Ueshiba Morihei and Kano Jigoro – as seen through Manga
Reading a historical biography through Manga 漫画 is something quite unusual for a Western audience. But for a Japanese audience it’s very common . . .
Can you learn to apply “martial arts principles” without training in a martial art?
Anyone serious about martial arts will tell you that their practice has transformed them over time.
We often wish that more other people could share in these benefits.
But many people don’t want to learn martial arts!
However, in true Aikido style, sensei Quentin Cooke wants to blend with (not fight!) this fact and turn it around – in his mission to introduce the principles of Aikido to non-martial artists . . .
A closer look at the three kanji in “Aikido”
The word Aikido 合気道 is pretty much impossible to translate into English precisely. We tend to say things like:
– The Way of Universal Harmony
– The Way of unifying (with) life energy
– The Way of harmonious spirit.
In trying to understand this complex word, it may help to know a little more about the three kanji that make it up . . .
Do Japanese people and Westerners experience Aikido the same way?
Can a Westerner ever truly understand the art in quite the same way as someone who has grown up within the Japanese culture . . . ?
If Men and Women Fight over Gender Equality, Who Wins and Who Loses?
The teachings of O Sensei (Aikido) can help us to see the so-called “Battle of the Sexes” as a chimera, and a distraction from the real issues at stake . . .
Is Tackling Discrimination a Hard or a Soft Art?
Inspired by last week’s Amaryllis Fox video – Reflections on using martial arts principles to fight discrimination . . .