The term ‘Aikido’ is formed by the combination of three characters in the Japanese language. ‘Ai’, which signifies ‘joining’; ‘ki’, which represents ’spirit’ and ‘do’, which which means ‘way’. These three words in fact actualy do encapsulate the essence of Aikido as a type of martial art: ‘the joining of the spirit to find the way’. It was only in the period from 1930’s to the 1940’s that the name Aikido was officially accepted as the name of this martial art variety.

Aikido uses methods that do not seriously injure or kill not like different types of martial art. The movements and skills being taught are just intended to divert attention or immobilize attackers. This is perhaps the explanation why most people prefer Aikido, because of its concentration on peace and tranquility as opposed to violence and conflict. In deed, Aikido teacher, Morihei Ueshiba, believes that to have power over hostility without causing any injury is the art of peace.

Ueshiba, who is also called Osensei, which signifies ‘Great Teacher’, formed Aikido from the doctrine of Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu. He incorporated the methods of the ‘yari’, the spear; the ‘juken’, the bayonet; and the ‘jo’, which is a short quarterstaff. But what ultimately distinguishes Aikido from other types of martial art is the fact that its proponents can strike while empty-handed. Proponents require no arms for their protection.

As a small child, he was much into physical fitness and conditioning. This was because of his vow to avenge his father’s attackers. In due course, his studies and activities brought him to the discipline of the various martial arts. He studied many of them. He even has certificates for fencing, fighting with spears, etc. He has learned it all. This is possibly the explanation why Aikido is such a diverse and multi-disciplinary kind of martial art.

Yet in spite of his skill, he was still dissatisfied. He felt that there was still something missing. It was then that he turned to the religions. He studied under a religious leader, Onisaburo Deguchi of the sect called Omoto-kyo in Ayabe. Deguchi taught him to take care of his psychic growth. He then combined his spiritual beliefs and his mastery of the different martial arts and Aikido was formed.

His relationship with this charismatic spiritual leader Deguchi also smoothed the path for his introduction to the elite political and military personnel as a martial artist. Because of this relationship, he was able to found Aikido and even pass on his teachings to students, who have, in turn, created their own methods and movement in Aikido.

Aikido is a blend of the different styles of jujitsu as well as some of the techniques of sword and spear fighting, of which Ueshiba was an expert. To obtain an general picture, Aikido combines the joint locks and throws of jujitsu and the techniques of the body necessary when fighting with swords and spears.

Oriental in origin, it was brought to the West by Minoru Mochizuki when he visited France in 1951. He introduced the Aikido methods to students who were learning judo. In 1952, Tadashi Abe came to France as the official Aikikai Honbu representative. Then in 1953, Kenji Tomiki toured throughout the United States while Koichi Tohei stayed in Hawaii for a full year where he set up a dojo. Aikido then spread its influence in the United Kingdom two years after and in 1965, it reached Germany and Australia. At present, Aikido has centres all over the world.

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I was teaching a karate class some years ago, and I had a student whose father would go to the bar next door and imbibe while his son was getting strong and healthy. One day, after class, the father staggers in, and he actually has a gun, and he points it at me and tells me that that karate crap won’t do me any good if a guy has a gun. So I took the gun away from him and grinned.

It is possible to take a gun away from somebody, even easy, and it doesn’t even matter if they are pointing it into your face. I took that fellow’s gun away from him, and I’m going to tell you how I did it. That said, and even considering what I am about to tell you in this article, I don’t recommend risking your face against volatile discharge, and I do recommend giving your money to a fellow holding a gun on you.

The first and most important thing you must consider, when somebody points a gun at you, is which way his communication is going. Typically, a fellow steps steps out of a dark alley, is pointing a gun at you, and he says he will shoot. The intention of his communication is towards you.

Moving slowly so that he sees your total compliance, you put up your hands, and place them in a position that is best for what you are about to do. You should engage in a lot of intensive practice to know what position is best. It is crucially important, in this situation, that you relax your muscles utterly and entirely and make your mind icy calm.

Now, the fellow says to give him your money, and this is the point you have been waiting for. At this point the intent of the communication is towards him, and away from you. At this point he is not intending to shoot because he expects you to move towards him.

As I said, you must have muscles that are totally relaxed, and you must have an utterly calm mind. You are going to hit his wrist, and you must shift your head away from the direction the gun will move in and off the line of attack when you do so. Grab the barrel of the gun and twist it as you slap the inside of his wrist.

Be aware that the gun may go off when you do this, but the gun should have angled so the bullet will miss you. To make this work you must practice the technique, and you must learn how to be relaxed in one position in space, and then virtually instantaneously in another position in space, and then you can actually try different methods of controlling the gun and refining the technique.

Let me say quickly and forcefully that the technique won’t work if the fellow is not interested in getting your money, but rather in kidnapping you for other purposes, or if he is too far away, or if you just read this article and never actually practiced the technique a few thousand times, I also want to say that I wrote this article for training purposes, for enlightenment of the individual when his life is threatened, not to give you the idea that your life is more important than money. I also want to let you know that it is going to be a lot of fun to go to court when the fellow is caught and you get to point a little laughter into his face.