Castle Rock AikidoCastle Rock AikidoTraditional Japanese Aikido and Samurai Martial Arts
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Privacy Policy for Castle Rock AIKIDO, LLC
2008-03-28 15:26:00 COMMITMENT TO YOUR PRIVACYThis site is owned and operated by FFN, LLC (a.k.a. Castle Rock AIKIDO, LLC). Yourprivacy on the Internet is of the utmost importance to us. At FFN, we want to make yourexperience online satisfying and safe.Because we gather certain types of information about our users, we feel you should fullyunderstand our policy and the terms and conditions surrounding the capture and use of thatinformation. This privacy statement discloses what information we gather and how we useit.INFORMATION Castle Rock AIKIDO, LLC GATHERS AND TRACKSCastle Rock AIKIDO, LLC gathers two types of information about users:· Information that users provide through optional, voluntary submissions. These arevoluntary submissions to receive our electronic newsletters, to participate in ourmessage boards or forums, to email a friend, and from participation in polls andsurveys:· Information Castle Rock AIKIDO, LLC gathers through aggregated trackinginformation derived mainly by tallying page v... More About: Privacy , Policy , Aikido
A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Japanese Text on the Way of Strategy, by
2008-03-22 17:11:00 Article and summary by Aikido Student, Sean HannonMiyamoto Musashi's Book of Five Rings is a classic Japanese text of samurai sword strategy. Yet, it is so much more than just a manual on how best to wield a sword. The principles discussed in Miyamoto Musashi's masterpiece can, in many respects, be applied to life as a whole. Even though most of us today may not carry around a samurai sword on a daily basis, a reader can still find great value in the observations of this great, innovative, and eccentric samurai. Musashi developed what is called ni to ichi ryu or the "two as one way." In short, it is Musashi's preferred way of fighting with two swords simultaneously, instead of the traditional, two-handed fighting style of Japanese samurai. We can find meaning in Musashi's text beyond that of just sword fighting because, in both in Japanese and in other cultures, the sword is often used as a comprehensive metaphor for life.Musashi was born in 1584. According to legend, Musashi ha... More About: Strategy , Classic , Text
Midorigeiko: Observations of a (temporarily) Crippled Martial Arts Student
2008-02-25 17:16:00 By Sean HannonI am a student of the traditional, Japanese martial art of Aikido. I train three nights per week at Castle Rock AIKIDO in Castle Rock, Colorado. Yet, I haven't stepped foot on an Aikido mat in over a year. In early 2006, I injured my lower spine so severely that I could not hold up my own body weight and could not walk at all for several months. Practicing Aikido on the mat with everyone else was simply out of the question. Despite my not having been able to get on the mat, my Aikido continues to improve with each and every class I attend because, for the time being, I practice 'midorigeiko.' Midorigeiko loosely translates as "watch and steal" practice. I am always surprised and somewhat saddened to see martial art students of any style like karate, taekwondo, judo, mixed martial arts (MMA fighting or submission fighting) stop coming to train at the dojo when they sustain any injury, only to return once that injury is healed. Incurring an injury simply means... More About: Student , Martial Arts , Arts , Observations , Martial
Confessions of a former Karate Black Belt: How to revitalize your martial a
2008-02-12 16:20:00 I used to be a karate student. I began studying Okinawan karate when I was 17 years old. I loved it. It was hard, challenging, it pushed me to my physical and psychological limits. And after four long hard years I finally earned my black belt and wore it proudly in the karate dojo.I found myself not progressing...Less than 12 months later, I found myself teaching many of the classes to the lower ranks. It was kinda fun… for a while. But I soon found myself not progressing. My sensei at the time said to me that after black belt one's rank is based more on their contribution to the art and the amount of time they train rather than on technical skill or progress. I found this answer frustrating and, to be quite honest, unacceptable.While I was good, I certainly didn't think of myself as great. I wanted more. I wanted to continue to grow my skills. Yet, my instructor was quite adamant about me (and the other black belts in the dojo) not venturing outside of the art of karate. I didn... More About: Karate , Confessions , Black , Belt , Martial
Your Experience in Life is What You Bring to It!
