June 2011
2 posts
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Today's "So-desu-ne" Moment (v.2)
Aikido is not polite Jiujutsu, and we do not practice to have power over others. We practice to be comfy in our own skin, and empowered among others.
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Today's "So-desu-ne" Moment
In Aikido, we don’t deny the existence of violence, but it doesn’t mean we have to practice it.
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Today's "So-desu-ne" Moment
You do Aikido because harmony takes practice. Almost any other reason is out of alignment with the purpose of the art.
May 2011
3 posts
Ranking is as much about starting over as it is about moving forward.
1 tag
Today's "So-desu-ne" Moment
How you show up is more important than your technical proficiency.
March 2011
5 posts
2 tags
Today's "So-desu-ne" Moment
Ranking is as much about starting over as it is about moving forward.
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“Freedom is harmony with how things are — harmony with the Tao. Radical...”
– Teja Bell Sensei
2 tags
Today’s “So-desu-ne” Moment
So, two monks had a question for the head priest of the monastery. One of them reluctantly enters his office and asks, “Father, is it okay if we smoke while we pray?” “No, of course not,” said the priest. The Monk goes outside to tell his friend the bad news. “Wait a minute,” said the friend as he walked towards the Priest’s office. He poked his head in...
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Where the Hell are We Going?
Aikido is and always has been a new paradigm in martial arts training, and has truly redefined what it means to be “martial.” The old paradigm is concerned with winning, power over others and conditions, and typically approaches body and form through right-or-wrong lenses. It says that there is a technique for this situation, this is the way you do it, and if you repeat it enough times...
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February 2011
1 post
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Last Days to Register...
Evolutionary Aikido Gasshuku
February 18-21 at Aikido of San Diego
Patrick Cassidy Sensei, 6 Dan & Dave Goldberg Sensei, 5 Dan
http://aikidosd.com/gasshuku.htm
January 2011
4 posts
1 tag
“A warrior is you facing the more of You.”
– Robert Nadeau Shihan
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Today’s “So-desu-ne” Moment
The universe has its own glue built into it. Different dimensions have different glue, but they all have the quality of allurement. In Aikido the glue is care, curiosity, and compassion. Without it, practice becomes something other than Aikido. You will express something other than Aikido…at very best, a cheaper knock-off of an original. At worst, a fear-mongering, fire-breathing,...
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Seamlessness
Close your eyes. Imagine “seamlessness.” Now feel it. What’s there?
Grace? Ease? Belonging? Connection? Nature? Playfulness? What else? Congratulations, you’ve had a glimpse of your state prior to resistance. Aikido is here to help us return to that state in this manifest world—the world of forms that we live in every day of our lives. The process is challenging to...
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“The first violence you must control is your own.”
– Mary Heiny Sensei
http://www.maryheiny.com
December 2010
2 posts
2 tags
Paradoxoliscious v.06
The flip side… As Nage—the One Who Throws—you are also one who accepts conditions as they are Like a parent, a teacher, or an enlightened boss you lead while listening and act with a compassionate hand and ruthless intention You are free to choose an appropriate direction And hopefully just maybe conflict will turn into dance and freedom and responsibility will walk hand-in-hand
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Paradoxoliscious v.05
As Uke—the Receiver—you are also the initiator committed and sincere, firm yet loose As attacker, you listen, feel, deeply because you *are interested* and not because Nage should *make you interested* And hopefully just maybe the seeds of empowered freedom will sprout
November 2010
2 posts
1 tag
Today's "So-desu-ne" Moment
On this day, my forty-fifth birthday and the day before Thanksgiving, I’m feeling very grateful. For me, this year has been one of crisis, drama, pain, love, confusion, frustration, insight, reconciliation, loss, and growth. Why doesn’t matter, so don’t ask. The point is that it turned out okay and I’m lucky to be a healthy guy with two great kids, a loving and supportive...
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October 2010
3 posts
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"Aikido In Focus" Clinic is Back →
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The Trend towards Cross-Training in Aikido
I am aware of the growing trend of Aikidoka to cross-train in other martial arts. It has received a lot of support over the past few years from some high ranking and influential people in the Aikido world. I find this trend to be really unfortunate for Aikido, and it saddens me that people are being encouraged to go in that direction. Now, I have an idealist nature, and I understand that not...
2 tags
Today's "So-desu-ne" Moment
I saw myself clearly—as if I was naked to the world. I saw the things that the small Me within would do, say, and even scheme. In an instant, I saw how it played out, where it came from, how it made others feel. I saw how it served me throughout life—the good and the dreadful. I saw how it limited the much bigger Me. I felt relieved and disgusted all at the same time. Then I accepted...
August 2010
2 posts
1 tag
Today's "So-desu-ne" Moment
Love is the glue between Yin and Yang—Uke and Nage. If you let the glue set and harden you lose the qualities that make your Aikido compassionate. You will not be a protector of *both* Uke and Nage. Keep the glue alive and vibrant so that it will stick to anything.
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On Forging
Forge and forget, forge and forget…
In the most basic terms, that is what a training pattern on a path of mastery looks like. There are many who never really get to the “forget” part, which is a shame, but that is a future topic. Forging is the focus of most peoples’ training, and that’s why I’m writing about it first. I think that “forging” in the context of our training...
July 2010
1 post
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Paradoxoliscous v.04
Personal crisis has taught me many things. At the top of the list is…
Hang in there, let go.
May 2010
1 post
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Aikido of San Diego is Moving!
This entry is originally from the Aikido of San Diego Newsletter:
This summer we will be moving to a new facility very close to our present dojo (6356 Riverdale St, 92120). The new dojo will be in a very nice street-side location walking distance to many of the places our members go to regularly. It’s definitely a more “polished” and visible location, and the facility itself will reflect that. As...
