Welcome! To the first article of Culturious,today we are going to inform you about 10 Amazing things you didn’t know about the traditional Japanese martial arts.Aikido!

1.Aikido was among the first martial arts freed from the ban imposed on their practice by the US government after World War II.

2.In some areas, Japanese police officers are required to hold at least a Shodan (black belt) in Aikido.

3.Aikido is the only martial art allowed in the U.S. federal prison system.

4.Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido, once pinned a Sumo wrestler using only a single finger.

5.The well-known actor Steven Seagal is a 7th degree black belt in Aikido.

6.Aikido is a non-competitive martial art that focuses not on punching or kicking opponents, but rather on using their energy to gain control of them or to force them away from you.

7.Aikido can be translated as “way of harmony”, but it’s by no means a “soft” martial art. The training is very hard – especially on the lower body, the hips, the legs. You need to develop excellent balance in order to execute the movements not from your legs but from your centre.

8.Aikido was created by Morihei Ueshiba 14 December 1883 – 26 April 1969, referred to by some aikido practitioners as Ōsensei (Great Teacher). The term aikido was coined in the twentieth century.

9.Steven Seagal is a 7th degree black belt in Aikido

10.Aikido It is the refinement of the techniques that are being taught in traditional martial arts and is combined with a philosophy that calls on for the power of the spirit.

That’s it for today! I sure did not know all these great facts about the Japanese martial art before! What about you? Which fact surprised you the most? And what’s your favourite Martial Art? Let me know down in the comments. And remember stay CULTURIOUS!