In THE WAY OF AIKIDO (1999) George Leonard presented a classic statement of Aikido’s philosophy and its application in everyday activities. It is a lively and intimate account of how a martial art can become a path for…
In 1995 Richard Strozzi Heckler edited a collection of essays entitled AIKIDO AND THE NEW WARRIOR. Heckler wished to emphasize Aikido as a martial path of loving reconciliation. He did not put forward a model for military personnel…
AIKIDO IN EVERYDAY LIFE by Terry Dobson and Victor Miller (1978, 2nd ed. 1993) attempted to create a model for behaviour based on Aikido principles as a guide. They called their system Attack-tics. Dobson had studied directly under…
How to live an Aikido life? That is a challenging question and individuals will certainly have varying answers. This month I begin reviewing a series of books that are relevant to the discussion. I begin with a non-Aikido…
Aikido may be thought of in terms of the “Four F’s”: Frame; Focus; Flow; FallingFrame is stance (“kamae”). An upright posture (“shisei”) without tension, with vital energy readyto extend, the body is prepared for action.Focus is paying attention…
Aristotle stated many centuries ago that excellence is as art won by training and habituation; wedo not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have these because wehave acted rightly.
In AIKIDO: THE ART OF TRANSFORMATION Teja Bell and other contributors describe thelife and teachings of Robert Nadeau. Nadeau Sensei was one of the few foreigners to train inJapan while O-Sensei was still alive. At the time, other…
Makoto Ohtsu (7 th Dan), Aikido Showa Dojo Nagoya, Japan The following continues Otsu Sensei’s presentation. He brings the perspective of a long timeAikido student and teacher. He is also a retired professor of Business Studies who taught…
Makoto Ohtsu (7 th Dan), Aikido Showa Dojo Nagoya, Japan Aikido is a modern Japanese martial art based on the spiritual foundation of harmony, love andpeace. Its objective is to defend oneself when attacked, without harming the attacker.…
Shinto and Its Derivatives Shinto, which literally means “the Way of the gods”, is the indigenous folk religion of Japan,reflecting animistic and shamanistic views of life that had long existed there. It is generallybelieved that ancient Shinto started…