Aiki Quotes: Shoji Nishio

“Stand naturally so you can enter immediately 

when your opponent is about to move."

Shoji Nishio

And his mysterious power moves all things.....

God dwells in the heart of all beings, Arjuna.

 And his mysterious power moves all things. 

~ Bhagavad Gita (18:61)

An idea I think the founder would agree with, do you?

The Founder

This is a nice video of the Founder. Enjoy

Anita Kohler

Here is a very nice video of Anita Kohler

AIKIDO MANNHEIM / ANITA KÖHLER from VERSAL STUDIOS on Vimeo.
Anita Köhler is a 5th Dan Aikidoka who teaches Aikido in Mannheim, Mainz and Darmstadt / Germany. She started Aikido in the late 80's and since then her passion for it kept her traveling multiple times to France, Japan and China to learn from some of the greatest masters of this beautiful martial art.

Visit her site at
www.aikidomannheim.de

Purpose of Aikido continued

"The true purpose of Budo is God's love for all beings.

 My creative Budo exists to harmonize, care for, nurture and protect life." 

Morihei Ueshiba

What is Kaizen?

What is Kaizen?

1. A Japanese form of martial arts
2. A type of sushi
3. A method of getting things done by taking small steps and making continuous progress

Forty percent of the year is gone. Is there something important that needs to be done? There’s no time like the present. Ever. Take a small step. Don’t just think. Take Action!

Aiki Quotes

"Budo is a fine art.
 If you do not want to obtain the mind of a buddha 
you will never make a true martial artist."
Saburo Minaki 1906-1988

The ethics of Swordsmanship- Nakayama Hakudo

I recently saw a video of O'Sensei &  Nakayama Hakudo. in researching Nakayama Sensei I found this in his Wikipedia article

"By the mid-1920s, Nakayama was one of the most famous swordsmen in Japan, and as such, he was made a leader of the committee that drew up the sword curriculum for the Toyama Military Academy. Therefore, he is considered by many to be the father of Toyama swordsmanship. Nonetheless, Kimura Shoji wrote in 1926:^[3]

“

The ethics of swordsmanship, Mr. Nakayama wishes to clarify, is not in aggressive manslaughter. It lies primarily in psychic training. In the same manner in which the Yogis developed their physical inhibition to attain meditative states for higher psychical conditions, kendo trains the nervous system to respond, making awkward conscious efforts into reflex. The instrument, the sword, is necessary to give that serious frame of mind. What is more serious than life as forfeit for mistakes or inattention? The cold, mirror-like glimmer of the blade facing you, you cannot but be serious. The behavioristic school of psychology is well in accordance to this principle."

The Purpose of Judo

As an art and a philosophy the ultimate object of Judo is the attainment of

 harmonious unity of opposites in tune with life's realities; in short, 

unity of Man and God or Nature.

 G. Koizumi, 

Foreword Higher Judo, M. Feldenkrais

Ultimate Black Belt Test Training Journal, John Zenkewich January 11, 2012 - The Ultimate Black Belt Test

Ultimate Black Belt Test Training Journal, John Zenkewich January 11, 2012 - The Ultimate Black Belt Test:

'via Blog this'

One of the joys of practicing Aikido is the chance to meet other practitioners from all over the world. You can travel anywhere visit a dojo and immediatley have a new friend.

One of the highlights of training in 2011 was attending summer school (Zomerstage) in Belgium and staying with friends from the Netherlands and Belgium in a summer house sharing meals and stories.

Click here to Read more.......

Classical Aikido Embu at summer school (zomerstage) 2011

The demonstrations at the Embu were great. I will post more as I can.

The Meaning of Budo

“The supreme excellence is not to win a hundred victories in a hundred battles.

The supreme excellence is to subdue your enemies without fighting them.”

Sun-Tzu

Video: Rinjiro Shirata — “A Catalog of Prewar Aiki Budo Techniques”

Video: Rinjiro Shirata — “A Catalog of Prewar Aiki Budo Techniques”

blog.aikidojournal.com

In this video, you will discover many Aiki Budo techniques you have never seen before. As with the Kanemoto Sunadomari book we released a few days ago, the techniques covered are closer to Morihei Ueshiba “Aiki Budo” film than to modern aikido.

http://blog.aikidojournal.com/2011/12/15/video-rinjiro-shirata-a-catalog-of-prewar-aiki-budo-techniques/

Thanks to Aikido Journal for posting this.

Question From a Zen Master

"Throughout the universe, one thing, and one thing only 

is manifesting; what are you if not that?"

(Yasutani Hakuun Roshi, Zen-master)

Purpose of Aikido

With Aikido, 

we learn to sweep away evil with our breath 

instead of a sword; 

as human beings we find our true purpose, 

our true activity on this earth; and 

                          we open our hearts to the spirit 

                       of loving protection of all things.

Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido

When is Aikido not Aikido?

“When is Aikido Not Aikido?,” by David Lynch

By Editor | Recommended Reading

5 Comments

by David Lynch
Aikido Journal #120

Arguments about the “martial effectiveness” of aikido are a popular feature of Internet bulletin boards. Unfortunately, many posts show an abysmal ignorance of the premises on which the art was founded by making comparisons with various systems of fighting.

Aikido is not a system of fighting, but a way of not fighting, intended not to protect or enhance the ego but, potentially, to eradicate it. Its value lies in promoting qualities diametrically opposed to those advocated for use “in the street.”  Read More.............. 

The Still Mind

The moon does not think to be reflected

nor does the water think to reflect

in the Hirowasa Pond

-Tesshu

O'Sensei

Some nice video of O Sensei with musical background.
Enjoy.

Message from Aikikai

2011/Mar./14

...

We have received many messages from all over the world to question about the earthquake. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to overseas Aikido people and groups for their concern and kind words. Although the situation of many cities on the Pacific Ocean coast is very sirious, in Tokyo there was no damage to buildings and houses, and we at Hombu Dojo are continuing daily activities. Thank you again for your concern and mental support extended to us. Aikikai

John Stevens seminar @ Bay Marin Aikido

PR Training: Aikido, Calligraphy and Kototama

• July 7th, 2009 8:39 am PT

John Stevens Sensei & Susan Harrow
doing calligraphy at Bay Marin Aikido

This weekend John Stevens, a 7th dan Aikikai and Buddhist priest came to our dojo, Bay Marin Aikido. Stevens, who has written over thirty books on Buddhism, Aikido and Asian culture, is considered one of the foremost authorities on Aikido. The experience was enriching, wild-hearted and intense.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: PR Training: Aikido, Calligraphy and Kototama - San Francisco Marketing and PR | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/marketing-and-pr-in-san-francisco/pr-training-aikido-calligraphy-and-kototama#ixzz1BhLC7DdD