Your instructor has patiently taught. Other students have devoted their time, energy, and pain for your development. Show respect to them by demonstrating that you are attempting to learn. Help improve the group through you individual efforts. By…
Aikidoists sometimes like to think of themselves as “warriors for peace”. In fact, however, that is naïve at best. Going to the dojo to train is an act of self-discipline, a way to exercise, or a social activity…
The lecture series is on EventBrite, you can sign up for 1 talk or all 6 talks. Talks are $12 each or $60 for all six = 1 free talk. You can sign up for all 6 talks…
MY AIKIDO JOURNEY George Hewson Aikido Seishinkai February 2021 Throughout my school years I played a variety of sports including hockey, football, basketball, and volleyball. I wasn’t afraid of the physical contact and enjoyed the competition. While I…
To practice without focusing is a waste of time. It is essential that we be constantly aware of mind, body, and breath when performing or receiving techniques. At first this is difficult, because just remembering where to move…
Aikido operates on four levels simultaneously: personal, martial, social, and spiritual. Translating “Aikido” into English as “The Way of Coordinating Energy” or “The Way of Harmonizing Spirit” already displays the subtlety and complexity of the term in both…
En quarante-cinq ans de formation en Aïkido, je n’ai eu désamorcer qu’un seul combat. Jamais un ninja furieux n’a cinglé son épée dans ma direction tout en proférant un cri à glacer le sang. (Eh bien, sauf dans…
In forty-five years of Aikido training I have only had to break up one fight. Never has a furious ninja slashed his sword in my direction while uttering a blood-chilling cry. (Well, except in my samurai fantasy moments,…
Masakatsu agatsu (正勝吾勝 true victory [is] self victory) is a phrase that orients Aikido toward mastery of oneself rather being concerned with winning a sports competition. Personally, I enjoyed playing hockey, basketball, football, etc., in my youth, and…
Shu-Ha-Ri is a concept of how to go from beginner to expert. At the beginning one tries to imitate the instructor’s techniques as closely as possible in order to develop familiarity with what might be quite new ways…