CHANGES

2018 rapidly comes to a close. Looking back, this has been a transformative year.  Thanks to new leadership and new ideas, Portland Aikikai found a new home, became a non-profit organization, and elected a board of directors. These are all positive changes: growth. Growth is a powerful metaphor. We grow from children to adults. Expanding skills andContinue reading “CHANGES”

8 COUNT KUMIJO

Muso Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi developed the jō from the longer bo staff after his defeat by Miyamoto Musashi. A good retelling of that tale is >here< (An example of learning from defeat: pain as a teacher.) The use of the jō in Aikido more closely resembles jukendo (bayonet) techniques than it does koryu arts like ShintoContinue reading “8 COUNT KUMIJO”

PAIN AS A TEACHER

I learned of Abraham Wald from Jordan Ellenberg’s How Not To be Wrong.[1] It is a story well worth reading because it provides a poignant reminder of the power of thinking critically. During WW2, Wald was part of the Statistical Research Group working through real-time problems to make strategic decisions. Among the questions posed to the groupContinue reading “PAIN AS A TEACHER”