Definition of "aikido" []

• A Japanese art of self-defense that employs holds and locks and that uses the principles of nonresistance in order to debilitate the strength of the opponent. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "He traveled to Japan at the age of 17 where he taught English, studied Zen and perfected his martial arts, eventually earning black belts in aikido, karate, judo, and kendo."
• "According to the press material, not only does Seagal, who has a 7th-degree black belt in aikido, go out on patrol, he is also “an expert marksman who has worked with their SWAT team and has instructed Jefferson Parish officers in firearms and hand-to-hand combat.”"
• "The first movie or two are generic action flicks enlivened by Seagal's slightly unorthodox fighting abilities he uses aikido, which is not usually featured in martial arts movies as it favours defence over offensive attacks, but very quickly we start seeing some of Seagal's iconic touches coming in as he becomes more powerful and able to exert influence on the movie's direction."