While doing some reorganization the other day, we stumbled across 10 brand-new copies of Stanley Pranin’s Encyclopedia of Aikido first published in 1991. This book has been out of print for many years and is truly...
Archive - March 2010
Josh Gold“You Are Entitled to Defend Yourself,” by Nev Sagiba
I recall, the one time I stood like a sack of potatoes and decided to do nothing, I sustained an injury. I recall clearly the policeman saying to me: “You are entitled to defend yourself.” Obvious common sense...
“Remembering Thomas Makiyama Sensei,” by Norm Ibuki
Whenever I go back to Japan these days, it is really with more of a sense of mission, reevaluating my relationship with Japan and my identity, which being Nikkei is significant. Even after having lived in British...
In the works: “Koichi Tohei Retrospective,” by Stanley Pranin
Here at Aikido Journal we are always working to make readers of the site aware of the efforts and achievements of those figures who have played key roles in the spread of aikido as a worldwide phenomenon. One of the...
“Harmony Is Not Always Harmless,” by Nev Sagiba
Harmony is not harmless to those who choose to run counter to it. They take their chances and learn the hard way. Same as do base jumpers or connoisseurs of any high risk activity. Attacking others is a high risk...
“Headhunters and Aikido Cover Ups,” by Nev Sagiba
For too long there has been a cover-up about Aikido practitioners learning to cover up. “Aikido people don’t cover up,” according to some “ex-spurts.” And they will argue intensely about this non-point...
“The Fear-mind, Escape-mind, and Love-mind,” by Drew Gardner
With occasional exception, one of three major mind sets is most prominent in each adult in the world, for the duration of his or her lifetime. Ever-changing environments and internal thoughts ensure that few adults with...
“The Mixed Martial Arts Phenomenon,” by Drew Gardner
We live in a dynamic world. Sometimes changes happen for the better, but often for the worse. When then President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, declared World War One to be “The war to end all wars,” he was...
“Tenkan” by Nev Sagiba
One day many years ago, I decided to conduct a class focussing entirely on the pivot. People had been moving too straight and too frontally. And so that’s all we did for an hour and a half; pivot. On that particular...
“2010 East Coast Aikido Bridge Seminar,” by Todd Jones
Once in a rare while, we are fortunate to be able to participate in exceptional events; the 2010 East Coast Aikido Bridge Seminar made my list. For three days, I had the honor and privilege of sharing teaching duties...