AIKIDO – a word of deep significance that brings out respect when pronouncing it.

AIKIDO is a martial art full of Japan history and tradition significance and has been adapted to be practiced as a martial art of peace and harmony. It may seem a paradox, but this is how its founder O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba conceived it as a result of unnumbered experiences and events he lived and which led him to find the way to live in peace and harmony: do not destroy what sorrounds you, be able to communicate the same to those you come into contact with.

We are innately endowed with the ability to find means of survival, which can concretize in selfish attitudes, lack of respect for our kins, violence in the attempt to obtain something or solve a conflict situation.

AIKIDO offers a different approach to reality in the attempt to solve any spiritual or physical conflict in a non-destructive manner. Most verbal or physical violences are due to the lack of understanding and respect for our kins and in general to what surrounds us. What is very important for us from the material or psychic point of view means nothing for others. We encounter these aspects very often in our everyday life, should we pay attention to them. The first impulse of those who lack a thorough education is to react violently verbally or physically. Under a more thorough analysis of conflict situations we can see that almost all of these situations could have also been solved in a non-violent way. I shall leave to you the pleasure to remember all the unpleasant situations you could have avoided if you had had the power to master yourselves and reach a dialogue with your partners. At the office, in traffic, in public transportation, at queues in front of desks, or in any other stressful situations we can observe how people react to solve the problems confronting them.

In the context of our everyday hectic life, people look for alternatives to solve their problems without resorting to violence. Parents try to educate their children in this spirit and make recourse more and more often to the non-violent education AIKIDO instills into those who practice this martial art.

Despite this, many Aikido practitioners do not manage to mould their character and spirit to the non-violent principles it encloses in its techniques. On the contrary, there are unfortunately many examples of upper grade holders, even many DAN grade holders, who through their own attitude in the dojo as well as in everyday life promote aggressiveness through Aikido techniques.

Moreover, the existing situation itself in the dispersal of the clubs where Aikido is practiced into several federations, associations, Aikido schools (aikikai, ki-aikido, traditional aikido, yoshinkan aikido, etc) or in independent clubs betrays the egocentrism and pride of those who lead these organizations in total disagreement with the principles of harmony that should exist at least between those who practice a martial art having the same philosophical principles of approaching the reality as a whole and in full harmony with everything around us.

We invite all those who consider our action to contact us to try and find a way (do) based on the harmony of the relations between Aikido practitioners in Romania.

ROMANIAN AIKIDO ASSOCIATION was created out of the need of an alternative to the existing organizations where Aikido is practiced and to promote an active non-combat type of Aikido, namely to solve conflict situations without amplifying them and with a minimum of energy loss and physical or even verbal violence respectively.

ROMANIAN AIKIDO ASSOCIATION was created having Sensei Laurentiu Vasilache – 4 DAN Aikido as its promoter, with the help of an enthusiastic group of practitioners.

The creation of the ROMANIAN AIKIDO ASSOCIATION is intended as a continuation of the style promoted by Morihiro Saito – Takemusu Aiki.

Sensei Saito studied under the direct supervision of the Founder for an uninterrupted period of 24 years, more than any other student. The International Aikido Federation characterizes the Aikido Iwama-Ryu style as quite different from the Aikikai one. Saito Sensei tried to preserve the pass on the art as it was taught by the Founder. From the point of view of the repertoire of techniques, the Iwama style is richer than that of most of the other styles and more stress is put on weapon training. Iwama Aikido tries to preserve the purity of forms and the clarity of the art as the Founder intended. This can be achieved through thorough study of basic forms before passing to advanced forms of techniques as well as through regular Aiki Ken and Jo training.

As O-Sensei Ueshiba taught the art, the techniques cannot be efficient unless there is a perfect blending and harmony between partners.

Takemusu Aiki means to be in perfect blending and harmony with your partners.

In Takemusu Aiki one of the partners will never try to defeat his opponent because this is in contradiction with the philosophy. Only when the techniques are practiced in full harmony with the movements of the partner, they are performed correctly.

The key in Takemusu Aiki practice is to be able to influence the reactions of your partner and then come into harmony with his movements.

Takemusu Aiki should be the objective of any Aikido practitioner.