In comparison to other martial arts Aikido is a martial art, that did not develop to take part in competitional events. The goal of Aikido is not to win against the enemy, but to evade the attack and to redirect the aggressive energies of the attacker with spiral- and circular moves, and to nullify them.

This does not demand a great physical strength. The unity of body and mind and furthermore the unity of attacker and defender are the main focus of Aikido. The motions of the defender adapt to the motions of the attacker and they create a void in the centre upon which the attacker is steered.