Complimenting Correctly
My first year living in Tokyo, I was so excited to be practicing at the Aikikai Hombu dojo (world headquarters of Aikido) that I immediately seized upon every opportunity to socialize or spend time with my peers. It was then…
Special Training in the Martial Ways 特訓 (Tokkun)
When one mentions the phrase “special training” with regards to the martial ways, it usually conjures up Shaolin Monks standing on one leg on the top of a 10 foot tall post for hours on end or perhaps being blindfolded…
Following the Narrow Path: Choosing Correctly
My Aikido teacher, Yoshioka Sadao Shihan, used to describe the path that one takes in the martial arts to walking on a road. The road was shaped like the back (Mune) of the Bokken, or wooden practice sword. Close to…
Cutting Away the Illusions That Hold You Back
The cutting away of these illusions and the blossoming of the students’ ultimate abilities are the responsibility of the student and teacher together. If you’ve spent an extended time practicing the martial ways, you know that there are many types of…
Learning to Kill
Hissatsu Waza. Noun: killer technique; surefire assassination method special or lethal move, usu. one unique to a certain fighter or fighting style
Searching for the Hard Path
The practice of the Martial Ways is really, in its most basic sense, a search for hardship. One of my teachers, Yoshioka Sadao Sensei, used to tell us that the most important concept in our practice should be “Kokoro wo…