Words from O’Sensei

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.

The secret of Aikido is to harmonize ourselves with the movement of the universe and bring ourselves into accord with the universe itself.

I am never defeated, however fast the enemy may attack. It is not because my technique is faster than that of the enemy.

It is not a question of speed . . . the fight is finished before it is begun.

When an enemy tries to fight with me, the universe itself, he has to break the harmony of the universe. Hence the moment he has the mind to fight with me, he is already defeated.

Morihei Ueshiba (Founder of Aikido)