Updated Invitation: New Year Misogi

This event has been changed. more details » New Year Misogi 1st annual New Year Misogi training of Akido Kokikai Trenton When Changed: Sat Jan 17, 2015 3pm – 4:30pm Eastern Time Where 101 S Warren St, Trenton, NJ 08608, USA (map) Calendar Aikido Kokikai Delaware Valley Who (Guest list has been hidden at organizer's request) Going?   Yes - Maybe - No    more options »

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New Year Misogi

New Year Misogi   1st annual New Year Misogi Training at Aikido Kokikai Trenton When Sat Jan 17, 2015 3pm – 4:30pm  Where 101 S Warren St, Trenton, NJ 08608, USA (map) Calendar Aikido Kokikai Delaware Valley

Ukemi has a Purpose.

Tonight, I devoted some time on forward ukemis. Ukemi, first and foremost is technique to protect yourself in a fall. In the case of the forward ukemi it allows you to recover when your balance is lost as you are projected, safely dissipating the impact of the throw, by rolling.

In Aikido practice, a throw is usually applied so that the uke is projected forward, allowing time to set for the fall. If the uke is relaxed, and moving naturally, in rhythm with the throw, the uke will be safely projected away from the nage. Too often, during warm up exercises. students forget the connection between throw and the ukemi, making a dive for the mat.

This becomes a bad habit. It inhibits the student's understanding of the technique's rhythm, and increases the chances of  injury.It is important in training to emphasize to project the mind forward, relax, and naturally reach forward as if reaching to hold someone.

AIKIDO KOKIKAI @ NEW JERSEY'S CAPITAL

  101 S Warren St 

Class Monday and Wednesday 7:30

Bring out the Samurai in You

Kokikai. GET HOT!

We are enrolling students August 14th! 

There will be the fun 

GET SOME!

Kokikai members who would like to help let me know

We Are Missing the Mark

Various leaders in Budo, especially Aikido,  have expressed the belief that martial art should not only help develop individual character, but also have a connection with, and should play a role in the betterment of the society. If I remember correctly, (some of my books seem to have sprouted legs) without this, O Sensei believed martial arts become brutal fighting arts that threaten society.

The importance of this is overlooked. I believe the instances of excessive force by police that we've seen in the news recently, especially the most recent, which ended in the death of a civilian, is an example, of how such disconnection, plays out in society.

The context defines the legitimacy of the force used. When the severity of the force far exceeds what is necessary.In this case, not only was the technique the officer employed illegal, it was, in a word, brutal. The history of the disconnect between racial minorities and local police-community relations is well documented, as is the rationale for the official prohibition of the use of choke holds on civilians.

As Aikidoists, it may be out of our purview to judge the relative points of contention; however, we are absolutely in accord with the principle to reconcile conflict. When employed correctly, our art is uniquely designed to be effective with minimal harm. In this context we have a contribution to make, so let's make it.