GoldbergSensei.com

Today's "So-desu-ne" Moment (v.2)

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 11:55:03 -0700

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.

Today's "So-desu-ne" Moment

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 11:50:35 -0700

In Aikido, we don’t deny the existence of violence, but it doesn’t mean we have to practice it.

Today's "So-desu-ne" Moment

Tue, 31 May 2011 14:17:00 -0700

You do Aikido because harmony takes practice. Almost any other reason is out of alignment with the purpose of the art.

Ranking is as much about starting over as it is about moving forward.

Sun, 29 May 2011 14:32:37 -0700

Ranking is as much about starting over as it is about moving forward.

Today's "So-desu-ne" Moment

Fri, 27 May 2011 08:35:00 -0700

How you show up is more important than your technical proficiency.

Today's "So-desu-ne" Moment

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 10:30:59 -0700

Ranking is as much about starting over as it is about moving forward.

"Freedom is harmony with how things are — harmony with the Tao. Radical acceptance is not..."

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:13:00 -0700

“Freedom is harmony with how things are — harmony with the Tao. Radical acceptance is not complicity. The distinction is the koan.”

- Teja Bell Sensei

Today’s “So-desu-ne” Moment

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 13:26:47 -0700

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 and asked, “Father, may we pray while we smoke?” “Of course,” said the priest.

Are you having trouble expressing freedom when you practice Aikido? Then practice Aikido while you’re expressing freedom.

Where the Hell are We Going?

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:16:00 -0800

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 it will become natural. The old paradigm always carries at least some life-denying energy in either intent or training approach. The new paradigm is concerned with personal evolution, empowered relationship with others and conditions, and typically approaches body and form through true-or-false lenses. It says that techniques are vehicles for embodying principles, there are infinite forms of appropriate response for this situation, and one will be expressed when I am a true expression of guiding principles. The new paradigm is always life affirming in intent and approach. There is much more to distinguish between the two paradigms, but this is enough to make my point…which is this. There are simply too many of us out there with the Aikido brand who are operating from and within the old paradigm. Aikido is in danger of becoming another “jitsu” or “ryu,” and this I take seriously. Aikido is not a jitsu or ryu. It is a martial instrument for personal development. Don’t confuse the techniques we practice with the Aikido itself. When O-Sensei stated that Aikido was here for human beings to become one family, he didn’t mean that repeating nikkyo until it was really strong would manifest that. He meant (I believe) that Nage and Uke can relate to each other in such a way that each can learn nikkyo, and it can be an affirming martial expression of harmony. But it won’t turn out that way if we’re not approaching it that way. This is where all of us can be real warriors—to be a living reflection of what Aikido actually stands for. I know this because I, too, went through a long period of letting go of the old paradigm and making myself vulnerable to the possibility that I wouldn’t be able to walk my talk. But this is the issue, isn’t it? I think those of us on an Aikido path all have to face this at some point. So, are you ready to face the fork in the road? I’m not gonna say that I hope you pick the “right” one, because I don’t want to imply that Aikido is the right path for you. Maybe a jitsu or ryu is the right thing for you. I do get a little worried, though, when I see the Aikido name attached to it. Maybe it’s one of those inevitabilities I should just let go of, but I don’t think I’m ready yet.

From a class at the CAA divisional training in San Jose on...

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 09:06:25 -0800

From a class at the CAA divisional training in San Jose on February 26, 2011

Last Days to Register...

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 12:09:14 -0800

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

"A warrior is you facing the more of You."

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:37:42 -0800

“A warrior is you facing the more of You.”

- Robert Nadeau Shihan

Today’s “So-desu-ne” Moment

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:57:00 -0800

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, ass-scratching ignoramus who nobody wants to play with. Oh, my…

Seamlessness

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:57:00 -0800

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 say the least, but it doesn’t need to reside only in your imagination. It’s real. Your first job as an Aikidoist is to know this. Your second job is to take responsibility for it.

"The first violence you must control is your own."

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:57:00 -0800

“The first violence you must control is your own.”

- Mary Heiny Sensei

http://www.maryheiny.com

Paradoxoliscious v.06

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 09:27:00 -0800

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

Paradoxoliscious v.05

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 09:35:00 -0800

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

Today's "So-desu-ne" Moment

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 12:57:00 -0800

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 wife, and a family who’s there for me. I get to lead a dojo community full of people interested in the real heart of Aikido—a group of people who respect me and care about me. I’ve got teachers who have taken a real interest in me and support my development and career. I have many friends who offer their support without even asking, which was incredibly helpful this year. I’m a lucky guy. It’s easy to be grateful for such positive things…when we notice them. I’m also grateful, though, for the challenges I’ve been through and continue to work with—for the “Nages” who extract the best uke out of me, and the “Ukes” who draw the most appropriate Nage out of me. They both can be, for a moment, pains in the ass. But if there’s anything I’ve gotten out of this year it’s that gratefulness creates the opportunity for transforming fuck-up into function. May you have a grateful Thanksgiving, a wonderful holiday season, and the strength to hang in there long enough to see the silver linings.

A short demo we did at Petco Park before a baseball game. Ukes...

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 12:49:00 -0800

A short demo we did at Petco Park before a baseball game. Ukes are Cyril Poissonnet, Jay Farmer, and Megan Palm. Check out how small the area is, and how the hot black mats hang over the stage’s edge. Scary…

"Aikido In Focus" Clinic is Back

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 05:01:39 -0700

"Aikido In Focus" Clinic is Back