Rules in Aikido

Rules in Aikido - as appearing in our Membership books 1965 to 2002

1.		One blow in Aikido is capable of killing an opponent. In practice obey your instructor and do not make practise a time for needless testing strength.

2.		Aikido is an art in which one man learns to face many opponents simultaneously and requires therefore that you polish and perfect your execution of each movement so that you can deal with not only the one directly before you but also those in every diection around you.

3.		Practice at all times with a feeling of pleasurable exhilaration.

4.		The teaching of your instructor institutes only a small fraction of what you will learn. Your mastery of each movement will depend completely on your earnest practise.

5.		The purpose of Aikido is to train both body and mind and to make a man sincere. All Aikido arts are secret in nature and are not to be revealed publicly nor taught to those who will use them for evil purpose.

Of the foregoing rules, that which prohibits revealing the arts to others without good reason was enforced until World War II. After the war the founder wished to introduce Aikido to all the world and allowed public demonstrations of the arts. In addition to the five rules, the occasions when Aikido may be used are as follows:

	1.	When one is in personal danger
	2.	When one sees others in danger
	3.	Even in the situation in which the use of Aikido is sanctioned such sanctions are not absolute. Every effort must first be made after calm thought to settle matters peaceably. Only when such effooirts seem useless should the arts of Aikido be used.

Anyone who masters the principles of Aikido and still prefers fighting is considered to be a failure as a student.

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