitioners was possible.
Aikido does not focus on punching or kicking one's opponents, but rather on using their own energy to gain control of the attack and throw and/or pin the attacker. Central to this is an emphasis on controlling and leading an opponent's flow of energy, or ki.
Yet there is much more to aikido than just the physical aspects. O-Sensei emphasized the moral and spiritual aspects of this art, placing great weight on the development of harmony and peace, with the goal being not to injure or harm an aggressor, but rather to end any aggressive behavior as quickly and humanely as possible. His belief is that the spirit of aikido is the spirit of love and non-violence, a revolutionary concept in the world of budo, or traditional martial arts.