| name | aikido |
| locale | caveman-ultra |
| source_locale | en |
| source_commit | 82c77053 |
| translator | Julius Brussee homage — caveman |
| translation_date | 2026-04-19 |
| description | Practice aikido as a defensive martial art emphasizing harmony, redirection, and controlled resolution. Covers centering and grounding, ukemi (safe falling and rolling), core techniques (irimi-nage, shiho-nage, kote-gaeshi, ikkyo), blending and tai sabaki (body movement), randori (multiple attacker practice), weapons awareness, and applying principles off the mat. Use when learning a defensive martial art that prioritizes de-escalation, developing the ability to redirect aggression without causing unnecessary harm, building safe falling skills, or cultivating calm centeredness under physical pressure.
|
| license | MIT |
| allowed-tools | Read |
| metadata | {"author":"Philipp Thoss","version":"1.0","domain":"defensive","complexity":"intermediate","language":"natural","tags":"defensive, aikido, martial-arts, blending, ukemi, redirection"} |
Practice Aikido
Aikido practice → centering, blending incoming force, resolve conflict via controlled technique not strength vs strength.
Use When
- Learn defensive martial art → de-escalation + controlled resolution
- Redirect aggression → no unnecessary harm
- Build safe falling (ukemi) → any physical activity/emergency
- Cultivate calm centeredness under pressure
- Complement tai chi/meditation w/ partner practice (see
tai-chi, meditate)
- Train awareness + response → multiple simultaneous threats
In
- Required: Practice space, padded/yielding (tatami, judo mats, grass; no concrete)
- Required: Comfortable clothing, full range (gi preferred; loose exercise OK)
- Optional: Training partner (essential for techniques; solo covers centering, ukemi, movement)
- Optional: Practice weapons (wooden: jo ~128cm, bokken ~102cm, tanto ~30cm)
- Optional: Exp level (beginner, intermediate, advanced; default: beginner)
- Optional: Time (min 20 min; rec 60-90 min)
Do
Step 1: Ground + Center
Every technique begins centered. No center → muscular struggle.
- Hanmi (half-facing stance): one foot forward, shoulder-width, 60°
- Knees bent slight → weight sinks → one-point (seika tanden), 5cm below navel
- Shoulders relax fully → drop from ears
- Extend awareness outward, anchor at one-point
- Test: partner pushes chest gently
- Resist upper body → not centered → relax, sink
- Stable no effort → centered
- Weight underside: heavy part of arm = underside; upper surface light, buoyant
- Extend ki: project calm forward thru fingertips — intention, not tension
→ Stable, relaxed stance. Pushes absorb thru structure → ground, not muscles. Quiet mind, broad awareness.
If err: Rigid → holding tension. Shake arms/legs, 5 breaths, restart. Pushes displace → lower center (bend more), focus one-point. Centering deepens months — initial wobbliness normal.
Step 2: Ukemi (Falling + Rolling)
Receive technique safely. Most important skill — thousands of falls.
Ukemi Progression:
┌────────────────────┬──────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────┐
│ Level │ Technique │ Practice Method │
├────────────────────┼──────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────┤
│ 1. Backward fall │ Sit down, roll back, │ From seated, then squat, │
│ (ushiro ukemi) │ slap mat with both arms │ then standing. Chin to │
│ │ at 45 degrees │ chest — never hit head │
├────────────────────┼──────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────┤
│ 2. Side fall │ Fall to the side, arm │ From kneeling, then │
│ (yoko ukemi) │ slaps mat, body in arc │ standing. Land on the │
│ │ — not flat on the back │ fleshy side, not hip bone │
├────────────────────┼──────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────┤
│ 3. Forward roll │ Roll diagonally over │ From kneeling, then │
│ (mae ukemi) │ shoulder: hand-forearm- │ standing, then moving. │
│ │ shoulder-opposite hip │ The line is diagonal, │
│ │ │ never straight over spine │
├────────────────────┼──────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────┤
│ 4. Breakfall │ High fall received with │ Only after forward roll │
│ (tobi ukemi) │ a slap and roll at speed │ is completely smooth. │
│ │ │ Build height gradually │
└────────────────────┴──────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────┘
