Members of Aikido Yoshinkai Canada who have been with Kimeda Sensei over the years know that until 2017 one of the hallmarks of his teaching was his weekly Kenshu class. Kenshu are intensive study and training classes and while we did not always leave these classes sweating from physical exertion, we did leave them mentally exhausted. Kimeda Sensei’s lectures in these classes always offered something “more” — more than a simple physical explanation or application of technique. They provided us with additional historical, philosophical or cultural insights that gave us a more complete understan ..read more

The term MUSHIN is referenced in zen meditation as well as martial arts texts, and translates to “empty mind”. Working to develop a Mushin state of mind means that one’s thoughts pass like clouds in the sky, where the mind observes them but does not follow them. This allows the mind to to be unbound and free to act and react at any time. Through meditation, we can experience more of the Mushin state of mind.  A mindset that is key to effective application of martial arts.  This type of training will provide day to day health benefits and also prepare the practitioner to maintain thei ..read more

One of the most succinct answers to the question of, why study aikido (or any other budo for that matter) can be paraphrased as follows: To learn about tradition and to improve ourselves. (I have to admit I cannot remember where I read this or who originally wrote it.) One of the ideas that we hear about as part of training in Aikido and learning the tradition of budo is that of ichigo ichi’e—often translated literally as “one time, one meeting”. This saying is typically viewed as an admonition to cherish whatever meeting one is involved in. However, this idea can also be applied to our traini ..read more

In my previous blog post I spoke about how to perform a basic breath meditation circuit. This time I would like to look at how this type of breath training is relevant to Aikido training. Developing a relaxed breathing pattern is the only way to connect your mind with your body to allow them to work as one force. This interconnectedness is what gives Aikido its true power. My teacher used to speak about how a martial artist had to overcome the “four sicknesses” in order to truly master their craft and prevail in combat. Fear, Doubt, Hesitation and Surprise: these were the sicknesses that we al ..read more

Meditation is about relaxing the mind and the body, so that you can tune in to what is going on internally by tuning out the external stimuli of the outside world. Breath and your internal energy flow through the body like water through a garden hose.  It is this flow that allows the body to heal and generate internal power. Kink the hose in any section and you reduce or potentially shut down the flow. There are many methods and areas of focus for meditation, all with tons of detail to explore.  For the purposes of this blog, I would like to explore an introduction into some basic me ..read more

There are a number of Aikido FAQs (frequently asked questions). The first one is often simply – What is Aikido? A traditional Japanese martial art that anyone can do! Aikido teaches how to build body power through the coordination and relaxation of the body and mind. The result is a defensive martial art that any person can apply regardless of size, gender or age. Below are some articles we have published to address many of the other common Aikido FAQs asked by new students exploring Aikido for the first time. Learn more about Aikido here : What is Aikido? In this article we review the evoluti ..read more

Studying Aikido, a Japanese martial art, can offer numerous benefits. If you are preparing to start your martial arts journey and are wondering which style is right for you, here are the top 10 reasons to study Aikido (in no particular order). #1 Self-Defence: Aikido emphasizes techniques that redirect an opponent’s energy, making it an effective martial art for self-defense. It focuses on neutralizing attacks without relying on excessive force, making it suitable for individuals of all ages and sizes. #2 Physical Fitness: Aikido training involves a combination of aerobic exercises, stretc ..read more

“When you give yourself, you receive more than you give.” Antoine De Saint-Exupery The act of giving a gift is a far more complicated undertaking than it might first appear. At a glance, it seems to be a fairly one-sided affair. You decide to give someone a gift, you spend time thinking about them, you acquire the gift and pass it along. Done. But we all know that it is not as simple as that. Truly successful gift-giving, gift-giving that matters, gift-giving that speaks volumes about the connectedness of two people, involves a more complex interaction. It is not a simple process of followin ..read more

Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing well. There are a couple of administrative updates I wanted to provide to everyone. Saturday Classes revised: The class schedule for Saturday morning Aikido in May has been revised. We will have classes May 20th and May 27th @ 10:30. All other class times will remain the same. Everything is updated on the calendar page of the website. Dojo phone services are down: The phone and text line for the dojo has been offline since Monday and remains unavailable to due to service provider issues. If you need to reach me please use email (senseijay@aikidodurham.c ..read more

Hello everyone, I hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season! I would like to extend best wishes to each of you and your families for the coming year.  May 2023 bring positive energy to all! Best regards, Sensei Jay The post Happy New Year! appeared first on Aikido Durham ..read more