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TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE USE OF TOUCH IN AIKIDO PRACTICE
One of the very significant elements of Aikido practiceis the amount of time we stay in direct physical contact with uke. We usually are in direct contact with uke during the whole time it takes to blend with the attack, redirect it, and throw or pin uke. This lengthy period of contact offers us the opportunity to feel and study uke’s movement and learn how to exert more effective control upon uke.
The Non-Violence In Aikido Aikido is a non-violent martial art. That much Aikidoists can all agree on. But what is nonviolence, and what about Aikido is non-violent? Non-violence is in some sense the opposite of violence, so let’s start by examining that concept. The American Heritage Dictionary includes under its definitions of violence: "Physical force exerted for the purpose of violating, damaging, or abusing." "Abusive or unjust exercise of power." How does Aikido practice stack up against the elements of this definition?
AIKIDO ROOTS AND BRANCHES: Body Awareness Training Methods and Their Applications in Daily Life The other day in my children’s Aikido class, I stopped the class and asked a question: "What is the capital of Texas?" Without hesitating, all the kids together shouted out "Hips!" The joke in our class is that all questions in Aikido have the same answer, "hips," and so the kids immediately knew how to answer my question about Texas.