Cool Aikido Facts

The Swarthmore College Aikido Club has some very interesting Aikido facts on their website. Some make sense if you've been practicing Aikido, other are just plain fascinating.

For instance, I did not know that Aikido is the only martial art allowed in the U.S. federal prison system. Likewise, I had not heard that O-Sensei once pinned a Sumo wrestler using a single finger. Enjoy!!

• In some areas, Japanese police officers are required to hold at least a Shodan (black belt) in Aikido.
• Aiki
  do is the only martial art allowed in the U.S. federal prison system.
• In a recent Florida court case, a man resisting arrest charged the officer involved for us
  ing excessive force when his wrist was broken during the application of an Aikido technique. The case reached the Florida State Supreme Court which ruled that the offender broke his own wrist by resisting the technique.
• Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido, once pinned a Sumo wrestler using only a single finger.
• The government of Japan awarded Ueshiba both their Medal of Honor and The Order of the Rising Sun during his lifetime in recognition of the value of Aikido.
• Aikido was among the first martial arts freed from the ban imposed on their practice by
  the US government after World War II.
• Your arm is stronger when you relax it. (!)
• The practice of Shikko (or "knee-walking"), which has become an integral part of Aikido training, was originally developed when Japanese feudal lords required that all their followers remain on their knees while in the lord's presence. It later developed into a formal movement in many Samurai ceremonies.