Aikido is a martial art intended for personal psychophysical development. It got its modern form in the middle of the 20th century, and has its roots in several old Japanese martial systems, as well as in Eastern philosophy and lifestyle. Aikido "came" to Montenegro in 1995, and it was "brought" by the main Montenegrin aikido instructor Predrag Burić. We talked with him about this sport, his love for it and what aikido provides to aikidoka, that is, to those who learn this skill.
"Ai is harmony, Ki is energy, Do is a way or a path, that is the literal translation of the name aikda, more precisely a closer translation is the unity of spirit and body, and aikido is also a way of life when someone accepts it and devotes himself to it.
Learning this skill develops self-confidence, the person who trains becomes stronger, deals with problems differently, does not give up. In order to learn to win, you first learn to lose, learn to stand up when you fall, to get back on the road, all this is offered by aikido, as well as other eastern martial arts", explains Burić.
As a ten-year-old boy, he started training in karate and during that period he first encountered the literature on aikido. He says that after learning that it is a skill that is designed as a defense against unprovoked attacks and in which there are no attacks, but all techniques are designed to be performed only as a defense, he wanted to practice it, but he had no place.
The opportunity to practice aikido came to me when I was 21 years old. I went to study in Pristina, I asked if it was possible to train there, and with a friend from my studies who also wanted to train in the same sport, I found out that in Belgrade we have the possibility to train aikido. We agreed to try it, we went to training in Belgrade on Fridays, stayed there during the weekend and returned to the university on Monday. This lasted for several years, and in the end we started a club in Pristina. After finishing my studies, I returned to Podgorica and in 1995 opened the first Montenegrin aiko club, AK "Podgorica", says Burić.
He explains that aikido is a martial art, but that it is specific because it does not teach how to hurt someone, but only how to defend yourself.
“It is a unique sport in the martial arts family. There is no competition in aikido, because all techniques are designed as defense. It consists of a system of grips, levers and throws, the techniques are relatively dangerous, you cannot make a competitive system, because someone would get hurt. The characteristic of aikido is what attracted me, it is conceived as a defensive skill. The stronger the attack that is directed towards you, the stronger your defense is, because you use the energy of the person attacking you, while in aikido you can use the energy of the attacker and overcome him without hurting him", says Burić.
It depends, he says, only on the level of one's knowledge and mastery. In other martial arts, they learn to hit their opponents, and in Aikido, they learn how to stop a blow, so not how to hurt someone, but how to defend themselves.
"Techniques are designed so that you don't resist, unlike some skills that go directly into conflict with the opponent. Aikido lets this energy flow, controls it, directs it, and movements that are usually circular are very important. Aikido can be practiced by everyone regardless of age and gender. In this sport, everyone is equal and there is no division into male and female competitions as in other sports. Women who win a black belt in aikido have met the same level as men", says the main Montenegrin aikido coach and holder of a black belt in Aikdi - 4th Dan (Yondan) Aikikai, which is the highest profession in Montenegro.
There are five aikido clubs in Montenegro, but they are all in Podgorica.
"In the 17 years since Aikido has existed in Montenegro, five clubs have been formed, but unfortunately we have not been able to spread the learning of the skill to other Montenegrin cities, all clubs are in Podgorica. Interest varies, but as soon as we maintain ourselves and progress, then it's good", says our interlocutor.
Biography
Predrag Burić has a degree in electronics engineering. In the Montenegrin Aikido Association, he performs the function of chief instructor and selector of the national team. He is the head of the professional staff in the aikido clubs Budućnost and Podgorica and a holder of a black belt in Aikdi - 4th Day (Yondan) Aikikai, which is the highest title in Montenegro, and in addition he is a holder of a black belt in other martial sports, in Judo - 1st Day (Shodan), karate – 2nd Day (Nidan) and Jiu-Jitsu – 6th Day (Rokudan).
In the period from 2002 to 2005, he served as the general secretary of the Montenegrin Budo Association. In 2002, he was the vice-president of the Yugoslav Aikido Federation, and from 2003 to 2006, the president of the Aikido Federation of Serbia and Montenegro. In 2003, he led the team as a selector and competitor
of the Montenegrin Budo Association, which won first place at the World Martial Arts Festival Montenegro 2003 in Podgorica. He is the winner of the gold plaque of the V World Championship in UNIFIGHT, held in Podgorica in 2003, a member of the IO and the president of the commission for the competition of this championship. He was named the best coach by the Montenegrin Budo Association twice - in 2004 and 2003. He is the winner of the gold plaque of the XX European Championship in Jiu-Jitsu, held in Podgorica in 2011, and a member of the Board of Directors of this championship. Twelve of his students are Aikido 2009st, 1nd, and 2rd dan Aikikai masters.
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