2008-01-24 21:05:00 By Jeff Albright Sensei and Sean HannonA past teacher of mine would frequently say, "Bring it!" What she meant by that was whatever you want to experience, you have to "bring it" to the experience. This can apply to tangible things as well as intangible things. For example, let's say you are going to a party. If you want there to be guacamole at the party then you'd better "bring it." Similarly, if you want to have a fun at the party, then it is your responsibility to "bring it," – the fun, that is – to the party and not expect it to be waiting there for you. It is your responsibility to "bring it." It is not the responsibility of others, the activity or the event.Aikido training works exactly the same way. Bring a willingness to learn, an attitude of humility and, perhaps most importantly, a sense of humor to Aikido class, and those qualities – and their inherent benefits – are what you will experience at class. I should point out that this attitude isn't unique to the t... More About: Life , Experience
New Aikido Training Video
2008-01-22 00:53:00 Dr. Jeff Albright of Rocky Mountain Wellness in Castle Rock, Colorado recently released a 40 minute instructional Aikido martial arts DVD. This DVD is a high quality demonstration of the fundamental techniques of the Japanese martial art of Aikido. Video training helps students see the different aikido techniques in slow motion so they can work on their techniques at home.Sensei Jeff Albright has been practicing martial arts for over 20 years. He holds a 3rd degree black belt the art of Aikido and also holds black belts and teaching certificates in various other martial arts styles.Albright Sensei has taught at well-known Aikido schools in Nagasaki, Japan and instructed officers and personnel of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. He is also a graduate of Ichikukai Misogi Shogaku, a prestigious ascetic training program many infamous martial artists undergo in Japan.Being fluent in Japanese language and having trained in Japan for nearly five years, Albright Sensei has a deep underst... More About: Training
Power vs Force in Aikido: How to amass great power in your life.
2008-01-19 00:41:00 Many people seek out martial arts as a means to creating more power in their lives. Power , of course, can be defined in many ways. Some people are seeking self-empowerment in the form of self-improvement, self-discipline, or self-esteem, while others may be seeking power or control over others. Martial arts can be a very a good place to discover power. However, more often than not what people end up learning is not true power, but force. Many martial arts teachers do not really understand the difference between power and force, or worse, think they are the same things. As such, the student ends up creating more resistance in their life, instead of more power and he or she never learns to truly generate power.In Aikido , your objective should be on generating power. Most people tend to think that the fastest way to power is through force. Not true. Short-term power can be generated through force. However, that power is one-dimensional and usually doesn't last. It could be argued that... More About: Life , Great , Force
Avoid the Winter Blues with a Unique Japanese Exercise
2008-01-15 02:39:00 It's winter again and as the daylight hours shorten many people become afflicted with what has become known as seasonal affect disorder (or, aptly named, SAD). Most people are affected to one degree or another by SAD or SAD-like symptoms. It is a perfectly normal change in the brain that occurs each year as it gets darker earlier and is thought to be the result of altered brain chemistry caused by fewer hours of exposure to sunshine. The condition can become so significant that some people may require professional intervention. Normally, the brain creates a chemical called serotonin in response to exposure to sunshine. This chemical is largely responsible for producing a happy, healthy mood in a person. Because days are shorter in the fall and winter our brains make less of this chemical and this can lead to SAD. Having bright lights on in the fall and winter afternoon is one way to keep your serotonin levels up, but another healthier way is through exercise.Now, most Americans don... More About: Blues , Winter , Exercise , Japanese , Unique
Add more power, value and meaning to your life with Aikido!
