After failing my initial attempt at Shodan (first degree black belt) in the summer of 1980, I was allowed to try again in November of that year. The examiner was Fujita Masatake Shihan. He was one of the…
Metaphorically we are each born in a box, not a straight-jacket. Our choices are limited, but there are choices. The choices that we make affect us and the people around us. Aikido training helps us not only to…
On June 5 and 6 the Canadian Aikido Federation organized a Virtual Seminar. Osawa Shihan taught a class and answered questions over Zoom. He was great. Included in the weekend activities was a tribute to our previous Technical…
The irises are blooming in our backyard. They are a welcome sight after months of winter and a less than inspiring spring as Covid-19 rages on. The flowers, however, touch me with their present beauty, but also because…
Nowadays there is much information and instruction on a multitude of topics presented on the Internet. It is great that universities, museums, etc., which used to be accessible only to the few, are making available vast stores of…
The lecture series is on EventBrite, you can sign up for 1 talk or all 6 talks. Talks are $12 each or $60 for all six = 1 free talk. You can sign up for all 6 talks…
Now a full year into the pandemic in Canada, those of us who love Aikido practice are sorely missing our in-dojo training. Some people in less hard hit regions have tried practicing together using strict protocols. Others have…
MY AIKIDO JOURNEY George Hewson Aikido Seishinkai February 2021 Throughout my school years I played a variety of sports including hockey, football, basketball, and volleyball. I wasn’t afraid of the physical contact and enjoyed the competition. While I…
If you have a teacher whom you respect, then follow his or her direction during training. Accept that your teacher’s experience will be a good guide. Don’t ask a lot of questions. Save those for after class. Work…
Aikidoists sometimes like to think of themselves as “warriors for peace”. In fact, however, that is naïve at best. Going to the dojo to train is an act of self-discipline, a way to exercise, or a social activity…