Aikido celebrates the Divine Breath :: Through Training We Reconcile Our Hearts and Centers with the Universe and Learn to Love Our Fellow Men!

Aikido is not a fighting style. Aikido is not designed to hurt a human being, but designed to show restraint when faced with aggression.

I have been demonstrating Judo and Aikido in my classes lately…

Judo techniques are very impressive, for example, Ippon Seioi Nage, where you throw your opponent over your shoulder. It is a highly effective, supple, beautiful and impressive throw.

What I do is demonstrate Ippon Seioi Nage and the impressiveness of the throw visually… Wow, it looks and feels amazing!

But… then I demonstrate a simple and basic Aikido movement called Kotegaeshi. How simple!
It looks like your partner is just falling for you. It looks like choreographed BULLSHIDO.

But, kotegaeshi is a very powerful and subtle technique. It requires very little effort and is amazingly powerful. It obviously looks like a “phony” technique… how can someone fall to the ground with such a simple movement?

Ah…. THAT is the KEY to Aikido!