Aikido in the non-Aikido world? Is there such a thing?

One of the most intractable conflicts of our the most recent 80 years continues to take lives and cause tremendous hardship for people.  Here is a perspective for consideration:

http://aikidonosekai.wordpress.com/2014/07/21/an-aikido-solution-to-hamas-rocket-attacks-by-corky-quakenbush/

This video was brought to my attention by H. F. Ito, Sensei. He says it gives an excellent representation of O Sensei's comportment, posture, and presence.

Aikido in Daily Life - Corporate Edition, Part 2

They usually come all at once.  Problems have a way of knowing when to gang up on you.  Be it work problems, or pack hunters on the urban streets sometimes things can come in waves and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.  We train with multiple attackers to remind us that we can deal with many issues, but only if we keep calm, stay centered and remember our training.  It teaches us to handle problems one at a time, and choose before the choice is made.  We often freeze up in difficult situations and forget that we have options, like which problems we will attack first.  Instead of waiting for the problems to pile up on top of us, we first try to be alert and see the issues coming.  Next, we choose which ones to deal with first, knowing that we may not need to fully resolve an issue before taking on the next challenge.  Continuous training helps us stay calm, keep breathing and look forward to life’s little tests, even when they bring their friends.

Celebrate the New Year by making a commitment to wellness and a peaceful spirit. Please join us at the dojo for a 9:00 a.m. class on New Year's Day.

Aikido in Daily Life - Corporate Edition, Part 1

If the pen is mightier than the sword, then corporate life isn't too far from combat. When we expect combat, we prepare accordingly, and so we should train accordingly for cubicle warfare too. 

Sometimes we see the punch coming, other times we get cold-clocked.  We must always be prepared for it by keeping our senses alert, being mindful of our surroundings and prepared for a response. 

Through Aikido we learn all of these things, but in a surprisingly transferable way.  Aikido teaches our body to hear more, see more and respond instinctively.  It helps our mind to filter the noise and concentrate on what's important.  It centers us, which gives us peace of mind and calmness of spirit.  


Whether your profession is samurai, salesman, or salad chef, we all face various types of conflict and we should train our bodies and our minds how to restore peace on the mat or in the meeting room.

Ni Dan!

Ready to Train

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Some days I’m amazed at how well I can apply Aikido to difficult situations.  An aggressive driver on the road, a tantrumming child, or an infantile co-worker: sometimes I can blend like the wind and move about my day in complete balance.

But most days I have to learn my lessons by getting into quagmires.  I get angry in traffic, or lose my temper with the child, and sometimes I let that co-worker get under my skin.  The quagmires are like sign posts leading me back to the dojo, and I’m always so grateful when I turn off of route six, drive down that long dirt road and see it there, ready for training.