The word DO in AIKIDO and BUSHIDO carries the same meaning. It literally means WAY.
Thus AIKIDO is often translated to mean WAY OF HARMONY and BUSHIDO is WAY OF THE WARRIOR. Aikido is also very much a part of BUSHIDO.
The word BUSHIDO is also sometimes translated to mean the "Percepts of Knighthood". Originated in feudal Japan probably in 12th century Bushido embodied the "maxims of educational training governing the samurai or warrior class, of Japan - the class that throughout the nation's feudal age set the standard for whole people in manners, ideals of character, mental and moral codes of obligation."
A famous book among budokas called "BUSHIDO, The Soul Of Japan" written by Professor Inazo Nitobe, first published in 1905, would be very useful reading for those who wishes to know the deeper meaning of the term BUSHIDO.
Aikido practitioners should realize that the word DO in Aikido has a much deeper meaning than its literal translation and a proper understanding of this deeper meaning of the word will help them better appreciate the philosophy and the moral precepts behind the teaching and the learning the learning of Aikido and help them master the physical martial arts techniques of Aikido.
Learning Aikido the right way should at least influence the ways we look at life, our thoughts, our thinking and our attitudes in our everyday deals with other fellow beings.
It can be said that anybody who steps on the Aikido Dojo to learn its martial techniques but has not become a better human being off the dojo as well has not learned Aikido and has in fact wasted his times and energy.
Much has changed in Japan since the Bushido eras of feudal Japan but much of the ideals and moral tenets of Bushido remain very much relevant in today's society.
Much has also changed in the ways Aikido is taught today compared to the times of O-Sensei when the teaching of Aikido was confined to the boundaries of Japan. Aikido today is fast growing martial arts with a large following of more than a million and half people of diverse racial cultural and religious background.
Quite naturally these developments have brought about changes not just on the techniques and methods of teaching Aikido but often also on its fundamentals and philosophy.
It is therefore important that from time to time we look back into history and traditions so that we do not forget O-Sensei original mission when he started to teach Aikido publicly.
He had wanted to leave to mankind something more than just another Japanese martial arts.
Through Aikido he had wanted that we train ourselves to become not just top notched martial artist but that we are able to harness our potential as a human being living in harmony with our fellow beings and the world around us.
Jun Yamada Shihan's Aikido classes strictly observed the time honored traditions he learned during his younger days attending lessons given by the Founder O-Sensei and the late Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba because he believes they are important to the proper training of disciplines and understanding of Aikido among his students.
Aikido practitioners who are genuine in learning Aikido should observed these codes.
Yamada Jun Shihan received personal certification as Shihan from the late second Doshu, Kisshomaru Ueshiba. His career as Shihan began when he accepted an invitation, with the blessings and knowledge of the late Doshu, to introduce and teach Aikido in Sarawak, Malaysia in 1971.

Atsushi (5th Dan) and Sae (4th Dan) help out whenever, wherever they can.

Atsushi doing a demonstration.

At a press conference with Prime Minister YAB Dato Seri Dr Mahathir and Vice PM YAB Dato Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi.(4th September 2003)

There are Japanese words quite frequently used in Aikido circles but are not properly understood. Infact these two words are often used to mean quite differently from the original meaning of the words. And this has probably happened due to their being interpreted by ideas and thinking unique to the customs, cultures and history of overseas Aikido practitioners.
It is Aikikai Malaysia's intention to correct these genuine mistakes especially amongst Yamada Jun Shihan's circle backed by comments from his longtime friends in Hombu Dojo.

