Today’s world of aikido bears the stamp of Second Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba more than any other person. There is no other figure who is more influential, not even the Founder Morihei Ueshiba himself. I realize...
Archive - June 2012
Josh Gold“Arising Naturally,” by Alister Gillies
The Founder of Aikido talked of “Takemusu Aiki”, the spontaneous creation of form. It comes naturally from the study of basic technique. Basics are basics, but departing from basics and doing what comes naturally is...
“Centripetal and Centrifugal Aikido,” by Nev Sagiba
“The unskilled tend to bend over to achieve a ‘throw.’ This behavioural habit will render you at risk in the battlefield” Navigating energy requires no attack. To remain stuck in the...
“On Kindness” by Charles Humphrey
“It is always one’s own fault for not being kind or charitable enough, never one’s partner’s fault.” I have not been able to write for some time. I am glad to be able to once again. I want to write about kindness...
Aikido Training in Las Vegas: “Aikido and an Empty Mind,” by Paul Barrett
I’ve been doing various martial arts for well over 35 years and concentrating on aikido for about 20. I found aikido while searching for a martial arts style that was ubiquitous enough that I could easily slip from one...
II. “The role of the hero,” by Charles A. McCarty
“Heroism has been accorded to those valiant in battle, noble in their aims and chivalrous in their actions.” Central to mythology is the hero. The hero is the figure who represents both history and example. The...
“Youtube and Aikido – Is it really worth it?” by Sam Street
“Youtube has made it possible for Aikidoka all across the globe to access hundreds of fantastic videos of some of the greatest teachers the art has known.” The internet has changed so many things for so many...
“Renshu and Keiko” by Nick Lowry
“Real Keiko is knowing and reflection with the whole body not to be confused with dry book learning or learning by rote.” To know something you must do it one thousand times, To “really” know something you must do...
“Lessons from Morihiro Saito Sensei (1)” by Stanley Pranin
“While the differences between basic and ki no nagare techniques are normally easy to comprehend, many people have found it difficult to grasp the distinction between oyowaza and henkawaza.” Over the past several...
“Doing Things the Hard Way,” by Nev Sagiba
“To the spiritual warrior, it is evident that all beginnings are uncomfortable and pain is the result of change” The majority of humanity make the choice to be too lazy to overcome inertia or to take risks towards...