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Aikido is martial arts that resulted from the combination of several disciplines. It was created by Ueshiba sometime in the 1940s. It was the result of Ueshiba’s search for a technique that provided him with contentment not only in the technical sense but also in the spiritual end.

Aikido comes from the three Japanese words, ai-ki-do, which means joining, spirit, and way respectively. In essence, aikido is a martial arts form that focuses on the joining of the spirit and the body and the mind to find the Way.

Aikido comes from the three Japanese words, ai-ki-do, which means joining, spirit, and way respectively. In essence, aikido is a martial arts form that focuses on the joining of the spirit and the body and the mind to find the Way.

Aikido has many techniques and moves. Its basic structure comes from the throws and locks found in jujitsu and also from the movements that experts do when they are fighting with swords and spears.

Fundamental Techniques of aikido

Let’s look at the different fundamental movements of this martial arts.

Ikkyo
This is the first technique in aikido, where control is achieved by the use of the hand on the elbow and one near the wrist.
This is the grip that is also that can apply pressure into the ulnar, which can be found in the medial portion of the arm.

Nikyo
This is the second of the techniques, which is characterized by an adductive wristlock that twists the arm and then applies pressure in the nerve that can be really painful.

Sankyo
This is the third technique that incorporates a pronating move. It directs an upward tension all through the arm, the elbow and the shoulder.

Yonkyo
The fourth installment in the fundamental movements of aikido, yonkyo uses a shoulder control movement similar to a ikkyo but this time there is no gripping of the forearm. Instead, the knuckles apply pressure on the radial nerve

Gokyo
The fifth technique is actually a variant of ikkyo. This time the hand gripping the wrist is inverted and twisted.

Aikido protective moves
Here are some of the moves that you can use in order to disarm your opponent.

Kotogaeshi – this is what is called in the English as the wrist return. In this move, the practitioner will place a wristlock and throw that will stretch up to the extensor digitorum

Iriminage – called the entering-body throw, here the practitioner or the nage will move into the space where the uke or the opponent is. This classic move resembles the clothesline technique.

Kokyunage – this is the breath throw, a term that refers to the various types of “timing throws.”

Koshinage – this move is aikido’s version of the hip throw where in the person will drop his hips a little lower than the opponent or the uke.  He will then flip the opponent with a resultant fulcrum.

Tenchinage – Called the heaven and earth throw because of the levels that the hands will reach. The uke or the practitioner will grab both wrists and then moves forwardm grabbing the hand low and the other high. This unbalances the uke, which will cause him or her to topple over.

Shihonage- this is the four-direction throw, wherein the hand is folded back past the shoulders  and then afterwards locking the joints in the shoulder

Kaitennage- called the rotation throw, in kaitennage, the practitioner or the nage will move the arm backwards until the shoulder joints are locked. He will then use this position to add pressure.

Jujinage- this is the throw that is characterized by a throw that locks the arms together. This is called shape like a 10 throw because of its cross-shape, which looks like 10 in kanji.

Blake Turturro is a writer for UniformHaven.com who offers dickies scrubs, discount cherokee scrubs and lab coats as well as a host of other items.

Dancing is good for your overall health, for weight loss and for mental relaxation.  Everyone loves to dance, including those people who just happen to be blind, deaf, missing limbs or confined to a wheelchair.  Many groups have formed classes to teach these people ballroom, line dances, jazz ballet and anything else they may want to learn.

The Malta Wheelchair Dancesport Association is one of those groups.  Wheelchair dancing had been practiced in parts of the world since the 1970’s but wasn’t started in Malta until 1999.  The group holds classes to teach dance to disabled people using a format very similar to that used to teach non-disabled people.  The classes are open to people who just want to learn to dance and those who want to dance competitively.

When it comes to the competitive dances there are two groups, Combi (one partner is in a wheelchair the other is not) or Duo (both parties are in wheelchairs).  They learn all the Standard Ballroom dances and the Latin American Ballroom dances.   For those who are just interested in social dancing they offer courses for line and solo dances.

Wheelchair dancers use their upper bodies and arms to perform the same movements in the same manner as non-disabled dancers.   Also, no different from non-disabled dancers, some are good and some aren’t but ALL dance because they love it.  The dance classes have the added benefit of teaching both the wheelchair users and their helpers more and better uses of their chairs encouraging them to become more independent

The Gallaudet Dance Company is comprised of about 15 students all of whom are deaf or hard of hearing.  Gallaudet is the worlds only accredited Liberal Arts University for the hearing impaired.  The dancers rely on many things using their vision and sign language to communicate.

For years hearing people have bought into the theory that the deaf “hear’ by feeling vibrations through the floor.  Although that may work when standing still on a surface that will conduct the vibrations it wouldn’t do much good when you are moving, jumping, or standing on a concrete floor.  The Gallaudet Dancers practice for hours on end to develop an inner sense of the timing for each dance.  This is accomplished in part by watching an instructors counting out the rhythm of the dance.  The instructor will give a sign for each step in much the same way hearing dancers will get a vocal count from their instructor.

Deaf and hearing-impaired dance students work had to remain “in time” with or without music.  The most important things for teaching these students to dance are a visual count, high quality sound systems and use of sign language.

Hundreds of viewers watched fascinated as Heather Mills competed for several weeks on Dancing with the Stars with one prosthetic leg.  Not only was it difficult to tell which leg it was most of the time but she performed some high difficulty moves that the other dancers didn’t even attempt!

Lolita Gragson is a writer for UniformHaven.com who offers dickies scrubs, cheap dickies scrubs and lab coats as well as a host of additional items.