2008-01-14 00:45:00 By Sean HannonI have practiced the Japanese martial art of Aikido , in one form or another, for over 10 years. At first glance I always thought that I practiced Aikido for self-defense or just because it was fun. However, I was recently listening to a recording by peak performance coach Anthony Robbins. Tony was discussing what he calls "The Six Human Needs." In this recording he articulates how all humans have six basic needs that must be met on some level. Some of these needs appear to be in conflict with one another, but, in fact, are not. I suddenly realized how, for me, Aikido meets all of these six human needs!The first two human needs appear to be in conflict with each other, but are actually complementary. The first is the need for certainty. That is, people require some degree of predictability in their lives on a daily or almost daily basis in order to function. One form of certainty could be physical security or safety. Being a defensive martial art, Aikido would... More About: Life , Power , Meaning
Make Friends Fast with Aikido!
2007-12-18 13:45:00 When adults move to a new town or state, it can be difficult to make new friends. It is not uncommon for people to go through months and months of social isolation. This can lead to loneliness and depression, but over time, people slowly rebuild a new social network. That can be a tough experience for almost anyone. However, there is no reason to wait. Some more outgoing people may make an effort to attend activities like public lectures on interesting subject or things like that in an effort to meet new people. But more often than not, most people usually go to those kinds of events in pre-existing clicks and are often opposed to venturing outside their own groups or unwilling to let new people in to theirs. One of the reasons why events like these don't work so well as a way to meet people is that the event is usually passive (like listening to a lecture) and does not engage others or encourage others to socialize outside of their pre-existing social groups. Aikido , on the other ... More About: Friends , Make , Fast
Why Do We Spend So Much Time Learning UKEMI? part 2
2007-12-14 17:10:00 Response from Albright Sensei:What does a black belt in Aikido mean to you? I was told that a black belt should be able to take UKEMI from any throw. My training insured that was true. UKEMI is the Japanese term for being able to safely receive an Aikido technique from anyone. It is the ability to follow, flow and fall without injury. It is often said that the first three years in Aikido training is UKEMI. UKEMI is that important.A few years ago, Miho and I were training in Sasaki sensei's dojo in Fujiminou City in Saitama, Japan. Many of his students were already 4th, 5th, and 6th degree black belts. Sasaki Sensei, himself, is an 8th degree black belt. So imagine me, being only a 2nd degree black belt at the time! I was intimidated to say the least. In this situation, 2nd degree black or NI-DAN means next to nothing. Their level of understanding of techniques was so deep that it would blow your mind. In this situation, the only thing I could be confident in was my UKEMI. In their ... More About: Time , Learning , Part
Why Do We Spend So Much Time Learning UKEMI?
2007-12-11 19:38:00 Response from Shiraki Sensei: When you come to an Aikido dojo, the first thing you will learn is how to fall or UKEMI. A wise Shinto priest and Aikido master once said to me, "First learn UKEMI because UKEMI is a form of losing. If you can learn how to lose and how you feel when you lose, the rest of it is easy. No ego, no nothing… Just the way it is." I learned UKEMI in very much the same way. The first thing my instructor, Iio Sensei, taught me was UKEMI. As a matter of fact, the first three years of my Aikido training was all about UKEMI. Nothing else mattered. During this time, my husband had already earned his black belt in Aikido and had recently attended GASSHUKU (specialized training) with the Wakayama University Aikido Club. He was hoping that I would soon be able to take UKEMI at the same level of intensity as those who had been training for years. Since Jeff had significantly more Aikido experience than I, he worked with me endlessly in an effort to get me up to ... More About: Time , Learning
Mistakes: The Key to Speeding Up your Aikido Training
