Aiki changes according to the situation, but what most of my pupils are doing is not fundamentally aiki technique because it does not work in real fighting. When we really fight we clash first. Aiki must stand this first clash of the enemy. -Takuma Hisa, Aikido 8th Dan / Daito-ryu Read more…
It gives me great pleasure to present this essay on TrueAiki.com. Dick is a talented martial artist with a broad background that gives him a unique perspective. He happens to be Dutch, and, as you will soon see, is very skilled at English. Dick works in law enforcement where his Read more…
Hello, I’m still here! After traveling and teaching, I just got busy around the house towards the end of summer. And then work picked up. I have established a NEW and IMPROVED personal routine now though. I get up 30 minutes early (I’m working my way up to 60 minutes) Read more…
Hello you Wonderful People!, I began cleaning out Facebook Friends today. Facebook allows me 5K friends and I routinely hit that limit. So here is the un-scientific, un-sofistcated means by which I am doing this. I scroll down the list (5K takes a while) and if a name doesn’t have Read more…
Son of Allen’s Birthday Haiku Aiki Shugyosha’s Lament Again, I struggle Resisting non-resistance No Way of Aiki Aiki Shugyosha’s Triumph No struggling now Wonderful non-resistance The Way of Aiki Master of Self-Defense Self-Defense is not Victory over one’s “Self” True Victory is No Self, No Master, Nothing to Defend True Read more…
I wrote the following in a response on Facebook and then decided I can use it here! TDD #6 – 10 are all about tenkan. Tenkan in place, stepping tenkan, 360° tenkan in place, 360° tenkan switching feet. Huge kua work. Tons of tissue recruitment work. Full body spiraling and Read more…
Check this guy out. What’s he doing? His belly button is in a vertical line with his chest. He is rotating around his center of balance, which is between his feet. His spine is bowed. His elbows are down, keeping an equal and opposite distance from his thorax. His shoulders Read more…
Today is my birthday. Often a birthday is a celebration and expression of appreciation for a person born on a particular day. On my birthday I often think appreciatively of all of those that helped to create the “me” of today. My mother and father are often who I think Read more…
Hi Everyone, Yesterday I was doing research on anatomy and ran across a video that did a nice job of introducing what “dantian” is and what it does. The presentation was basic and practical. The introduction text says, “Robert Richardson PhD gives and an anatomical and functional breakdown of the DanTian.” This video Read more…
Here is a 2018 clip from a summer seminar in San Sebastián, Spain. Having introduced several empty handed TDD, I am introducing the idea of TDD with a “weapon” in hand. The goal is the same with both.