Weapons Used In Aikido

Considered as a martial art that focuses equally on mind and body, Aikido is now practiced across the world by numerous practitioners. This martial art though largely emphasizing on physical skills, does incorporate spiritual aspects too. Aikido is practiced using different weapons for defensive as well as offensive purposes. Read on to know about the weapons that advanced practitioners of this martial art.

Three Weapons Used In Aikido

As told before, Aikido practitioners don’t actually encourage the use of weapons. Still to be on a safer side in worse situations, three types of weapons are used in Aikido.

• * Jo (Staff)
• * Tanto (Knife)
• * Bokken (Sword)

Facts About Jo

• * Usually, a standard jo is 3/ 4 to 1-inch thick, rest it depends on the user’s preference.
• * Jo’s length also depends on the user, but normally is between 5- – 56 inches/ 1270mm – 1420mm.
• * Joes are made of different types of wood like laminate, cocobolo, jatoba, white oak, red oak, lignum vitae and purple heart.

Facts About Tanto

• * Tanto is used in two areas including, Tanto dori and Gokyo.
• * Normally, a tanto is 13-inches/ 325mm long.
• * There are not many types of wood that are used to make a tanto.

Facts About Bokken

• * A standard bokken length is 40 inches/ 1016mm.
• * There are three types of bokken tips including, Flat Tip, Medium Kissaki and 45/ 30.
• * Bokkens are made of different types of wood like oak, red oak, lignum vitae, cocobola, laminate, purple heart, jatoba and hickory.
• * Usually, a bokeen handle measures between 1/ 4 to 1/ 3rd of the length of the bokken.

Movements More Effective Than Weapons
You may wonder to know that more than weapons; certain movements are more effective in Aikido. This is because, the aim of Aikido is not to hurt or injure any person. Following are the popular movements and techniques used in Aikido:

• * Ikkyo: This is one of the most basic movements of Aikido. In this movement, you will be taught to use your handgrip control on your elbow and wrist. This in fact, is the first move taught in Aikido to a beginner.
• * Atemi: This is a move that is designed to attack the vital body parts. These moves can cause major harms and are therefore rarely used in Aikido. Atemi is used to break the concentration of the opponent.
• * Attacks: Aikido teachers usually don’t encourage the use of attacks but these are recommended in a situation where you need a more offensive technique. The most widely used attack is to immobilize the opponent who is using a weapon.
• * Grabs: Aikido is mainly about grabs because they are the most safest and easiest to use to defeat an opponent. You can use your free hand to immobilize your opponent.

So, now you know what  the different types of weapons and movements are that are used in Aikido to defeat the opponent.