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Aikido incorporates a wide range of techniques which use principles of energy and motion to redirect, neutralize and control single or multiple attackers. At its highest level, aikido can be used to defend oneself without causing serious injury to either the aggressor or the defender. If performed correctly, size and strength are not important for efficency in the techniques. Aikido is considered one of the most difficult of the Japanese martial arts to gain proficiency in.
The methods of training vary from organization to organization and indeed even between different dojo in a single organization but typically, a class basically means that the teacher shows techniques or principles and the students imitate. Training is done through mutual technique not by sparring. Uke, the receiver of the technique, usually initiates an attack against nage or tori, who neutralizes it with an aikido technique. The uke and the nage have equally important roles. Students must practice both positions in order to learn to defend against an attack and to safely receive the defense. When o-sensei taught, all his students were uke until he deemed them knowledgeable enough of the technique to be nage. Movement, awareness, precision and timing are all important to the execution of techniques as students progress from rigidly defined exercises to more fluid and adaptable applications. Eventually, students take part in jiyu-waza and/or randori, where the attacks are less predictable. Some schools, such as Shodokan aikido , employ training methods wherein uke actively attempts to employ counter-techniques, or kaeshi-waza.
In kata training, the objective of the student is to perfectly copy the style demonstrated by their teacher during a series of formal movements. This form of training is usually reserved for work with weapons. Its purpose is the preservation of traditional technique. Variation depends upon the particular style or teacher.
O-Sensei didn't allow competition in training because some techniques are considered too dangerous and because he believed that competition didn't develop good character in students. Most styles of Aikido continue this tradition although Shodokan Aikido (see #Styles ) is an exception.
Aikido attacks used in normal training include various stylized strikes and grabs such as shomenuchi (a vertical strike to the head), yokomenuchi (a lateral strike to the side of the head and/or neck), munetsuki (a straight punch), ryotedori (a two handed grab) or katadori (a shoulder grab). Attacks are seldom trained with the aim of perfection; they are needed to do aikido technique on, but not a goal in itself. Kicks are sometimes used, but seldom in standard curricula.
Aikido techniques are mostly based on keeping the attacker out of balance and locking joints. Much of Aikido's repertoire of defenses can be performed either as throwing techniques (nage-waza) or as controls (katame-waza), depending on the situation. Entering, irimi, and turning, tenkan, are widely used Aikido concepts, as is striking, atemi, although this is mostly performed as distraction rather than to hurt. Manipulation of uke's balance by entering is often referred to as "taking uke's center".