<P> Aikido techniques are usually a defense against an attack, so students must learn to deliver various types of attacks to be able to practice aikido with a partner . Although attacks are not studied as thoroughly as in striking - based arts, sincere attacks (a strong strike or an immobilizing grab) are needed to study correct and effective application of technique . </P> <P> Many of the strikes (打ち, uchi) of aikido resemble cuts from a sword or other grasped object, which indicate its origins in techniques intended for armed combat . Other techniques, which explicitly appear to be punches (tsuki), are practiced as thrusts with a knife or sword . Kicks are generally reserved for upper - level variations; reasons cited include that falls from kicks are especially dangerous, and that kicks (high kicks in particular) were uncommon during the types of combat prevalent in feudal Japan . Some basic strikes include: </P> <Ul> <Li> Front - of - the - head strike (正面 打ち, shōmen'uchi) a vertical knifehand strike to the head . In training, this is usually directed at the forehead or the crown for safety, but more dangerous versions of this attack target the bridge of the nose and the maxillary sinus . </Li> <Li> Side - of - the - head strike (横 面 打ち, yokomen'uchi) a diagonal knifehand strike to the side of the head or neck . </Li> <Li> Chest thrust (胸 突き, mune - tsuki) a punch to the torso . Specific targets include the chest, abdomen, and solar plexus . Same as "middle - level thrust" (中段 突き, chūdan - tsuki), and "direct thrust" (直 突き, choku - tsuki). </Li> <Li> Face thrust (顔面 突き, ganmen - tsuki) a punch to the face . Same as "upper - level thrust" (上段 突き, jōdan - tsuki). </Li> </Ul> <Li> Front - of - the - head strike (正面 打ち, shōmen'uchi) a vertical knifehand strike to the head . In training, this is usually directed at the forehead or the crown for safety, but more dangerous versions of this attack target the bridge of the nose and the maxillary sinus . </Li>

The 4 steps in an aikido move in their correct order are