April 2010
1 post
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Paradoxoliscious v.03
When we “mind” the Uke-Nage relationship we can say truthfully that each role is set up to be opposite and complementary to the other. When we “body” the Uke-Nage relationship we are truthful in complementing the other, and “opposite” has no meaning. It is pure presence—oneness in a world of twos.
March 2010
5 posts
1 tag
Today's "So-desu-ne" Moment
Most of us learn the hard way that “controlling” violence starts with yourself. I’m no exception. Aikido, if you’re practicing consciously, teaches us that lesson more exponentially. The more centered You are in engagement, the less force you’ll find need for.
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Sho-Dan as Rite of Passage
I just returned from a long weekend in Maine. My cousin’s daughter, Jasmine, had her Bat-Mitzvah and just about everyone from the family was there. It was not as I remember mine or my sister’s, or any others from my generation. This was an actual rite of passage—an opportunity for Jasmine to be presented to the community as a ready and complete participant. I was impressed by the...
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Nadeau Shihan at Aikido of San Diego April 9-11
Please join us for a weekend with Robert Nadeau Shihan as Aikido of San Diego celebrates its ten-year anniversary.
All seminar information, and secure online registration is found on our website at: http://aikidosd.com/nadeau_seminar.htm
February 2010
5 posts
1 tag
Today's "So-desu-ne" Moment
Your motivations are co-piloting the journey. Check in with co-pilot in order to avoid crashes.
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Zen and the Art of Blowing Off "Aikido" Nut Jobs
This is a message to my friends who fruitlessly engage the online (and offline) martial artists and “Aikido” practitioners who whine about fighting, aikido training, and “street worthiness.” You know who and what I’m talking about:
Despite the tendancy of a true Aikidoka to include, evolving sometimes means distancing yourself from people who wish to challenge growth...
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Today's "So-desu-ne" Moment
Being the “Free” in your FREEstyle doesn’t have to mean “turning off the mind.” You just have to BE IN your BODY.
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Paradoxoliscious v.02 (more ironical, really)
Ultimately, the idea is to be Aikido’s principle in action. So you’re practicing shihonage. Okay, then. Time to let go of shihonage. Are you practicing nikkyo? Okay, then. Time to let go of nikkyo. The techniques haven’t gone anywhere. You’re just noticing what made them worthwhile, meaningful, and yes, even effective. Yes, you need a vehicle, but don’t trade the...
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Time to Learn Something from the Kids
In our older kids’ class (8-13) it’s not uncommon for some after-school slack, slop, and goofiness to occasionally visit some of the children during training (imagine that). I have discovered a great line that works almost every time. It goes like this… “That failed to express your greatness.” If you say it right, the child doesn’t hear that they failed. They...
January 2010
5 posts
1 tag
Paradoxoliscious v.01 (more ironical, really)
In keeping on a path of discovery, and guiding my students on one as best as I can, it seems there is a never-ending pattern of conditioning—deconditioning—conditioning—deconditioning… Learning just to forget down the road.
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Aikido of San Diego's Winter 2010 Newsletter...
…is now out. This issue’s S.O.S. (Subject of the Season) is Ukemi. You can read the newsletter at: http://www.aikidosd.com/wint10.htm
Sign up to receive them automatically at: http://www.aikidosd.com/newsletter.htm
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Today's "So-desu-ne" Moment
FlowTegrity: The high level of function and expression that spontaneously results from the conscious blending of form and energy. It is not the best of two different aspects. It is its own aspect revealing the best of the moment in action.
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Remembering Keo
A few days ago I got a phone call with news that my old friend, Keo Power, had committed suicide. I was shocked at first. Less than a day later I was remembering the times he had said that he’d rather put a bullet in his head than…die slowly of some horrible disease or be incapacitated, or whatever condition of perceived hopelessness it was at that moment. It’s hard to say this,...
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Today's "So-desu-ne" Moment
In response to a student’s question about beginning their path…
Your path didin’t really have a beginning, and it’s questionable if it ever ends. It’s just that you’re noticing that you’re on it.
December 2009
4 posts
1 tag
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Seeing the Bigger Picture at a Holiday Party
Aikido of San Diego had it’s holiday party at my home this past Saturday afternoon after a fun and vigorous class at the dojo. Like most parties, it started slowly with a few early arrivals. About an hour later I looked over the back yard and thought, “Yes, this is the most well-attended one we’ve ever had. Good sign. I hope there’s enough food (that’s my Jewish mom...
I am committed to even creamier Aikido in 2010. Mmmm…, yummie. How would that be? There’s only one way to find out. Stay tuned.
November 2009
7 posts
1 tag
Today's "So-desu-ne" Moment
Being “centered” means to be in a place where you can spontaneously be in any other place.
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Looking for "Aikido" on a Cruise
Me and my family just came back from a cruise. I had never been on one of this magnitute. Let’s get to the point. It was hard to find the “Aikido.” If you’ve ever been to a loud, crowded party and came to a point where it was just too much, that’s where I was at after about an hour or so. There we were…jamming through the ocean in a big can built to be a...
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"One"
At the dojo we’ve been focusing lately on the quality of initial contact when engaging Uke. I’ve been calling it “One,” as in step one. It seems to be helping a lot with peoples’ integrity of form and application. Here’s the basic outline. Upon initial contact Nage has a base with a center line extending out of it, and that base-center is in deliberate relation to...
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Today's "So-desu-ne" Moment
Aikido is much about change—dealing with it effectively, creating it, being it. It’s inevitable, and so our training should contain focus on appropriate perspective so that our actions are authentic and effective. This means challenging the perspective that has taken us to where we are today for better and for worse.