2007-12-10 14:39:00 The fastest, most expedient way to learn Aikido is not to be prepared, but to make mistakes… a lot of mistakes. The more mistakes you make, the faster you will progress in your training. Our brains assign cause and effect through contrasting experiences. An improperly executed technique is contrasted with a properly executed technique. The "gap" or distance between the two experiences creates "perspective" in the brain and within that gap is where learning occurs. The more out-of-place you feel, the faster you will viscerally internalize the techniques and the lessons they contain. If you think about it, you have probably experienced this in other areas of your life. Haven't your greatest lessons in your life been the product of mistakes more so that successes? Early 20th century success researcher, Napoleon Hill, states that the key to success in any endeavor is failure. So if you want to progress your Aikido training faster then come to class and make more mistakes! Ju... More About: Training , Speeding , Raining , Stakes
Tell Us About Your Students at Castle Rock Aikido
2007-12-09 16:55:00 Audio Interview between Sean, a student at Castle Rock Aikido and Aikido instructors, Jeff Albright Sensei and Miho Shiraki SenseiSean: Let's get to know about your Aikido school. Who are your students? Do they all come from Castle Rock ?Jeff: We get all types of students, they come from all over the place, outside of Castle Rock – as far north as Westminster and we have two students from Colorado Springs as well.We get all kinds of different students, working professionals, parents; we've got a couple of college students, so we have a wide variety. We tend to get students in the 30-40 range, people who are searching and looking for different things as far as self development and personal development goes.Sean: And don't you guys have students older than that also?Jeff: Oh yes, we've had students as old as, I think 77 in Castle Rock.Sean: Wow. I bet a lot of people do not think of practicing martial arts in their 60's and 70's, do they?Jeff: They probably don't but there are... More About: Students
A Japanese “secret weapon” for improving your golf game.
2007-11-26 17:36:00 Indoor driving ranges and putting greens are great during the winter, but what else are you doing to improve your golf game in the off-season? Relaxation, balance, center of gravity, and coordination – many would argue that these are all important components of an excellent golf game. The Japanese art of Aikido is a fantastic secret weapon to maintain and improve your golf game. Aikido (pronounced 'eye'-'key'-'doh') is a unique form of Japanese exercise that fully engages your mind and body, providing a powerful vehicle for generating more power in your swing and improving your short game coordination. Aikido is a martial art, but can be practiced at any level of intensity according to the needs or physical capabilities of the golfer. In Aikido, there are no punches or kicks, unlike most other martial arts, so injury is extremely rare. An Aikido student learns to move their body effectively and efficiently by employing moves that at times almost look like a golf swing. ... More About: Golf , Game
Yakusokugeko – The Proper Roles of Uke and Nage
2007-11-24 19:16:00 Since Aikido is about avoiding struggle and performing a technique with the least amount of effort, we must consider our roles as both Uke and Nage.As Nage, first and foremost, it is our responsibility to protect Uke. If there is resistance, if one is off balance or if the technique just is not going as it should, just relax, slow down and find your "way." Aikido is about power - an inner power - rather than force. Try not to force a technique. As Nage it is our responsibility to smoothly establish and maintain a connection with Uke throughout each technique.As Uke it is our responsibility to provide a realistic attack (but not overly aggressive), and then move our bodies in relationship to Nage's movement so as to be in the safest position possible, while maintaining a sense of connection.Grabs by Uke should be firm, but not rigid. The hand and wrist will be used to control whatever is being grabbed. The rest of the body should remain loose and able to adapt to the situation.Stri... More About: Rope
Unique Japanese Exercise Provides Stress Relief to Castle Rock!
