The functional efficiency and incidence of injuries in men practicing aikido. Pilot study

Aikido is the Japanese martial art in which competitors use exclusively self-defence, without forms of the attack. One does not use typical kicks or knocks, but mostly the power of the opponent – interactions with the activity of the competitor. In the course of trainings, apart from assurance and safety rules, one is also initiated into the pedagogical aspect, based on the Bushido Code. Competitors are taught respect for the second person, tolerance, help and discipline. It is the martial art which can be practiced by everybody, regardless of physical predispositions, the age, the height or the body mass [1-3]. In aikido training one uses elongation, flexibility and strength ening exercises. Meditative techniques, practiced simultaneously with the flexibility training, regularly performed du ring each class, play the significant role in overcoming stress, relaxation of muscles and effacement of resultant complaints in consequence of the intensive muscular tension [1,2,4]. Aikido exercises have also indispensable values in realizing of the prophylaxis of the health. The participation in trainings permits to enlarge the physical fitness and to diminish risk factors leading to bone breaks during unfortunate falls. The skill of the safe fall permits aikido students (and those training other martial arts, e.g. jujitsu or judo) to limit unpleasant results of falls [3,5]. Aikido through the usage of relaxation exercises favou rably influences the psychophysical state of those training. It makes looseness of any muscular groups, obtainment of the psychical equilibrium and quelling of physiological reactions easy [1,3]. Aikido embraces also the large supply of respiratory exercises. The skill of the relaxation itself is the best mean in fight with illnesses of the nervous system, which can make a person heavy, apathetic and passive. The full relaxation, allowing maximum regeneration of lost energy in as short time as possible, proves also to be a very effective form of the rest, stimulating life centres, concentrating diffused ener gy, strengthening and cooling the body [3].