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About Blue Lake Aikido is a 501.c.3 non-profit organization. What is Aikido? Aikido is the practical application of non-violence. The art was founded by Morihei Ueshiba; know to Aikido practitioners as O-Sensei, or "great teacher", in the 1930s. Aikido is based physically on an older form of Ju-jitsu known as Daito-ryu Aiki-jujitsu. This older form of ju-jitsu was transformed from a system of purely martial technique to a path of non-violence with the help of Onisabura Deguchi, head to the utopian based Omoto-kyo branch of Shintoism. O-Sensei united the physical techniques of Daito-ryu with the spiritual/philosophical base of Omoto-kyo to form a new budo (martial way, literally "the path that ends conflict"): Aikido. The physical techniques of Aikido are based not on power, but on the fluid movement of ki (universal energy) from one's hara (center of balance). Punches, kicks, and blocks are replaced by movements that redirect and neutralize violent attacks. Sparring is replaced by the Uke - Nage relationship, where co-creation replaces competition. Opponents are replaced by partners. Through Aikido one will learn to move with total freedom, unrestrained by rigid forms. One learns that trusting one's heart is the most important element to self-defense. Grace comes in the form of flowing movements. Power comes from the confidence of knowing one is safe.