“An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.” ― Robert A. Heinlein, Beyond This Horizon In the Aikido dojo the sword is the soul of the samurai and that spirit remains salient. Even a bokken (wooden sword) should be handled as the symbolic representationContinue reading “EDGED ETTIQUETTE”
Category Archives: Reference Materials
Better Angels
Uncle Jim pointed to a recent article in Science discussing Steven Pinker’s The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined (2011). I gave the book a quick read and found it a simple gloss on the benefits of global integration; hopeful homilies of an academician sheltered from the possibilities of violence. Pinker’s general thesis isContinue reading “Better Angels”
CREATING TEACHERS – CHRIS MULLIGAN
Mulligan sensei when we last communicated, you mentioned: I just had a discussion with Malory Graham sensei (of Seattle Aikikai) and we were discussing some of the reasons that Aikido membership in the States is declining. She believes, and I agree, that it is mainly bad teaching. To be a good teacher, you first have to haveContinue reading “CREATING TEACHERS – CHRIS MULLIGAN”
Protective Arts 