Monday, February 25, 2008
Hakama folding
Hakama folding instructions and experience...
http://aikidolondon.blogspot.com/2008/02/how-to-fold-hakama-2-instructions.html
http://aikidolondon.blogspot.com/2008/02/how-to-fold-hakama-1-my-story.html
All the instructions I found on the Web start with the same 'position': the hakama is on the floor, it's just lying there and looks neat and nice.
So what happens when you see people packing their hakama in 5 minutes?
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
An artistic aikido picture
In case you want to see some very artistic aikido depiction:
http://www.dojoseiza.com.ar/wiki/Portada
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
An interview with Katsuaki Asai 8th dan Hombu Aikikai
An interview with Asai Shihan.
One of my favourites to read.
[...]Foreigners tend to ask many questions compared to Japanese. What kind of explanations do you provide during class?
I give very little explanation in my dojo in Dusseldorf, except for the beginner’s class. However, I answer any questions as best I can. When I travel to other areas for seminars, I do give explanations because these people can only receive instruction from me two or three times a year. Also, I have my advanced students teach and tell them to teach beginners five minutes a week because they too were beginners at one time. However, I don’t have those with dan ranks walk around and teach.[...]
The art of peace
A lot to learn from:
The Art of Peace by O'Sensei
...quotations have been compiled from O-Sensei's collected talks, poems, and calligraphy, and from oral tradition.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Aikido ukemi (roll) exercise
A good description of how to learn to roll forward (ukemi) in Aikido.
[...]I found a forum where a new student asked members of the forum to give him some hints on how to improve his rolling skills. The responses were all something like 'o, yes, in the beginning your rolls suck' and 'go to your master and ask him' to 'you need to practice and practice and practice even more'. These are all true but, unfortunately, don't answer the question[...]