Learning from less expereienced students...

Sometimes even an experienced student can learn from less experienced students. When you are trying to perfect a technique and can't, practicing it with less experienced students will help in figuring out those fine points. I think we break down the technique more and analyze it more when showing it to newer students. I'll have to ask a new student....

What is the most powerfull technique...

I really don't think one technique is better than the other one. They all work. It really depends on who is attacking and where the attack is taking place. In confined quarters, certain techniques are better. It all depends........

James Bond and ki

I saw the new James Bond movie. It was pretty good. One thing I noticed was how calm he was in the movie. I guess to be a good secret agent. You need good ki. You need to be calm when danger awaits. It makes sense....

Using the Jo

I like using the jo in a technique. It helps you develop your skills and understand the technique. But, you do need to be more careful when using it. It is very easy to get hurt with it.

Hard vs soft Aikido

I have been trying to compare the different styles of doing Aikido for years. Both styles can be very power full. The hard style which is a rougher form is more based upon techniques. The techniques are done very hard. There is little bending if any with the uke. I think it's a robot style. The soft style which is done with ki is more based upon bending with the uke. It can be very power full but much more grace full.

Hard and safe training....

It's important to train hard but it needs to be done safely. I have noticed some people can't find the tradeoff between the two. It's a tough subject to discuss.

Email Ki

Someone wrote me a rotten email at work. It was very insensitive. My response used ki. She replied and I believe she knew she was in the wrong. I redirected her words into kind words. It's amazing what you can do with ki.....

Front rolls...

It was my turn to lead the exercises. It was a small class. Just so perfect for something new. I introduced a new front roll exercise. I felt I needed to do something different for the front rolls. It involved picking up 2 pens in 2 consecutive rolls. Many members responded positively to it. I was happy I came up with it....

September and Aikido

During this cool month, it's great for training. It's not too hot or cold. Perfect for expanding your Aikido. ...

Understanding a technique...

Sometimes techniques happen so fast. When you get home, you try to remember what was taught to you. I have in the past written it down in a notebook. When the technique comes up again, I refine it in my notebook with things I forget to include with it. By putting it in your own words, you will be able to understand it. good tip for a beginner...

Knowing and feeling...

Sometimes it is nice knowing that you are doing techniques correctly. It does help you become better. Maybe it's related to self confidence...

Ki exercises....

I try to practice and demonstrate KI exercises I learn in class. I feel it's important to remember them. Sometimes I will write them down. If you don't practice them you will forget...

Keeping your one point...

I learned first hand in the value of having your one point. Last week, I went kayak fishing. There were some hairy times dealing with the current and boats. I just relaxed and focused. If I had panicked, I feel I would have been prone to mistakes and danger.

Class when it is hot....

It was a hot class last Tuesday night. I was sweating like a pig. When it's hot, you must pace yourself. Do the moves but flow in ki. Using ki, it will help when it's hot.

Ukemi

Learning ukemi is a natural process. In time with devoted training, commitment and patience, the student will gradually mature.Trust yourself and you will trust your training partner. You must learn to have faith. If you have doubts, it will take a long time. Learn your falls. It is very important in Aikido. Practice and practice. You must understand how much resistance to give during training. Patience......

Training alone for ukemi...

Practicing ukemi is typically done alone at the begin inning of class or in private. It might consist of forward rolling, back rolling and exercises that help your ukemi. It helps develop confidence. Training alone will make you a better ukemi.

Controlling others

We are all used to controlling others with force. Myself , being a parent, it is quite obvious. We use power to control. Your boss does the same thing.

By taking Aikido, we learn relaxation in face of danger. Relax, center and blend with the attack. Bending enables us to feel where the energy is coming from. It affects what I decide to do. It can change so fast. Redirecting the energy on the fly is the key. It is not easy and takes practice. Bending is the key to life. Just think about it.

Being calm...

I used my Ki when I did a self resue in my kayak. I noticed it's very important to be calm. You need to evaluate the situtation. This is very similar to protecting yourself. I guess Ki really does help.

Missed class...

