Aikido, founded by Morihei Ueshiba, is a Japanese martial art renowned for its philosophy of non-aggression and harmonizing with an opponent's energy rather than confronting it head-on. In the world of martial arts, Aikido stands apart for its emphasis on redirecting attacks with fluid, circular motions rather than meeting force with force. This core principle distinguishes Aikido from more combative martial arts like Karate or Taekwondo.

Judo is a modern martial art and combat sport that originated in Japan in the late 19th century. It was founded by Jigoro Kano, who synthesized techniques from various traditional Japanese jujutsu schools into a cohesive system. The word "Judo" translates to "gentle way," emphasizing the principle of using an opponent's strength and momentum against them rather than relying solely on brute force. In Judo, practitioners, known as judoka, utilize throwing techniques (nage-waza), joint locks (katame-waza), and pins (osaekomi-waza) to control opponents and win matches. Judo training also includes groundwork (ne-waza), which focuses on grappling techniques and submissions.

Karate is a martial art that originated in Okinawa, Japan. It is a system of self-defense techniques involving striking, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques. Karate practitioners, known as karateka, often train in forms (kata), which are choreographed sequences of movements simulating combat scenarios. These forms help practitioners to develop proper technique, balance, coordination, and focus.

Iaido, also known as "Battojutsu," is a traditional Japanese martial art that focuses on the quick and precise drawing of the katana (Japanese sword) from its scabbard, executing techniques against one or multiple imaginary opponents, and then re-sheathing the sword. The primary goal of Iaido is to develop the practitioner's ability to respond effectively to sudden attacks while maintaining a calm and focused mind.