by Chris Johnston | Oct 4, 2024 | Uncategorized
Aikido is a modern martial art whose effectiveness lies in the idea of harmony. Rather than relying on brute force to overpower an opponent, Aikido teaches us how to use their intent and their own movement to unbalance them. In this way, Aikido teaches us to harmonize...
by Chris Johnston | May 2, 2023 | Uncategorized
When you give yourself, you receive more than you give.Antoine de Saint-Exupery The act of giving a gift is a far more complicated undertaking than it might first appear. At a glance, it seems to be a fairly one-sided affair. You decide to give someone a gift, you...
by Chris Johnston | May 2, 2022 | Uncategorized
Merci, Guy Lafleur. Guy Lafleur passed away last week … A sad day for hockey. When I heard the news, my thoughts immediately turned towards my childhood. I could see Lafleur charging down the ice — he played right wing — hair flowing, finessing his way through the...
by Jason Moore | Jan 7, 2022 | Uncategorized
One of the martial arts terms that has always resonated with me is “Agatsu”. A term that has much to do with mindfulness in martial arts and unlocking the real power in our training. I remember discovering the term at the beginning of my Aikido studies , when I was...
by Chris Johnston | Nov 2, 2021 | Uncategorized
With a slight nod or perhaps a quick gesture that seemed part welcoming and part commanding, Kimeda Sensei would indicate his uke for the next technique. His typical custom was to not play favourites. He would start with the highest ranking black belt and work down in...
by Chris Johnston | Jun 8, 2021 | Uncategorized
There is a photo that hangs unassumingly in the living room of one of today’s top Yoshinkan Aikido instructors. In a social media world awash with depictions of self-aggrandizement, one reason that this photo stands out is because you are not likely to find it online....
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