2007-11-18 15:35:00 There is a great new form of stress relief available in Castle Rock . It's called Aikido (pronounced 'eye'-'key'-do'). Aikido is a unique form of Japanese exercise that fully engages your mind and body providing an excellent outlet for stress relief. Aikido is a martial art, but can be practiced at any level of intensity according to the needs or physical capabilities of the student. Unlike most martial arts, there are no punches or kicks in Aikido so injury is extremely rare. A student learns to move their body effectively and efficiently by employing almost dance-like moves that first evade and then off balance their partner (who is pretending to be an attacker) without injuring him or her. In addition to providing stress relief and a clear state of mind, it has the added benefit of being quite cardiovascular. So you de-stress and get fit at the same time.People of all ages practice Aikido, but it is particularly beneficial for adults. In fact, you’re never too old to... More About: Exercise , Stress
Castle Rock AIKIDO dojo logo
2007-11-06 13:32:00 Samurai were a class of Japanese military nobility who served a feudal lord and/or the Japanese Emperor. The word samurai derives from the Japanese verb "samorau," which means "to serve." Samurai came into power as a warrior class in the early 12th century and were subsequently disbanned, virtually becoming extinct, in the late 1880s with the fall of the feudal system of Japan and the rise of industry and westernization. Born and raised in Kitakyushu, a town in the Southern Japan Prefecture of Fukuoka, Miho Shiraki Sensei is a descendant of a long line of samurai warriors of feudal Japan. Growing up, Miho had heard stories about her family's ancestors being pacifist, Shinto priests. What she didn't really know until recently was why did those ancestors become Shinto priests in the first place? Miho's mother told her about samurai of the Shiraki family who had left the samurai class and became pacifists to atone for their violent past. Sometime between 1100 and 1800 lived this sam... More About: Rock , Castle , Aikido , Logo , Dojo
New & Fun Form of Adult Fitness in Castle Rock!
2007-11-03 17:18:00 Here's a reality of life when it comes to exercise; "If it’s boring, you won't do it. Period!" Most people know they should exercise more, but most people simply don't. This not necessarily because they don't want to be in better shape, but because so many popular kinds of exercises and fitness routines are utterly boring! If you're bored of endlessly walking on treadmills or elliptical trainers at the gym while watching overly-violent news broadcasts; or if you've tried yoga and Pilates but find them painfully slow, then I have a suggestion for you. Come try Aikido!Aikido, pronounced 'eye'-'key'-'doh', is a unique Japanese exercise that engages your entire body in a really fun and entertaining way. Aikido is a martial art, but can be practiced at any level of intensity according to the needs or physical capabilities of the student. Unlike most martial arts, there are no punches or kicks in Aikido so injury is extremely rare. You learn to move their body effectively an... More About: Fitness , Rock , Castle , Adult , Form
Founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba
2007-10-26 18:28:00 Morihei Ueshiba was one of history's greatest martial artists. Even at age eighty, he could disarm any foe, down any number of attackers, and even pin an opponent with a single finger. Although virtually invincible as a warrior, he was, above all, a man of peace who detested fighting, war and any kind of violence. His way was that of Aiki do , "the art of peace." He is referred to as O Sensei, "the great teacher."Morihei Ueshiba spent his youth and early adulthood training under a variety of sword and Jujutsu masters. As he grew older he experienced increasing disquiet stemming, in part, from his rather violent youth, feeling that training for the sake of winning was not enough. One day, after a long, arduous period of training and meditation, he came to recognize an innate understanding that the true purpose of the martial arts was to be the promotion of universal peace and love. He saw that the ideal victory was a conflict resolved without winner or loser. He began to change his ma... More About: Founder
Natural Movement & Philosophy - A Wholistic Exercise
