Camaraderie
I’m sore. I had a grading this weekend and my body still aches. Some gradings we are pushed to our physical limits to see what emerges. This one, felt different. I didn’t feel like I was up to the task … Continue reading
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Marketing
As the head of a martial arts school, I am regularly presented with ads for how to successfully market my business and become a martial arts millionaire, (perhaps everyone is hit with these ads and I just think I am … Continue reading
Vegan Japan
We did not make it to Japan this year, unfortunately, so as part of my reminiscing here is an article I wrote on surviving there as a vegan, with thanks to Tanwyn Sensei for providing the photos. If you … Continue reading
More Doctor Who?
Recently we held our Autumn gradings which included two students doing their nidan syllabus for open hand. One of the highlights of this was their performance of kata; most of the lower ranks had never seen these kata before and … Continue reading
Suwari Ho Kokyu Ho
At the end of each open hand class we tend to finish with an exercise known, at least within our School, as suwari ho kokyu ho. It is a common warm down form used by many Aiki based schools. When … Continue reading
Doctor Who Goes Forth
Despite the title, this particular missive has nothing to do with martial arts. Its purpose is rather to pass on trivial information that, as far as I am aware, has previously gone unremarked. Doctor Who, original series, season six, The … Continue reading
Unique
This is not specifically a martial arts post, (though many martial arts schools do describe themselves as unique), it is more of a personal rant. This, I believe, I can indulge myself in, as I am reasonably certain that the … Continue reading
A Tale of Two Demos
We did two martial arts demonstrations this week, with very different responses. One group, the younger, was very engaged and asked endless insightful questions. One child was even physically and emotionally moved by what they saw, to the point they … Continue reading
Standing Firm
Although the word “consistency” carries connotations of constancy, compatibility, custard and snow conditions, it derives from the Latin verb “consistere”, or “to stand firm” (composed of “con” meaning “together”, and “sistere” meaning “to place”). Hence it’s original meaning has a … Continue reading
Why won’t they show me this very narrow thing I’m focusing on and then I’ll be able to do it perfectly?
I could possibly shorten it but in some ways it also reflects what’s going on in our heads; looking at something very narrow, very isolated and without a context expecting it to magically make everything alright with a technique. Trouble … Continue reading