KIHON – Hanmi Handachi Shiho Nage and Uchi Kaiten Nage

Kihon waza are the developmental base forms and they show the correct way to train in order to allow for proper developmental growth in the art. Normative words demand definition: what is a “correct” way to train and what is “proper” development? I recall hearing a shihan once quip, “Aikido works. Yours doesn’t.” A pithy summationContinue reading “KIHON – Hanmi Handachi Shiho Nage and Uchi Kaiten Nage”

MIYAMOTO MUSASHI

In an interview, Nishio sensei unapologetically labeled Musashi as “the lowest form of human being.” Understandable. Nishio looked at how little human emotion and human engagement Musashi exhibited; he never married, never started a family, and spent a life dueling to test his skill and mettle. Musashi manifested a coward’s response, by developing skill fromContinue reading “MIYAMOTO MUSASHI”

TACTICS – BEYOND THE ONE HIT KILL

“There are no primary attacks in a knife fight.” This is an important reminder for Aikidoka who are habituated to the one-hit one-kill training mentality. In a knife fight attacks can be gambits, ploys, set-ups to elicit responses. Boxers must contend with similar complex encounters. Stratagems of deception and non-linear methods of attack are not Aikido’s forte. Aikido’s premise narrows theContinue reading “TACTICS – BEYOND THE ONE HIT KILL”