2007-10-24 17:26:00 The Philosophy of AikidoMuch like a hurricane, tornado or tidal wave, the forces found in nature are efficient, rational, and soft, while the center is immovable, firm, and stable. Of course, these forces may not seem rational or soft relative to human experience, but relative to itself, these forces are perfectly balanced. This principle of a firm center and a soft, adaptable periphery is universally consistent -- and must be true for each person, as well. The culmination of Aikido is expressed by aligning one's own center with the center expressed throughout nature. One becomes "resilient" inside, yet this strength is expressed softly and powerfully.The movements of Aikido maintain this firm and stable center simultaneously emphasizing spherical rotation characterized by flowing, circular motions. These pivoting, entering and circling motions are used to blend with, to control and to overcome an opponent. The principle of spherical rotation makes it possible to defend one’s sel... More About: Exercise , Natural , Ural
Castle Rock AIKIDO's Mission Statement
2007-10-22 18:12:00 It is the mission of Castle Rock AIKIDO "to forge in our students a strength of character so strong, that conflict becomes unnecessary." Many assume that the "conflict" we refer to in our mission statement is physical conflict such as fighting with others. However, the conflict we mean to emphasize is inner conflict - the mental, emotional and even spiritual conflict most of us struggle within each and every day. Through the practice of Aiki do we discover within ourselves a physical path to self-mastery… More About: Mission , Mission Statement
Getting Centered with Aikido (Expansion Part 5)
2007-10-21 16:50:00 By Jeff Albright Sensei and Sean Hannon"The key to good technique is to keep your hands, feet and hips straight and centered. If you are centered, you can move freely. The physical center is your belly; if your mind is set there as well, you are assured of victory in any endeavor."- Morihei UeshibaAiki do teaches us to move, feel and, to some extent, think from our center or what the Japanese call our "hara." It is the place that we are strongest. It is the origin of our power. Our core is where we are eternally abundant. Physiologically, our core is our viscera our gut and it is where our real strength comes from. Many think big muscles are where strength comes from. However, big muscles don't work if the lungs and heart aren't strong enough to pump blood to those big muscles.Fear produces a neurological response in the body call "fight or flight." This is also known as a sympathetic response. During a fight or flight response blood is shunted away from the internal organs - the h... More About: Part , Expansion
Aikido & Abundance (Expansion Part 4)
2007-10-18 21:48:00 By Jeff Albright Sensei and Sean Hannon "If your opponent strikes with fire, counter with water, becoming completely fluid and free-flowing. Water, by its nature, never collides with or breaks against anything. On the contrary, it swallows up any attack harmlessly." – Morihei UeshibaAs we learned in Part Two of this article on expansion, Aiki do is so much more than just a martial art. It is a whole way of life. Indeed, those who practice Aikido quickly learn that it is, in fact, a microcosmic arena for life. When regular daily problems at home or at work come up most people do the same thing as most martial arts teach. They push back, contract, shrink – they shift into a defensive posture. Sometimes they contract into adverse behaviors like excessive television watching, alcohol or overeating. Others contract by complaining, gossiping, hiding or ignoring their predicament. Aikido teaches us to address our challenges differently.Is expansion a natural response? Think o... More About: Abundance , Expansion
Reprogramming Inborn Reflexes - lessons from Aikido (Expansion Part 3)
2007-10-16 18:00:00 By Jeff Albright Sensei and Sean Hannon"When an opponent comes forward, move in and greet him;if he wants to pull back, send him on his way."– Morihei UeshibaAikido challenges us to evolve beyond primitive, instinctual survival mechanisms and reflexes that are taught in so many other forms of martial arts. For example, many Aikido students ask, "Why does Aikido take so long to master?" This is a valid question because Aikido does, in many cases, take much longer to master than other martial arts. In Aikido, we strive inwardly for self-perfection by training ourselves to utilize higher levels in the brain; to reprogram seemingly-contradictory, yet ironically, more sophisticated levels of thinking, non-thinking and other societally-conditioned responses into our unconscious mind.An Aikido student must learn to break inborn reflexes that are culturally reinforced by society and replace those reflexes with new ones. When someone pulls us, we usually automatically respond by pulling ba... More About: Part , Part 3 , Lessons , Expansion
Expansion Part 2: Aikido & Budo
