Aikido can be translated as “the way to union with universal energy” or “the way of unified energy“.  

Aikido incorporates a wide range of techniques which use principles of energy and motion to redirect, neutralize and control attackers.

Training is done through mutual technique, where the focus is on entering and hamonising with the attack, rather than on meeting force with force. Uke, the receiver of the technique, usually initiates an attack against nage (also referred to as tori of shite depending on aikido style), who neutralizes this attack with an aikido technique.

Aikido techniques are largely designed toward keeping the attacker off balance and leading their mind. Manipulation of uke’s balance by entering is ofter referred as “taking the centre”. It is sometimes said that Aikido contains only defense, and the attacks that are performed are not really aikido. From a historical perspective this claim is questionable, but many if not most aikidoka have the defense techniques as the focus of their training. Much of aikido’s repertoire of defenses can be performed either as throwing techniques (nage-waza) or as pins (katame-waza), depending on the situation