At the very heart of Aikido lies the belief of being natural, yet the ability to be natural, direct, and pure is difficult to manifest and express. Those whose Aikido seems most effortless demonstrate clear intention-their Aikido shows a congruence of body, mind, and spirit, a direct connection between thought and action, an elegance in which there is neither excess nor deficiency. Everything is significant and at the same time nothing is over valued. O'Sensei called Aikido "the art of peace," but this in no way minimizes the martial or warrior nature of the art. Simply put, Aikido expresses body/mind connection in which the inner and outer self is the same.