What is the meaning of Aikido?
The word Aikido in Japanese is made up of three characters, or kanji. The first is “Ai” which means “meet, come together, harmonize.” The second kanji is “Ki” which means “mind, soul, spirit.” In the larger context, “Ki” refers to the spirit of the universe and not just the spirit of human beings. The third and last character is “Do” which means “the way,” to signify that the study of Aikido involves physical practice melded with philosophical examination over a long term. These three Japanese kanji “Ai-Ki-Do,” therefore, mean the way of harmonizing with the universe.
