Pages: 1 2

Aikido is a modern martial art that is founded by spirituality and philosophy influenced by the Omoto-kyo religion associated with the Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba. The etymology of the word Aikido stems from three Japanese characters. "Ai" literally means joining, with "ki" meaning something like spirit, and "do" meaning way. Loosely translated then, the meaning of Aikido is the way of joining the spirit.

The Aikido way is to align body and mind with the spirit or ki and it said that the only way to be able to do this is through cultivating a relaxed state. It is in this relaxed state that nothing is forced or contrived so the mind and body naturally join the spirit or energy and everything becomes one. It is this oneness and cultivation of relaxation that this martial art paradoxically gets referred to as the art of peace.Its founder Ueshiba was a pacifist and it is said that he taught Aikido as a peaceful means to end aggression.

Although spiritual and philosophical development is important in Aikido training, it has to be put to practical means and examples in actual practice of Aikido techniques and methods.Aikido training usually consists of two parties. The first is called uke or the receiving body and the other is known as nage (although this term varies depending on the Aikido style being taught) who gives the technique being taught.

This concept of uke and nage can be likened to the Chinese yin and yang because in Aikido, uke and nage are not separate entities. They are two parts of one where the Aikido training can be learned with give and take from both parties.For instance, one of the first techniques taught in Aikido training is how to throw and fall safely. It is the task of nage to prevent injury to uke so he can learn to land safely when thrown.

Furthermore, in Aikido training, the receiver or uke usually initiates an attack against the nage whose aim is to neutralize the assault with an Aikido move or technique.This way, both the uke and nage learn from each other and the Aikido training is not successfully executed without oneness between the two. It is in the give and take of these two entities in Aikido training that the principles of ki and other fundamentals of Aikido techniques are learned.

Such fundamentals are the principles of adapting, flexibility, calmness and blending. In the case of uke and nage, Aikido training teaches uke to be more flexible and relaxed so that nage will not be able to catch them unaware and throw them off balance. On the other hand, nage learns to blend and adapt to be able to control and assuage the assaulting energy from uke.Aikido training however is not exclusive to practice and parries between just two parties. In

Pages: 1 2

When one talks about parachuting, several things come to mind. The exhilarating feeling it gives to most skydivers, the high cost of its equipment , and the danger that comes along with it are some of them.

But just the same, the sport remains popular not only among skydivers but spectators as well. In fact, more enthusiasts are enjoying the sport not only by going to actual skydiving and parachuting events but also by watching videos on parachuting.

Skydiving and parachuting is one of the most popular activities in most sunny areas of the world. The excitement and adrenaline rush that it gives the skydiver is something that no other sport can give. Maybe because it gives men the illusion of flying that makes it really popular.

Because it is now considered more of a sport than just a recreational activity, there are several disciplines that call for both recreational and competitive events. Among the other disciplines are formation skydiving, sky surfing, free fall skydiving, paraski, canopy formation and BASE skydiving.

While there may be some accidents that occur during skydiving, these could be attributed to negligence and inexperience. These fatalities should not hinder you from trying it anyway. It is estimated that less than 1 in 1,000 jumps experience opening malfunction.

Before any jump, you must make sure that you have the proper equipment and training that you need. Examine your gear. Check them for any problems. Sometimes trained riggers do the packing of the parachute. Most people pack a second chute as back-up in case the main chute fails to open.

You must also learn the sport well. Look for skydiving facilities in your area and ask a trainer to teach you. You can join a skydiving club or organization in your area. You can also look at some listings of professional skydivers and see if anyone can train you.

Some trainers use videos in teaching. This makes learning more effective, since you will be able to see how it is actually done aside from reading it in books or hearing it from your trainer.

Aside from these instructional videos, you may also watch videos in some websites dedicated to skydiving. Here enthusiasts upload videos that are both instructional and entertaining. You will also learn tips and techniques in skydiving. Other skydiving enthusiasts can post their comments and opinions on important areas of skydiving such as equipment , apparel and skydiving sites.

To find more videos, you can look at websites which provide video sharing and type the keywords "parachuting" or "skydiving.