From Survival to Serenity

The martial arts in one form or another have been the basis of human survival throughout history. Every nation going back to tribal times has studied human nature, movement and mechanical structure in an effort to gain an advantage over others. Man discovered early that a weapon even in the hands of a lesser opponent could easily defeat mere empty hand skills. All major martial art systems included and often begin with the study of how to use deadly weapons. The famous long curved sword of the Japanese samurai would lead to unique principles of blending with an opponent. As the age of the sword began to fade, the famous school of the samurai elite called Daito-ryu stressed harmonizing with an attacker's energy in order to overcome the conflict. This principle is called “Aiki” and the early Jujutsu systems that used it are referred to as Aikijujutsu.

Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu

Aikijujutsu is a brutally effective fighting method first developed more than a thousand years ago by members of the Japanese Imperial Family. Throughout the centuries it was practiced in secrecy and refined after countless hand-to-hand combats by the highly trained warrior elite samurai and master instructors. In the latter part of the Nineteenth Century, Sokaku Takeda, the thirty fifth headmaster of the system began traveling all over Japan and for the first time taught select groups outside of the family clan. This included the elite aristocrats of Japanese society, police officials and officers in the military.

Aikido

In 1898 Morihei Uyeshiba joined the Tenshin Shin’Yo-Ryu Jujutsu under Tozawa Tokusaburo. He would later study the Yagyu Shingage-Ryu and he had a good understanding of many other classical bujutsu ryu. In 1911 Uyeshiba was fortunate to be introduced to Sokaku Takeda and he became one of his most outstanding students. Clearly the Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu technical syllabus had a great influence on him. Certificates issued by Uyeshiba in the pre-World War II. era were Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu scrolls.

From the middle of the 1930’s to 1942 Uyeshiba sensei began to modify his style with less emphasis on a myriad of joint locks in favor of blending and projection throws (kokyu nage). During this time he called his art “Aiki-Budo”. Uyeshiba’s Jujutsu continued to evolve into Aikido leaving many of the more pro-active and violent strikes of warning (atemi waza) behind.

Victory Over Violence

As a deeply spiritual man, Uyeshiba sensei sought to differentiate his teaching from other styles using the same name. In 1942 “Aikido” was officially adopted for the art that expressed the highest philosophy and etiquette of any martial way. Uyeshiba’s profound ethical vision for the new martial “way” of Aikido was not only as a “martial art” but a vehicle for the promotion of social harmony and world peace.

Aikido Silver Bridge Dojo

Our school is named the Silver Bridge Dojo in keeping with the desires of O’Sensei Morihei Uyeshiba who stated on his first visit to the Hawaiian Islands of the United States:

"The reason I have come to Hawaii is to build a silver bridge of understanding. I have been building a golden bridge within Japan, but I also wanted to build bridges overseas and through Aikido, to cultivate mutual understanding between East and West."