Aikido was not viewed by its founder, Morihei Ueshiba, as a sport, but rather as Misogi-Waza (loosely translated: “mi”: body; “Misogi”: to peel, scrape, or cut the body).

There are no competitions in Aikido!

The partners work together so that each individual can perfect their technique. Rank promotions are earned by demonstrating various techniques, without the partners fighting each other as opponents.

The training sessions consist primarily of kata-geiko: The roles of attacker and defender are fixed, and the attacks and defenses are usually predetermined.

It is only as an advanced aikidoka that one begins to gradually move away from the set form; at first—for example, during free practice—attacks and defenses are no longer strictly prescribed, and later one begins to move beyond the division of roles into uke and tori.

While in some schools kata is discussed only in connection with bokken and jo, in most Aikido schools, kata with partners—that is, kata-geiko—is the central form of practice.

The aikidoka strives to move freely and to stop thinking about every single step. The movement patterns should become ingrained in the subconscious..

Regular practice improves flexibility and, through complex movement sequences, enhances concentration, coordination, gross and fine motor skills, as well as physical and mental well-being.