Aiki has been defined as the harmonizing of energy, the balancing of the spirit, the blending of forces, and even as the art of peace. When combined with the word " Jitsu ", meaning combat art, or "Do" meaning way or path, Aiki becomes an art and way of living in peace and harmony in a world filled with opposing forces.

SDS Aiki-Jitsu is an open division of self-defense systems which allows for the students of all kindred grappling arts, including Aiki-jitsu , Aikido, and Judo to receive cross-ranking and continue to grow within the Self-Defense Systems family.

The Founder/ Soke of Self-Defense Systems is Professor Gary Dill, who has appointed Dr. Carl Farinelli as the division head of SDS Aiki-Jitsu . SDS Aiki-Jitsu represents the soft or Yin side of SDS Bushido Kempo and includes blending, diverting, containing, and restraining of an opponent's force using avoidance techniques, nerve/joint manipulation, throws, chokes, and those various kinds of techniques that are often placed under the "grappling" category.

For this reason, students who are attracted to SDS Aiki-Jitsu are often those who avoid conflict, are of a very peaceful nature, or those who have to deal with conflict by redirecting or flowing with the opponent's force rather than meeting force with force. It is also studied by theose who have to apprehend, detain, or control a violent person with the least amount of harm to attacker and defender. Professor Dill often refers to SDS Aiki-Jitsu as the "Art of Getting Out of the Way".


The core system, SDS Bushido Kempo , was founded by Professor Dill who has conferred the rank of 9th Dan in both SDS Aiki-Jitsu and SDS Bushido Kempo as well as the title of Soke -Dai (Successor) upon Dr. Farinelli . Dr. Farinelli si a professor of English and Languages at Northeastern State University (NSU) in Tahlequah , Oklahoma, where he developed and currently supervises the NSU Aiki-Jitsu program presently taguht by long time black belt students, Stu and Patrick Fanning (see photo below).

After cross-ranking, black belts in sister arts may begin to receive advanced training and grading in SDS Aiki-Jitsu through individual instruction, training camps and seminars, and video instruction. For more information on the sDS Aiki-Jitsu division, cross-ranking requirements, training opportunities, and videos - contact Professor Dill