Governing and reference bodies
- Aikikai Foundation — the art’s international headquarters, with background on its aims, history, and worldwide network.
- International Aikido Federation — coordinates national aikido organizations internationally and publishes general information for practitioners.
Encyclopedias and background
- Encyclopædia Britannica — a concise, independent overview of aikido as a martial art.
- Encyclopædia Britannica — a reference biography of the art’s founder, useful for the history.
- Britannica’s entry on Bushidō — background on the warrior ethic whose seven virtues appear in the hakama’s seven pleats.
Reading and further study
Aikido has a rich literature, and a few themes recur across the most respected works. Books written by the art’s founder and his direct students set out its philosophy of harmony and its ethical aims; technical manuals catalogue the throws, pins, and weapon forms with photographs and step-by-step breakdowns; and histories trace the art’s descent from older jūjutsu and sword traditions. When choosing a book, favor authors with a clear lineage and prefer works that show a technique from several angles rather than a single frozen pose.
Video is a useful supplement but a poor substitute for the mat: watching a throw teaches the shape, not the feeling of timing and connection that only a partner can give. Treat any resource — this site included — as a map to be checked against the territory of real practice under a qualified teacher.
How to evaluate a school or a source
Because aikido has many lineages and no single global authority over every school, the burden of judgment falls partly on the student. A few questions help separate the sound from the doubtful:
- Does the school or author state a clear lineage — who they trained under, and in what tradition?
- Is the instruction affiliated with, or consistent with, a recognized body such as the Aikikai Foundation or a national federation under the International Aikido Federation?
- Does the material keep beginners safe, emphasize ukemi, and avoid grand claims of invincibility?
- Are historical statements consistent with independent references such as Encyclopædia Britannica, rather than myth presented as fact?
A trustworthy resource is comfortable saying “schools differ here” and “this must be learned in person.” Certainty about everything is a warning sign, not a credential.
Where to go from here on this site
If you are new, begin with what aikido is and the beginner’s guide. To understand why the art moves as it does, read the principles and then the techniques. For the culture of the mat, see etiquette, the glossary of terms, and the grading system. And for the everyday care of your equipment, learn to fold the hakama and tie your belt.
A note on sources
Wherever this site describes history or terminology, it aims to reflect the mainstream understanding held across aikido’s major lineages and the standard reference works listed above. Where schools genuinely differ — in belt colors, grading requirements, or when the hakama is worn — that variation is noted rather than papered over. The surest source of all remains a good teacher and regular practice.
Independent educational resource. Not affiliated with any dojo, federation, organization, teacher, or individual. Outbound links are provided for reference and imply no endorsement.