Why Aikido Is an Art of Peace

This text reflects my understanding of Aikido as it has evolved through decades of practice – not as a fighting art, but as an art of peace.

There are many ways to practice Aikido, and many reasons why people engage in it.

I do not write this to claim that one way or motivation is better than another. I simply wish to share a perspective that has evolved through many years of practice.

I view myself as a student of Aikido, and my understanding continues to change. Studying Aikido is an ongoing process of discovery, where new doors to insight keep opening over time. Keiko is not merely training; it is deep study, a continuous effort to investigate, understand, and refine oneself.

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In the tradition in which I have practiced since I began Aikido, the lineage of O-Sensei, Nishio Sensei, and Shishiya Sensei, we emphasize philosophy and principles as the foundation of technique. We understand movement as an expression of mind. As our understanding of Aikido’s principles deepens, those principles gradually become embodied in our behavior and in our interactions with others.

From this perspective, techniques in themselves are not Aikido. Many of the movements we practice also exist in other martial arts. What distinguishes Aikido is how these movements are used. Techniques are vehicles, tools through which we train and cultivate Aikido. As understanding matures and becomes internalized, reliance on fixed techniques diminishes. Ideally, movement becomes free, harmonious, and spontaneous, responding naturally to the situation at hand.

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Techniques Are Not Aikido in Themselves

In our tradition, we do not cling to fixed or rigid ways of executing techniques. On the contrary, we continually seek better ways of practicing – ways that serve the underlying purpose of Aikido more fully.

Nishio Sensei frequently refined and developed his techniques, emphasizing that Aikido must evolve with time and environment in order to remain relevant. His long-time student, Shishiya Sensei, continues this approach and has encouraged me to do the same. This, I believe, is an essential part of our heritage. Practice on the tatami should remain alive and dynamic, like flowing water – never stagnant.

In social media, Aikido is often discussed in terms of effectiveness in fighting situations. I understand why such questions arise. Yet at the same time, I believe they miss the central point.

In Aikido, we train ourselves to de-escalate conflict rather than suppress an opponent. We practice leading, guiding, and seeking solutions that create harmony rather than domination. Aikido may be understood as a search for win–win outcomes.

Violence may offer quick solutions, but they often leave deeper conflicts unresolved. If a situation is ended by pain or force alone, is the conflict truly over? Or does resentment remain, perhaps even intensify? Aikido points toward a higher goal: resolving conflict in ways that cool aggression and foster understanding. This is not easy, but it is an ideal worth striving for.

Aikido, therefore, is not a fighting art, it is an art of peace. To practice Aikido is to work toward stopping the fighting mind itself. As Nishio Sensei expressed it: “At the moment of contact, there should be no feeling of aggression.” Our aim is not to add to conflict, but to dissolve it.

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Aikido Is Budo

At the same time, Aikido is also Budo. This may appear paradoxical, but it is not. A deeper understanding of Budo is ”the way of stopping the weapon within ourselves”.

For practice to be trustworthy, techniques must retain the potential to be functional and realistic. Only then can they serve as effective tools for self-polishing and development. These ideals require long-term dedication and patience – but this is precisely the beauty of practicing an art.