“Use of the ken, jo, and tanto is only occasional, for example, for testing and demonstrations. No structured weapons curriculum exists within the Aikikai system.” No matter how many times we revisit this...
Archive - April 2013
Josh Gold“The Concept of Excellence in Aikido,” by Daniel Lance
Aikido is a way to understand how to successfully deal with the questions of “violence.” Many thanks to Greg O’Connor for his careful proofreading of my English version of this paper. The notion of excellence: this is a...
“Value Yourself,” by Nev Sagiba
“You are relevant! Do not EVER let anyone suggest otherwise!” “It’s only me!” How often do you hear this? Only! Only? Conversely, that same deep insecurity gives rise to much posturing and...
“A Smile and a Friendly word…,” by Nev Sagiba
“No matter how bad people seem, I always treat them with the utmost respect possible. They feel that and usually reciprocate.” Some of my Aikido students have worked in security related professions. One in...
“Submission – Movement as Identity,” by Charles Humphrey
“We pronounce death based on absence of movement. So strange then that we are so poor at understanding the very quality upon which we define and judge life” I sat in my family living room a few hours ago...
“The Aiki of Daily Life – Dealing Happily with Pretentious Arrogant Assholes,” by Nev Sagiba
This girl is a keeper!!!! It happened at a New York Airport. This is hilarious. I wish I had the guts of this girl. An award should go to the United Airlines gate agent in New York for being smart and funny, while...
“Aikido and Karate: A Love Love Relationship,” by Nathan Ray
“In closing, the true spirit of Aikido and Karate-Do is one of perfect harmony and unity.” First, I would like to thank Aikido Journal for raising this very interesting question, and allowing me the...
“In Search of Harmonious Ferocity,” by Kara L. Stewart
Pat Hendricks Sensei and Stanley Pranin Sensei Seminar March 9-10, 2013, Las Vegas The concern that the martial spirit of Aikido is in danger of being lost in some modern-day interpretations of O-Sensei’s original...
Aikidoka: “The Apologetic Martial Artists,” by Stanley Pranin
For years I have heard a vociferous chorus of naysayers lambasting aikido as an “ineffective” martial art. Even among those who practice aikido, one can hear criticism of aikido’s techniques as...
“Penetrate the Soft and Absorb Force,” by Nev Sagiba
“The best time to train is when you think you are “too tired” to train. That’s when the, “juice” begins to extract!” When cowards meet in the field of combat nothing happens. They all slink away. Paradoxically...