Following the decline of the samurai, martial techniques gradually transferred to martial 'ways' and greater emphasis was placed on the study of budo to encourage the Japanese people to establish a strong, vital society built on moral strength. Certainly, one system of unarmed combat known as aikijujutsu originated two centuries ago and this was further developed by Yoshimitsu Shinra Saburo. Apparently many of his techniques were devised by watching the skill employed by a spider to trap large insects in a fragile web.

The modern techniques of aikido, incorporating many aspects of the ancient art of jujutsu, were formalised in 1916 by Ueshiba Morihei. Although he devoted his life to the study of aikido, it was several years before he began teaching and eventually built a dojo and a Shinto temple. The relationship between spiritual harmony and universal energy is the defining power of aikido, a self-defence system that seeks to harmonise rather than harm an attacker. A quote from Master Ueshiba puts this into context "he who discovers the secret of aikido has the universe within him and can say I am the universe".

Currently, there are over one million Aikidoists throughout the world but many schools have broken away from the original teachings. However, the basic principles remain constant: the spiritual elements and movement techniques. Only when the mind is free, the body relaxed and movement is spontaneous, throws are introduced to the art. There are no offensive moves – the aim is to turn an attacker’s strength and momentum against himself. It is widely reported that some masters have learned to throw opponents without physically touching them.