inspiration

Michael Flynn Shihan, our original dojo-cho, flew in from Scotland for a great weekend seminar at Alamada Aikikai. More than most, he is able to demonstrate amazingly crisp and powerfull techniques while also maintaining that temper of compassion that makes aikido unique. Here are some pictures.

reality check

There’s an old throw in aikido, which in daito-ryu-aikijutsu was called gyaku-hijinage, and in modern aikido is known variously as udekimenage, jujinage, or simply a kokyunage variation (what isn’t?), which is often used during randori in response to yokomen or tsuki strikes. Nage moves in close to the side and slightly behind, a cross-hand grab… Continue reading

a shodan essay

I remember George Leonard as tall, kind, and extremely sweaty. My hands would always slip off his thick wrists as we practiced, him with a tattered brown belt, and me an enthusiastic 4th kyu. He usually trained under another sensei in our dojo, but started showing up at my sensei’s classes in preparation for his… Continue reading