2007-10-04 16:52:00 By Jeff Albright Sensei and Sean Hannon"True budo calls for bringing the inner energy of the Universe in order, protecting the peace of the world as well as preserving everything in nature in its right form."– Morihei UeshibaThe novice martial artist sees martial arts merely as a fighting system – a means of self-defense. He understands only one-dimension of the word "martial." Martial, in the strictest sense of the word, means "associated with war." Therefore, to the novice martial artist, martial only means "the art of war" or "the art of fighting." For them, that is where the meaning stops. There is no evolution. There is no more growth. The master martial artist, on the other hand, understands this rudimentary definition of "martial" and expands it.The master martial artist recognizes the inherent responsibilities of the martial arts and ultimately adopts the concept of budo or martial way into his or her life. The martial way is very different from that of martial combat. F... More About: Aikido , Part , Expansion , Aiki
Expansion Part 1: Aikido & Self-defense
2007-10-04 01:21:00 By Jeff Albright Sensei and Sean Hannon"A good stance and posture reflect a proper state of mind."- Morihei UeshibaWhen most people think of "martial arts" one of the first things that to come to mind is the idea of "self-defense." When I think of someone defending themselves I tend to think of some one contracting, closing up, or hunkering down into a defensive stance. I also think the word defense represents a reaction to fear. Fear is always a function of contraction and is often met with defensive-oriented actions such as scratching, clawing, punching and kicking. Of course, there isn't anything wrong with these actions. There may be times in life when these become necessary. At other times, like in social environments, this lashing out may not necessarily take the form of physical strikes but, instead, may manifest as unnecessary, insensitive or sometimes even rude verbal attacks, glares or gestures.The art of Japanese Aiki do is a martial art like many others. However, the org... More About: Defense , Part , Expansion
Castle Rock Martial Arts Teacher Offers Style for 40 year olds
2007-09-28 18:02:00 Perhaps the most important element of a martial arts school is the head instructor (referred to as a sensei). Most people want a talented martial arts instructor who is a great teacher, actively involved in the student's progress, and is someone who the student can respect. At Castle Rock Aikido, we couldn't agree more. We are honored to have two head instructors, a husband and wife team, who have trained for years in Japan with some of the most respected Aikido instructors. Today we will feature Jeff Albright, our head Aikido instructor.About Dr. Jeff Albright"Sensei" Jeff Albright has been practicing martial arts for over 20 years. He presently holds a 3rd degree black belt in Aikido. Dr. Albright also holds black belts in Karate and Iaido (a.k.a. Samurai sword); and he holds teaching certificates in various other marital art styles. Jeff has taught classes at well-known Aikido schools in Nagasaki, Japan and instructed officers and personnel for the Japanese Self-Defense Fo... More About: Martial Arts , Arts , Style
"True Victory is Self-Victory" Aikido Explained
2007-09-24 00:05:00 "True victory is self-victory."– Morihei Ueshiba What is Aikido ? Aikido is a powerful martial art developed throughout the mid 20th century by a Japanese named Morihei Ueshiba. Aikido differs from most other martial arts in that the practitioner seeks to achieve self-defense without injury to attackers. Furthermore, there are no tournaments or sport applications in Aikido. Therefore, Aikido is non-competitive.Generally speaking, Aikido is most often practiced with a partner where one person functions as an attacker and the other person practices defensive Aikido techniques. About half of the techniques involve joint locks which enable the "attacker" to be moved to a pinning position where they can be held without injury. Other techniques involve throwing the partner. An Aikido student spends much time learning how to fall safely. Proper falling is a fundamental component to the practice of Aikido.The basic movements of Aikido are circular in nature. Most attacks are linear. An Aik... More About: Victory , Tory , Laine
Dojo Etiquette and Lexicon "Onegaishimasu""
More articles from this author:2007-09-17 17:14:00 "Onegaishimasu" (pronounced 'oh-nay-guy-she-mas') is a common phrase you will hear and use repeatedly during Aikido class. In Aikido class, it is a polite way of asking to work with and recognizing a new training partner to practice a technique.When you are done practicing a technique or working with a training partner, you would say, "Arigato Gozaimashita" (pronouced 'ar-ee-ga-toe go-za-ee-ma-she-ta' ), which is just a polite way of saying thank you.At Castle Rock Aikido, we focus on quality, traditional Aikido instruction. If you live in the South Denver metro area, Parker, and even Colorado Springs, we invite you to see if our Aikido class is right for you. Visit http://www.craikido.com/ to receive a coupon for a free class. More About: Etiquette , Dojo , Lexi 1, 2 |



