Recently an Ontario coaching organization offered a course on “Making Ethical Decisions”. I was not able to attend, but I would like to offer my personal thoughts. Ethics is the study of morality. It is the branch of…
In Grades 7 and 8 I was a very poor student in my woodworking and metalworking classes. Despite my best efforts, my projects were never very successful. Nevertheless, I learned some important principles: I use these concepts in…
Tanaka Shigeho Shihan was a major contributor to my Aikido development. He gave me private and small-group lessons at the Shiseikan Dojo located in Meiji Shrine Park. His mastery of empty-handed techniques and various weapons systems was daunting…
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…