Aikido of Eugene
BMAI is home to Aikido of Eugene, a traditional aikido program which has been part of the Eugene / Springfield martial arts community since 1987. Aikido of Eugene is a member school of the
California Aikido Association under Shihan
Frank Doran
What is Aikido
The word Aikido is made up of three ideograms: “Ai” which means harmony
or union; “Ki” which means essence, spirit, or energy; and “Do”
which means way or path. Aikido is often translated as “The Way to be in harmony
with the energy of the universe.”
A Unique Martial Art
Although it is related to other traditional Japanese martial arts, aikido has one fundamental difference. Unlike the older combative arts from which aikido originated, its source, ideally, lies in the loving protection of all things.
The Power of Harmony
As applied nonresistance, aikido become incredibly powerful. The strength of the attack is returned to the attacker without hindrance. Thus, the attacker is defeated by his or her own attempt to harm another. Properly executed, aikido is pure self-defense.
A Lifetime of Practice
Aikido ideally involves a complete integration of principles into daily life.
To practice only on the mat is incomplete. The inner strength and beauty of the art is a direct result
of the insight one gains in attempting to unify one’s mind, body, and spirit; while endeavoring to
understand and eliminate conflict inside oneself as well as outside.
Who Can Practice
Because it applies no brute-force techniques, Aikido is highly suitable for men and women of all ages. Our program accepts students over the age of thirteen. Due to aikido’s cooperative nature, people of widely varying physical capabilities practice and learn together at BMAI.
What to Expect
As a beginning student you will be led step-by-step through simple falling exercises called ukemi.
Learning the techniques of ukemi will allow you to fall safely when thrown off-balance by your training
partner. You will also be introduced to the basic movements that make Aikido unique. You will begin
with simple skills, then progressively more sophisticated techniques which are designed to neutralize
an opponent’s attack.
