It is often said that the use of the sword is the basis of all of the techniques of Aikido. Why is this so? Aikido, as it is practiced today, makes reference to the sword but it is rarely used in Aikido classes. And, if it is used, it is often only used to illustrate some aspect of a technique of Aikido. Some teachers go even further and negate the necessity of the sword in the practice of "modern" Aikido and even discourage students from pursuing a study of the sword.

The relationship between taijutsu (body movement / empty handed technique) and the techniques of ken and jo is undeniable. However, the study of the sword and staff can have a dramatic effect on Aikido practice. The fact that one is handling a real sword (a sharp one at that) can lend a sense of reality to the practice of Aikido lacking in the average dojo. Another thing lacking in much Aikido practice is the real, focused sense of concentration. Often, the techniques are performed half-heartedly with no real sense of focus. If we were to use the sword this way, the possibility of being wounded or killed is enormous. What is often ignored is that an Aikido technique performed in the same way could also be disastrous.