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ARTICLES OF INTEREST
INTRODUCTION
Breath of knowledge is important in the study of aikido as it is the everyday life. We, therefore, welcome you to participate in the this section of the Shikikan website as both a reader and contributor.
If you would like to submit an article for publication in this forum simply e-mail us for details.
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SUBMITTED ARTICLES
LEARNING TECHNIQUES
- John Garcia
One of the things that discourages beginners from continuing in Aikido is
their inability to learn the techniques of Aikido. When a person first starts in
Aikido, the techniques seem endless and confusing. They seem complicated with
many parts and things to remember. Often, the beginner is frustrated when he
watches a technique shown by the instructor; but when he tries to do it, he
can’t begin to remember what to do or even how to start...[READ MORE]
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A TALE OF TWO UKE
- Dr. Robert Culyer
UKE NUMBER ONE, 1975
The munetsuki, although I saw it coming, caught me
completely flatfooted. I watched foolishly as the fist collided
with my midsection. I was thankful that the uke was a slender
fourteen year old girl and not a 200 pound fullback, and I was
highly embarrassed that I was frozen in place and unable to
move. After all, I had recently received my green belt after a
year of rigorous study of Shotokan Karate under the guidance of Sensei Mikami, an all-Japan
champion in free-sparring and kata. I had honed over the past year a very quick front roundhouse
kick, and I ordinarily moved around the ring with agility...[READ MORE]
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THE ROLE OF WEAPONS TRAINING IN AIKIDO
- Erik Calderon
Weapons training is an integral part of learning Aikido at ShinKiKan. Many students ask when they will begin training with weapons, and the answer is...SOON. It could be the first day of class or the second, since we try and integrate weapons into most every class, to help demonstrate the key techniques in aikido
...[READ MORE]
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AIKIDO IN EVERYDAY LIFE
- James Sangster
I started to get into a discussion the other day with a friend of mine, Erica, about centering your life and your personal spirit but we got interrupted by something and I never got a chance to answer. That’s a good thing though because the question really made me sit down and think about something that I do instinctually after a few years in Aikido. Erica was commenting on how I seem to have a feeling of peace and tranquility around me no matter what is happening, and she asked “how do you center?” That question really kind of stuck in my mind. I started asking myself that question over and over...[READ MORE]
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THE "KI" IN AIKIDO
- James Sangster
Ki is “the force” of Aikido. In Japanese culture Ki is the living energy that flows through all things. It is the essence of
life. It is everything and it is nothing. (Don’t you just love those Yoda-like sayings?) It is everything because it’s an energy that permeates all
things, living and inanimate. It is nothing because it has no substance, no form. It is very
real but it is intangible. It cannot be touched, only experienced...[READ MORE]
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