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What is Aikido?
Aikido is a Japanese martial art. Aikido's
most unique feature is its method of controlling attackers without
causing permanent injury. An Aikidoist blends with the movements of an
attacker compromising balance and directing an attacker to the ground.
Developed from techniques of the Samurai
Aikido uses a combination joint locks, nerve strikes, throws, and
grappling. Aikido develops the ability to manipulate body and mind of
the attacker to control without injury. Aikido offers a unique system
of self-defense that uses timing and movement instead of strength to
overcome attacks. The ability to control attackers without injury has
made the system a favorite among law enforcement.
Click
here to view video of what we do.
Our
School
Our school offers traditional instruction in
a fun environment.  Techniques are performed in natural positions. Defenses are practiced for use against attacks of various schools of
martial arts, not just our own style, or unskilled attackers.
Weapons practice is integrated with empty
handed practice to assistant in Aikido development. The jo (short
staff), bokken (wooden sword), and tanto (wooden knife) are part of
practice at all levels of rank.
Ki Nagare Dojo is part
of the
Mid America Aikido
Federation (MAAF). We maintain the integrity of our style with
regular visits from Yondan (4th degree black belt) Michael Ellefson
Sensei of the
Midwest Center for Movement. Ellefson Sensei's Aikido lineage
stems from his studying under the late Bill Sosa Sensei. Sosa
Sensei had been a student of Koichi Tohei Sensei and Isao Takahas hi
Sensei, who were each students of the founder Morihei Ueshiba (O
Sensei).
History
 Aikido
was founded by a man named Morihei Ueshiba, called O Sensei (''Great
Teacher''). O Sensei was born in 1883 in the Wakayama Prefecture of
Japan. O Sensei studied under masters in many traditional martial arts,
eventually becoming an expert at a number of styles of unarmed and
weapon combat. O Sensei studied religion and philosophy with the same
dedication as his martial training.
The unique insight of O
Sensei resulted in the evolution of the traditional aggressive martial
arts into a gentle system. His new martial art was not just a method of
fighting, but a means of being a better person.
O Sensei continued to
practice and teach until shortly before his death at age 86.
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