Category Archives: Teaching
Aiki Demonstration
Thanks to the plague, it is rare we have the opportunity to do these anymore. My uke, O’Brien Sensei, and I, have been presenting these for so long they have become an entertainment piece we perform for young children. Nevertheless, … Continue reading
Again, No Walls
We have just been informed by the university where we have been training for the past decade or so that, as we no longer have any university students as members, we can no longer avail ourselves of their facilities. This … Continue reading
Spiritual Practices
Early this year, I introduced students to a way of practicing their suburi that incorporated kotodama and a specific controlled form of breathing. One of the senior students suggested the exercise become part of our everyday curriculum. It will not. … Continue reading
The Danger of Weapons Training
There is a danger that when students train regularly with weapons that they become blasé, when the danger should be the weapons training itself. There can be no lasting benefit, physically, mentally, or spiritually, in martial arts training, if it … Continue reading
Observation from a Recent Class
I noticed in a recent class that even after I corrected a student’s error, they continued to perform the technique just as they had before. Hmmmm. Kai Cho www.warriorway.net
Training During the Plague Times
It has been a few weeks now of training under the social distancing rules. We are, in many ways, more fortunate than a number of other martial arts schools. If open hand techniques were all we had, then it would … Continue reading
Interest Peaks at Technique
Not too long ago I was having a conversation with the founder of our School, and inevitably, when two old instructors get together, the conversation at some point will drift towards complaining about the quality and quantity of students, … Continue reading
Thoughts on Drawing the Sword
When I teach a senior battojutsu class, I rarely need to draw my sword. Sometimes, I can go the whole class without unsheathing the blade even once. Recently, it was necessary for me to take the general class. … Continue reading
Are You Looking at Me?
Whenever I teach something outside the basic kihon curriculum, which is often, I am always amazed at the lengths students will go to, to avoid doing what has just been demonstrated. You can look down the line on the mat and … Continue reading