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.

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.

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.

Your motivations are co-piloting the journey. Check in with co-pilot in order to avoid crashes.

Being the “Free” in your FREEstyle doesn’t have to mean “turning off the mind.” You just have to BE IN your BODY.

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.

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.

Being “centered” means to be in a place where you can spontaneously be in any other place.