I missed class last week. It was because of an injury. I still visualize the entire class. I did think of some techniques and visualize them. I have to believe it's good to think and practice in your mind. Time we tell....

Different Martial Arts...

I spoke to another sensei from another martial art. I enjoyed the conversion. It was very interesting. I was surprised that many self defense aspects were similar. Our art is defensive. Another arts start the attack and defend it. Ki is very strange to other arts. When explained to them, other martial artists are very interested in it.....

Spreading the word about Aikido and Ki.

I was at the gym and one thing led to the other. I started talking to another member about Aikido and how it all started. People seem to be interested in it. As we know, it's a modern art. I love talking about Ki and explaining it. People are just amazed with the concept of KI.

Relax and maybe your Nage will too....

I have notice that being stiff will make my nage stiffer. I believe he works in reverse. If I relax, maybe the nage will too. I have noticed with newer students this holds to be true. As I become relaxed, the nage becomes relaxed. The whole technique is much better. With an experienced nage, the nage should be relaxed even if I am stiff. We hope......

I missed the seminar...

I know I missed a great seminar. I had too many things going on and couldn't go. Good thing the seminars are recorded onto a DVD. Sometimes the DVD is very helpful too. The rewind button is a handy option. You are able to watch it over and over. Being at the seminar and watching the DVD is the best. So many things happen and usually very quickly. I did watch an old seminar when I was working. Well, there's always next time....

Upcoming seminar... Seminars are good.

It was mentioned that there was a seminar coming up. I hope to make it for least the morning. These seminars are great. You can learn so much and improve your Aikido at the same time. The last seminar I picked up some valuable tips. The instructor is Brian. He is very good and good at sharing his knowledge...

Upcoming seminar...

Relax.....

The term relax is heard a lot during Aikido practice. We keep on telling our partner don't be stiff and you are trying too hard. It's a hard thing to do. I don't always do it but I try. I have noticed that it's very important in Aikido. If you can do it all the time, you will be much better in the art and life in general. All of us try too hard at times. If you are relaxed, you can move out of the way and join the attacker's energy. I guess it's blending is the essence of the real power...

why cooperate in Aikido

Why should the uke cooperate with the nage? Well there are many answers to a very important question.

Resisting the fall is not the best way to learn how to fall gracefully. There is a risk to inquiry. Resisting should be gradually done. Just the right resistance is perfect. But always rememmber we are training not fighting. The nage should always be sucessful. The uke role is very important in knowing the right amount of resistance. It takes awhile to acheive this skill.

Fight Quest...

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/fight-quest/fight-quest.html

The season is all over. I enjoyed the series. I hope it's coming back again next year.

The mind...

I read today in the paper about the power of the mind. It's amazing in what it can do. It can either help or detroy you. Think positive always. It will help. I will try to find some articles on it.

The mind...

Amazing and great person Joanna Tedone

Joanna was amazing person. She recently past away this week. I admired her so much. A great martial artist and person. Her skill and ki was amazing. She was so positive and influenced many people who made contact with her. She never gave up. When I think of things going bad in my life, I think of her and how brave she was in fighting cancer. I will never forget her. Her spirit will live on...

Fight Quest

I watched this week's show showing Krav Maga. There is a lot of ki used in it. You must be relaxed or you will die. It was mentioned several times during the show. Relax..


http://www.krav-maga.org.uk/index.php?mod=whatiskravmaga

Steven Seagal

I found a neat site.

WebSite

You tube

Fight Science

I watched a show last week (Fight Science). The show had a segment on how some marital arist use their Ki to do some amazing things. One arist was able to take extreme pain just by focusing. Another artist had incrediable reflexes. He was so fast in disarming a gun. The scientists were baffled.

O Sensei...

I watch a view videos of O Sensei. He was amazing in how he moved around the mat. His Ki power was so powerfull and gracefull. If only I had a tenth of his Ki, I would be amazing myself.

O Sensei...

Aikido

Just had class on Tuesday. Nothing beats a good class. Great technqiues and ki exercise. Trying to stand up with someone holding you doow is tough. It requires ki to stand up.