POULSBO — A favorite saying of Daruma, the founder of Zen Buddhism who lived sometime during the 5th or 6th century, was: “To fall seven times, to rise eight times — life starts from now.”

The ancient master felt that no matter how many times one falls, one must get right back up. It’s a lesson deeply taken to heart by the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, a martial artist who sought to find “the way of harmony” during the beginning and mid-20th century.

Fast forward to 2005, to a Viking Way-area studio that is, too, seeking harmony through the martial art, and finding that bouncing back after a fall is perhaps the most important lesson learned.

There are no punches, kicks or aggressive maneuvers in aikido. Instead, an artist attempts to take his opponents’ energy and use it against them. It is entirely for self-defense, the idea being that, no matter how large, an attacker can be suppressed by a series of fluent movements.

“The idea behind Aikido is that you don’t struggle with an attack,” said Kitsap Aikido Chief Instructor Dan Delaney. “But that you blend with it.”

Delaney, who began to practice the art more than 30 years ago in Berkeley, Calif., founded the Poulsbo dojo in 1994.

“We follow the traditional aikido, which is training the whole person,” Delaney said. “The mind, body and spirit.”

Though variations on Aikido are limited, Delaney said there are more traditional or modern approaches. He tries to teach to both so that his students are ready for whatever dojo they encounter.

“I want my students to be prepared to go to any dojo,” Delaney said.

Also following tradition, there is no competition at the Kitsap studio. The founders of the martial art believed that should aikido ever become a sport, the loser would need to either “be killed or maimed.”

The lesson during the 11- to 16-year-old class, every Tuesday and Thursday begins with silence as the class bows their heads toward the master and founder of aikido, Ueshiba, enshrined in front. Immediately following is a stretching session to get the body warmed, after which the students do 10 forward “rolls” and 10 backward ones, displaying the emphasis on falling successfully.

The sport has allowed Delaney’s 11-16 students — many of whom are homeschooled — to explore a different kind of athletic venture that’s might not be as well known as mainstream sports like basketball and football, but every bit as beneficial.

“I couldn’t find a sport that I liked,” explained Blake MacLearnsberry, 13. “I tried wrestling, but the clothes were too uncomfortable.”

MacLearnsberry said Aikido at the Poulsbo Dojo has taught him “ … a lot of self-confidence,” especially in regards to one of the martial arts’ core teachings.

“I was always afraid of heights and if I’d fall, I’d get hurt,” he admitted. “(Learning to fall) has really helped.”

All classes at the dojo are in team-oriented in practices, as the master instructors insist it’s the best way for people to learn to defend themselves.

But the question must be asked: how is working together an aid when someone is attacking?

Aikido lives by a simple philosophy: that everything, and everyone is in harmony — even those looking to attack us.

“We are only partners,” said Fred Caldwell, an Aikido instructor at the Poulsbo Dojo and a martial artist for more than 30 years. “ We use each other’s energy, even when our opponents might not want us to.”