Viewfinder: Aikido Students Take A Fall, And Like It

Grab, fly, throw the air and hit the mat.

Repeat.

Eight students at the Kyoshin Aikido Dojo on S. Robert Street did that drill, in a variety of forms, over and over Wednesday night. All under the watchful eye of Cory Hansen, head instructor at the dojo and a third degree black belt.

Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba. It involves comprehensive use of effective joint locks, strikes and throws and other techniques developed from forms of Jujutsu. Throws and other techniques from kenjutsu (sword arts) and jojutsu (walking stick arts) are also taught.

With an emphasis on motion and movement, the applications of Aikido require very little strength or athletic ability and can be used by practically everyone.

Aikido students learn self-defense, self-control, discipline, self-confidence, stress relief, anger management and weight loss. That is if there doing it right, and that's where Hansen comes in.

"We have a lot of fun," said Hansen. "We learn the art. As long as people are working, learning the principles of the art, we like to have fun and its a very good self defense for any body style, any age and it can produce a lot of power in a small package."

Aikido is called the art of non-violence.

"So your main goal is to protect yourself, and your second goal is to actually protect the person who is attacking you," said Hansen. "You don't want to hurt them, but you want to keep yourself defended."