When I first stepped on an Aikido mat, O-sensei had only been gone for about 20 years. My teachers still spoke of him often and instilled a very strong sense that O-sensei was the absolute pinnacle, and that none of us (including them) could ever hope to reach his level. His first-generation students, having all become teachers themselves, were all still alive and actively helping to spread the art. Yet, as I began to encounter some of them, the message was the same; they all protected him very carefully and spoke of him always in a way that preserved that sense awe-inspiring devotion. Since t ..read more

What is training really about? Often we think of the physical techniques, and the day to day practice that goes along with polishing those forms, but in reflecting upon my own journey, and having witnessed the journey of many others, I can tell you that there is usually much more to the story. For many, training is about the “experience.” Now, I don’t necessarily mean that in some superficial way, like equating it simply to the ambience of a nice evening of dining at a fine restaurant, but certainly atmosphere and other factors do play a significant role. To really get to the heart of it we mu ..read more

I think it’s interesting how quickly the whole of society is beginning to raise their awareness of space and distance. Those who practice traditional martial arts will of course recognize this concept as “ma-ai.” This refers to the distance of engagement that is set between two (or more) attackers, where space, speed, and line of attack are carefully considered. The ma-ai will adjust accordingly depending on several factors including terrain, whether a combatant is armed, and if so, what type of weapon they are wielding. This concept is well known to the warrior, but in this time of crisis, th ..read more

A few thoughts regarding how to practice on our own during the Covid-19 crisis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP5IWw5eB-w . Please stay strong, stay safe, and stay well. We'll see you back on the mat very soon ..read more

From time to time I talk to my students about my late teacher, the Rev. Kensho Furuya Sensei. We maintained a long-distance relationship, corresponding daily (along with others in his group) for years. Over that time, he had an immeasurable influence on my training as someone I looked to for both practical knowledge and spiritual development. He shared of himself freely every day; he would talk about his personal experiences in training, his teachers, the hard lessons he learned as well as those he was still working on. He shared his poems, his brilliant insights, and much about his own spirit ..read more

Many of the great hero myths and stories of the warriors of old include some period of isolation. Many are gifted from the beginning with great strength or skill, but often because they are also reckless and brash, they come upon some test that they ultimately fail. That failure is followed by seclusion and a period of reflection until the hero finally reemerges as a more “complete” warrior. Yes, we are isolated from our physical practice and from our fellows, but how will we use this time? We come to practice each day in order to forge the body and acquire skill, but the warrior must go furt ..read more

When I was a child, any sort of space mission was always an event. If a new shuttle was about to be launched, the whole country stood still and watched in awe as the moment unfolded. Most of us still think back to the Apollo moon landing as the defining moment in space exploration, the achievement by which all future missions would be measured. But the fact is, many groundbreaking missions would follow, and each would have a lasting effect on the history of mankind. A few days ago, I watched as we again challenged the limits of what had been previously accepted, and successfully sent the most ..read more

When it comes to being a senior student, or “senpai,” there are many responsibilities that come with the territory. A senpai is expected to be strong and substantive in their practice; they must embody a sincerity in training that juniors come to know and respect. But there is another “S” word that I have been talking to my senior students about lately, and it is one that is much more difficult for them to grasp. The topic of my recent discussions with them has been “sensitivity” in practice. As students move further along the path they gain the tools necessary to practice at a higher level. S ..read more

I can recall many years ago during class, my first teacher looked at us and stated, “If by the end of my time I haven’t raised three students that can take over the dojo, then I haven’t done my job as a teacher.” I guess I never forgot this because I had hoped to someday become a teacher, and this seemed like a mandate that I best remember and take seriously. Now that I am indeed responsible for raising others in the art, it is my hope to take my teacher’s declaration a bit further; I would like to raise at least three students that will surpass me in my understanding and execution of the art ..read more

Once, a student admitted to me that the reason they hadn’t been around for a while was because they thought they had sufficiently received what they needed from Aikido to achieve and maintain harmony in their life. Then of course, life threw one of its famous breaking pitches at this person, and they quickly found their way back to the dojo. Now, before you snicker or dismiss this person’s proclamation as silliness, I would like to say that I know the person was quite sincere and whole-heartedly believed that a few years of Aikido would do the trick; the more I thought about it, the more I beg ..read more