aikido

noun

ai·​ki·​do ī-ˈkē-(ˌ)dō  ˌī-ki-ˈdō 

: a Japanese art of self-defense employing locks and holds and utilizing the principle of nonresistance to cause an opponent's own momentum to work against them

Examples of aikido in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Eventually, the fighting commenced with a flurry of slapping, pushing, and grasping; sumo can look like brawling or ballet, a display of brute force or a mastery of martial-arts techniques that share their origins with judo and aikido. — Joshua Hunt, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026

In New York City, Alcindor started training in aikido. — Jeff Chang september 25, Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025

But Paul knows some aikido, and Carey is a physical-education teacher, and both have probably watched some WWE, so neither is willing to back down. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2025

Founder and Director Heidi Stoeckley, a graduate of the Julliard School of Dance and a professional dancer, offers classes in ballet, modern dance, yoga and aikido, along with private lessons. — William Thornton | [email protected], al, 25 Sep. 2019

An inversion of that history, in which Americans practice aikido or grow fluent in Japanese social customs in order to get by, is fascinating to watch the show parse. — Karen Han, Vox, 6 Oct. 2018

Like chokes, arm and wristlocks—standard techniques in judo, jiujitsu, and aikido—are relatively simple to learn but incredibly easy to take too far. — Michael Thomsen, Slate Magazine, 10 Aug. 2017

The block’s second- and third-floor spaces are occupied by residential tenants, law offices, an aikido dojo, an artist and a violin maker. — Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 27 Mar. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Japanese aikidō, from ai- match, coordinate + ki breath, spirit + dō art, way

First Known Use

1954, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for aikido

• albedo
• amido
• basedow
• ejido
• libido
• tuxedo

Kids Definition

aikido

noun

ai·​ki·​do ˌī-ki-ˈdō  ī-ˈkē-ˌdō 

: a Japanese art of self-defense characterized by the use of techniques that force an opponent's own weight to work against him or her