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If you love martial arts or practice, keep reading our inspiring Aikido quotes from masters who loved this art form.
Aikido is a popular Japanese martial art form and a self-defense training method inspired by jujitsu and judo.
Morihei Ueshiba ( founder of Aikido) believes that Aikido is more than a simple fighting method between two opponents.
It is more of an intense harmony between the fighting individual’s physical and spiritual aspects.
In one of the Aikido quotes, Morihei states that the effort to injure the opponent is to injure yourself.
The art of peace lies in controlling this aggression without injuring the other.
What is the Aikido fighting style?
The essence of Aikido lies in its philosophy of harmony and non-resistance.
‘ The Art of Peace is not easy.’ – Morihei Ueshiba
It is a relentless pursuit of removing evil desires and all falsehoods within oneself.
In Aikido, practitioners learn to redirect an opponent’s energy rather than meet force with force—a graceful dance of balance and control.
A distinctive feature of Aikido is its focus on blending with an attacker’s movements, using their energy against them.
This principle mirrors the ebb and flow of life itself, teaching us to adapt and find solutions through fluidity rather than resistance.
The beauty of Aikido lies in its ability to transform conflict into cooperation, offering a profound lesson in mindfulness both on and off the mat.
In the words of Ueshiba again,
‘ The spirit is always sufficient. ‘ – Morihei Ueshiba
We hope our handpicked Aikido quotes collection is a valuable read.
Best Aikido Quotes And Sayings
Aikido has no form – it is the study of the spirit.
– Morihei Ueshiba
Aikido is the principle of non-resistance. Because it is non-resistant, it is victorious from the beginning. Those with evil intentions or contentious thoughts are instantly vanquished. Aikido is invincible because it contends with nothing.
– Morihei Ueshiba
Life is growth. If we stop growing, technically and spiritually, we are as good as dead.
– Morihei Ueshiba
I want considerate people to listen to the voice of Aikido. It is not for correcting others; it is for correcting your own mind. This is Aikido. This is the mission of Aikido and should be your mission.
– Morihei Ueshiba
Also Read: 30 Best Taekwondo Quotes and Sayings for Martial Art Lovers
Failure is the key to success; each mistake teaches us something.
– Morihei Ueshiba
Those who are possessed by nothing possess everything.
– Morihei Ueshiba
To injure an opponent is to injure yourself. To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace.
– Morihei Ueshiba
Do not look upon this world with fear and loathing. Bravely face whatever the gods offer.
– Morihei Ueshiba
Aikido Quotes On Life Philosophy
There are no contests in the Art of Peace. A true warrior is invincible because he or she contests with nothing. Defeat means to defeat the mind of contention that we harbor within.
– Morihei Ueshiba
To rid the world of aggression and contention is the purpose of Aikido.
– Morihei Ueshiba
Pour some water into a tub and stir it up. Now try as hard as you can to calm the water with your hands; you will succeed in agitating it further. Let it stand undisturbed a while, and it will calm down by itself. The human brain works much the same way.
– Koichi Tohei
Techniques employ four qualities that reflect the nature of our world. Depending on the circumstance, you should be: hard as a diamond, flexible as a willow, smooth-flowing like water, or as empty as space.
– Morihei Ueshiba
Also Read: 30 Famous Kung Fu Quotes Sayings From Martial Artists
Aikido is not an art to fight with enemies and defeat them. It is a way to lead all human beings to live in harmony with each other as though everyone were one family. The secret of aikido is to make yourself become one with the universe and to go along with its natural movements. One who has attained this secret holds the universe in him/herself and can say, ‘I am the universe.’
– Morihei Ueshiba
Aikido is not a technique to fight with or defeat an enemy. It is the way to reconcile the world and make human beings one family.
– Morihei Ueshiba
Shihonage is the foundation of Aikido. All you ever need to master is shihonage.
– Morihei Ueshiba
Aikido changes constantly. What do not change are the principles.
– Christian Tissier
Aikido Quotes By Morihei Ueshiba
One does not need buildings, money, power, or status to practice the Art of Peace. Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is the place to train.
– Morihei Ueshiba
Those who have a warped mind, a mind of discord, have been defeated from the beginning.
– Morihei Ueshiba
To practice Aikido fully you must calm the spirit and go back to the origin.
– Morihei Ueshiba
When new pages are sent to editors and see rejection, we should ask for the reasons. We must study the reasons for failure and learn. It’s not about struggle with our limitations or with public or the publishers. It’s more about treating it like in aikido; the strength of the attack is used to defeat him with the same effort.
– Jean Giraud
The purpose of training is to tighten up the slack, toughen the body, and polish the spirit.
– Morihei Ueshiba
Also Read: 30 Epic Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Quotes Sayings to Get Motivated
When an opponent comes forward, move in and greet him; if he wants to pull back, send him on his way.
– Morihei Ueshiba
A mind to serve for the peace of all human beings in the world is needed in Aikido, and not the mind of one who wishes to be strong or who practices only to fell an opponent.
– Morihei Ueshiba
True budo is a work of love. It is a work of giving life to all beings, and not killing or struggling with each other. Love is the guardian deity of everything. Nothing can exist without it. Aikido is the realization of love.
– Morihei Ueshiba
Deep Martial Arts Aikido Quotes
Even the most powerful human being has a limited sphere of strength. Draw him outside of that sphere and into your own, and his strength will dissipate.
– Morihei Ueshiba
Nonresistance is one of the principles of aikido. Because there is no resistance, you have won before even starting. People whose minds are evil or who enjoy fighting are defeated without a fight.
– Morihei Ueshiba
Move like a beam of light: fly like lightning, strike like thunder, whirl in circles around a stable center.
– Morihei Ueshiba
Foster and polish the warrior spirit while serving in the world; illuminate the path according to your inner light.
– Morihei Ueshiba
I don’t like getting hit for one, although you know I did take Aikido for many years, but Aikido is a different kind of martial art, maybe even a more cerebral art because it’s all about redirecting the energies of your opponent instead of trying to bash your opponent’s head in effectively, so it’s a much more loving art, so I guess I tend that way normally anyway.
– Maurice Ashley
Also Read: 40 Motivational Kickboxing Quotes Sayings To Fight Harder
Forgiveness is like the martial arts of consciousness. In Aikido and, other martial arts, we sidestep our attackers force rather than resisting it. The energy of the attack then boomerangs back in the direction of the attacker. Our power lies in remaining nonreactive. Forgiveness works in the same way. When we attack back, and defense is a form of attack, we initiate a war that no one can win.
– Marianne Williamson
The aikido term ma ai, which means space harmony (ai is Chinese for love, and it translates into Japanese as harmonious connection) refers to the optimal distance point, where you’re close enough to connect well and far enough to enjoy your own space.
– Stephen Gilligan
Aiki is the way of the Kami and was born of the will of the Kami. Rise early in the morning to greet the sun. Inhale the breath of heaven and let the cosmos inside. Next breath up the rich vibrance of the earth. Blend these breaths with your own breath and become the breath of life itself. Your mind and body will be gladdened, heartache and disappointment will dissipate and you will be filled with gratitude. The movements of Aikido which unite human being with great nature are all given by Sarutahiko-no-O-Kami. Aikido is Misogi..a purification of ourselves…the way of the universe.
– Morihei Ueshiba
We hope you enjoy reading our Aikido quotes from famous martial artists.
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