Why do we bow so much in Aikido? Why are we careful to line up the sandals neatly at the edge of the training mat? Why do we keep our uniforms tops tucked in securely? Why do we…
What is the right attitude when training? The Japanese term is isshokenmei. It originally meant “frantic” but now is used with the meaning of “whole-hearted”. When on the mat the Aikido student should be fully in the present,…
Aikido is like an onion. The outer layer consists of learning how the hands and feet move (tai sabaki and te sabaki). The next layer involves using the breath with each movement of the extremities (kokyu). Then comes the layer of…