Martial Art for the Modern World

Martial Art for the Modern World

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...
The Gift of Receiving

The Gift of Receiving

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...
Aiki Soku Seikatsu

Aiki Soku Seikatsu

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...
Agatsu – Mindfulness in Martial Arts

Agatsu – Mindfulness in Martial Arts

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...
Kamae

Kamae

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...
Ma-ai

Ma-ai

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....