• "Circular Movement and the Spirit of Harmony" by Masatake Fujita Hombu Dojo Shihan

  
  The purpose of Aikido is to create harmony-harmony of your spirit and body, harmony between your partner and yourself, and harmony with the movements of the Universe(Nature). A martial art which has as a purpose to be healthy in body and peaceful in spirit, to avoid conflict with others, to aboid spoiling Nature, to refrain from the use of physical power to achieve one's desires, to strive for becoming one with the Universe...this is Aikido. The collision of power against power-this is what we call fighting, or conflict. Aikido is not a collision of power agaist power. It is a joining of power with power, to come to a resolution of conflict. This transformation of power allows for Aikido technique to be born.
  Aikido always holds this ideal, no matter what situation arises. In reality, all martial arts have the same ideal.
  Aikido is comprised of circular movement. This movement is the way of non-conflict. Aikido takes a strong force and makes it circular. In order to elminate the necessity to injure or kill the other person this circular movement is necessary.
  Aikido is not just a simple martial art, it is a unique Way, a representation of Japanese culture and tradition. It serves as an introduction of Japanese spirit throughout the world. The main principle of the Japanese spirit, of the ture Japanese heart, is Harmony.
  The way of the Japanese spirit is not competition. The country of Japan is also known as "Yamato", or as the characters can be read, "great harmony". This is the heart of Japan.
  No matter what country, or period in time, one must follow this way. Let us, as those who possess the Spirit of Japan, work towards accumulating corrrect training in Aikido.
  (Updated 19th November 2002)

• UCHI-DESHI and SOTO-DESHI

  
  As confirmed by Aikido Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba, UCHI-DESHI never existed at Hombu even since the times of O-Sensei.
  Live-in students who are paid wages in return for their personal services are not called UCHI-DESHI. They are in fact employees of Hombu.
  According to Fujita Shihan, General Manager of Hombu Dojo, in the martial arts world of Japan in the old days the word UCHI-DESGHI means a person who whishes to train in Aikido as his profession in life but who does not have the necessary financial means to do so and he applies to the Doshu to be allowed to stay at Hombu and study Aikido in return for providing personal services such as preparing the dojo before classes and cleaning up after classes.
  He is provided food and lodging and free lessons but is not paid fixed wages or allowances. SOTO-DESHI simply means day students that attend classes at Hombu but return home after class.

The preface for Aikido book which was originally written by the late Kisshomaru Ueshiba Doshu (2nd Doshu, 1917-99) was translated into Malay language by Jun Yamada Shihan, as well as Kendo book from Tun Abdul Rahman Ya'kub on the successful of his publication in 1976.

