by Hoa Newens Katsuhayabi calligraphy by O Sensei next to Aikido calligraphy by Saito Morihiro Shihan. Aikido Institute Oakland, California ​ In the early eighties, the students at the Aikido Institute of Oakland (California) organized multiple fund-raising events to acquire a calligraphy of the kanji 勝速日 (katsu-haya-hi), authored by O Sensei. This calligraphy is displayed as part of…

by Hoa Newens In an interaction with another sentient being, how we treat each other is of the utmost importance. Even if we are about to take each other’s life there is a proper way to do it. In a duel to the death, warriors of old would state each other’s names and the reason…

by Hoa Newens Proper breathing can significantly improve physical health as well as performance in sports and martial arts. Within the martial arts that encompass spiritual paths such as Aikido and Tai Chi, breathing takes on a special role which goes beyond the health aspect and deeper into the energetic and psychic realms. In these…

by Hoa Newens.[This essay was originally published on December 2, 2011 in newsletter format; then included in the compilation titled “Aikido Discoveries” published in 2015. It is re-posted here due to its special relevance to solo training during pandemic times.] ​Suburi (素振り, is a Japanese term which refers to the repetitive practice swings in sports (golf)…

by Hoa Newens“Out of life’s school of war—what doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger”, wrote German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche in 1888. When facing something that goes against me, I have a choice: either I give in and let it swallow me; or I face it squarely and fight it, in which case, the more force…

by Hoa Newens He seems lonely, unattached,Yet so peaceful.Surrounded by flowers, birds and bees,He sits blissfully still on his perch,Oblivious to the bustle in our yard and nearby roadway.Amidst life, yet suspended in ethereal space.With the empty space around himHe’s untouchable by the world.He is here, yet beyond mundane reach.Lesson: empty space insulates me from…

by Hoa Newens ​During this pandemic period most of us train in Aikido without body contact with a partner and as a result our bodies miss the salutary stretch that comes with taking ukemi. In addition, we train outdoor most of the time and warm-up is minimal. Our bodies are missing the internal massage and…

By Dr. Paul Williams, PT, DPT ​Now that we have been quarantined and social distancing for some time, most of you have already been seeking solo practices to supplement your aikido training. In most styles of aikido, solo training is not common. Even for those that practice weapons like aiki-ken and aiki-jo, there’s not much…

by Hoa Newens ​[This year we celebrate Tai Sai in the midst of a worldwide pandemic and could not hold class to properly remember O Sensei. Instead, we offer this in-depth examination of his legacy art.] “Is Aikido a martial art?” may sound like a naïve question to many readers but is likely a serious…

by Hoa Newens These days most of us are home-bound with spare time to ponder on the fate of the world. More importantly, we have a great opportunity to reflect on the purpose of our life and on the way that we live. A couple of years back, I had explained how improper use of…