You may of seen this video before but I have just started realizing why it caught my eye 6 months ago. This is one of the few lessons Saito Sensei or any other instructor focuses on “What if uke freaks out?” Sure, we look at what to do if a uke resists or counters but what about the uke that is just caught off guard and reacts erratically? In this instance the aikido should be all about uke because once they get it back together they are still coming for you. Continue reading Hey, we forgot Uke…→
Saito sensei breaks down O’sensei’s movements into a concrete starting point to understand the abstract and generative potential of aikido. The step-by-step approach also illuminates how a martial art can be peaceful and be an effective response to violence. Aikido’s roots are in the samurai and it is important to look at how something so lethal became the “Art of Peace;” riai is the place to start… Continue reading Riai… How Aikido Moves from Death to Resolution.→
Saito Sensei explains the most basic technical and philosophical element of aikido. “Awase” is blending with the intention of an attack. In other versions of this same explanation (Lost Seminars) Saito Sensei explains that aikido does not attempt to change the intent; Continue reading The mind of the attacker…→
This is one of the few lessons Saito Sensei gave showing how a basic movement becomes a variety of techniques. Aikido is not the application of specific techniques. Techniques are opportunities that arise in the relationship between the attack and non-oppositional response.