PERUTUSAN DARI KETUA AIKIDO KISSHOMARU UESHIBA, TOKYO
(Ketua Aikido, Maha guru Kisshomaru Ueshiba Lahir 1917) Kami mengucap setinggi-stinggi terimakasih kepada Yang Amat Berhormat Ketua Menteri, Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul Rahman Yakub dan ahli-ahli Aikido diSarawak kerana memberi layanan yang sangat baik semasa lawatan kami ke Kuching dalam tahun 1972. Tertubuh dan berkembangnya Aikido diSarawak adalah jasa baik Datuk Patinggi Hj. Abdul Rahman Yakub dan beliau sendiri sangat cenderung dalam seni silah tersebut. Aikido berasal dari seorang Pengasas Morihei Ueshiba berasakan silat-silat Jepun yang lama. Sekarang silat it berkembang dengan majunya oleh kerana ia merupakan satu latihan untuk kesihatan badan dan jiwa ia-itu satu unsur yang sangat penting bagi kehidupan manusia. Dengan latihan tiap-tiap hari jiwa dan badan dapat disatukan dan dengan menggunakan gerakan semula jadi tenaga sendiri yang kuat itu dapat dikeluarkan. Ini bolehlah dikatakan sebagai filsafah yang paling tinggi dan jika diperaktik barulah Aikido mempunyai ertiyang lebeh dalam dan luas. Saya fikir bahawa oleh kerana filsafah Aikido yang sangat baik, maka itulah sebabnya Ketua Menteri suka dengan silat itu. Saya sangat gembira atas kemajuan Aikido diSarawak dibawah pimpinan Encik Jun Yamada, seorang guru Aikido dari Tokyo, yang diminta khas oleh YAB Datuk Patinggi Hj. Abdul Rahman. Dinegeri Jepun sekarang ada kira-kira 600 ribu orang ahli Aikido dan diseluruh dunia kira-kira 200 ribu orang. Yang istimewa mengenai Aikido ini ialah ianya diminati oleh orang-orang Malaysia diSarawak selama lima tahun. Kerana itu sekali lagi saya mengucapkan seinggi-tinggi terimakasih kepada Ketua Menteri. Saya percaya dengan Peduka Datuk sendiri giat berlatih Aikido diSarawak akan bertambah maju. Kami berharap agar latihan Aikido dapat dimajukan lagi dan dengan demikian bertambah eratlah persaudaraan antara Malaysia dan Jepun. Kami mengucap setinggi-stinggi terimakasih kepada Yang Amat Berhormat Ketua Menteri, Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul Rahman Yakub dan ahli-ahli Aikido diSarawak kerana memberi layanan yang sangat baik semasa lawatan kami ke Kuching dalam tahun 1972. Tertubuh dan berkembangnya Aikido diSarawak adalah jasa baik Datuk Patinggi Hj. Abdul Rahman Yakub dan beliau sendiri sangat cenderung dalam seni silah tersebut. Aikido berasal dari seorang Pengasas Morihei Ueshiba berasakan silat-silat Jepun yang lama. Sekarang silat it berkembang dengan majunya oleh kerana ia merupakan satu latihan untuk kesihatan badan dan jiwa ia-itu satu unsur yang sangat penting bagi kehidupan manusia. Dengan latihan tiap-tiap hari jiwa dan badan dapat disatukan dan dengan menggunakan gerakan semula jadi tenaga sendiri yang kuat itu dapat dikeluarkan. Ini bolehlah dikatakan sebagai filsafah yang paling tinggi dan jika diperaktik barulah Aikido mempunyai ertiyang lebeh dalam dan luas. Saya fikir bahawa oleh kerana filsafah Aikido yang sangat baik, maka itulah sebabnya Ketua Menteri suka dengan silat itu. Saya sangat gembira atas kemajuan Aikido diSarawak dibawah pimpinan Encik Jun Yamada, seorang guru Aikido dari Tokyo, yang diminta khas oleh YAB Datuk Patinggi Hj. Abdul Rahman. Dinegeri Jepun sekarang ada kira-kira 600 ribu orang ahli Aikido dan diseluruh dunia kira-kira 200 ribu orang. Yang istimewa mengenai Aikido ini ialah ianya diminati oleh orang-orang Malaysia diSarawak selama lima tahun. Kerana itu sekali lagi saya mengucapkan seinggi-tinggi terimakasih kepada Ketua Menteri. Saya percaya dengan Peduka Datuk sendiri giat berlatih Aikido diSarawak akan bertambah maju. Kami berharap agar latihan Aikido dapat dimajukan lagi dan dengan demikian bertambah eratlah persaudaraan antara Malaysia dan Jepun.
KATA-KATA ALUAN OLEH TUN ABDUL RAHMAN YA'KUB. (D.P.,S.P.M.J.,S.I.M.P.,S.P.M.K.,S.P.D.K.,P.N.B.S.,B.M/Indonesia,LL.D./kehormat/ UKM.
Buku panduan Silat Kendo ini telah dikarang oleh Encik Jun Yamada, siapa telah mengajar Kendo kepada beberapa orang ahliahli BINA disamping beliau mengajar Aikido. Saya dengan penuh gembira mengucap tahniah kepada Encik Jun Yamada atas usahanya yang telah berhasi mengarang buku panduan ini dalam Bahasa Malaysia. Buku ini, saya percaya, akan menambahkan lagi minat pembaca-pembaca kapada silat yang sungguh "tua" ini.