A good class is the basis for building insight for development, but there are many aspects that could be the focus of instruction; instructors tend to focus on teaching how to do, how to move, how have more power, how to use less strength, etc. The focus can also be, What can we learn about ourselves on the mat? How, in the “doing” of aikido can we develop and explore meaning beyond the motions? Continue reading Teaching What Aikido Teaches
Breathing is a form of stretching…
As air enters the body your muscles and organs have to adjust to make room. If you are tense or in a rigid posture, deep breathing is not going to be comfortable because you are essentially squishing your internal organs to make room for air. Breathing is a great way of improving your level of relaxation and body alignment if you use how it feels to breathe as a guide for adjusting your body and releasing unnecessary tension. Continue reading Breathing is a form of stretching…
Gentleness and leadership in response to aggression…
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq5TJsBmphs]
Anno Sensei conveys a seldom seen combination of qualities in his aikido. He maintains gentleness alongside a formidable presence of budo. Uke attacks with force and momentum and Anno Sensei takes care of the attacker as he leads him to the throw. Continue reading Gentleness and leadership in response to aggression…
Calligraphy, Characters, and “Magic Paper”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxd-4oQAXnQ]
Samurai, monks, rulers, and schoolchildren are taught the way of the brush as a way of understanding the deeper meaning of culture and language. That being said, this is an amazing way to start learning about the characters central to aikido practice. Continue reading Calligraphy, Characters, and “Magic Paper”
Principles of Sarete
The principles of Sarete are the correlations between Aikido technique and Aikdo philosophy. These principles are also the bridge between development on the mat and implementing results in daily life.
Benefits of Traditional Martial Arts; 30 Years of Research
Sarete is supported by research showing that traditional martial arts build necessary life-skills and have a unique potential to produce positive results.This is in contrast to sports, aerobics, and competition-focused martial arts. (Trulson, 84; Nejafi, 2003) Continue reading Benefits of Traditional Martial Arts; 30 Years of Research
Understanding Aikido Terms
If a painting is worth a thousand words most english translations are more like titles to an abstract painting. Continue reading Understanding Aikido Terms
“Take a deep breath,” not that easy
Breathing should be the most natural strait forward practice but how you breath must be effortless to produce relaxing benefits. So what was I doing wrong? Taking a deep breath makes my body feel tense, breathing slowly makes me tense and focusing on abdominal breathing makes me tense which is not relaxing. This is what I figured out… Continue reading “Take a deep breath,” not that easy
Terry Dobson; Aikido through the eyes of relationships
It’s a lot like dancing is one of the first books published by an american aikidoist that conveyed the potential for unifying physical and philosophical peacemaking in the practice of a martial art. Continue reading Terry Dobson; Aikido through the eyes of relationships
The mind of the attacker…
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-vhcn2uNwE&feature=youtu.be]
Saito Sensei explains the most basic technical and philosophical element of aikido. “Awase” is blending with the intention of an attack. In other versions of this same explanation (Lost Seminars) Saito Sensei explains that aikido does not attempt to change the intent; Continue reading The mind of the attacker…