Energy efficient Aikido

Energy efficiency is undoubtedly one of the mantras of recent years. A trend made even more topical by the international situation we are right now experiencing. For economic, financial and environmental reasons, we try to reduce consumption and put effort in not wasting energy. It is a difficult challenge. Almost fifteen years ago, when Alexa […]

Tai no henko: making sense of the frustration of not being able to please everyone

It is reported that Morihiro Saito Sensei, during the dan tests, was very often focused just on the execution of katate dori tai no henko (片手取り体の変更) technique, thus dismissing the candidates, promoting them or not. Within the codified list of Aikido techniques, tai no henko is certainly one of the most useless tools in terms […]

Building ourselves as a person. Why a martial discipline is worth practicing

Why do some people practice a martial discipline? In general: what is the value of being faithful in training and practicing in a world that seems to cancel every kind of certainties? Sports activities have been severely impacted by the pandemic. Within them, disciplines that foresee a physical contact, such as martial arts, have been […]

Bowing: Budo’s Cliff Notes

In Eastern culture, bowing is an essential element of the relationship. An element that contains a wide spectrum of shades. In Japanese culture, for instance, the ojigi (おじぎ) contains a plurality of meanings: depending on the occasion and the relationship there is a, let’s say, “proper” bowing, as a rule of etiquette. At this link […]

“Let us leave the sky to the sparrows and let’s…”

“…stay grounded” . It was the year 1990 and with this sentence, a famous Italian singer, Vasco Rossi opened his concert in Milan. In the practice of Aikido, we often meet two dual perspectives. On the one hand, those who experience discipline from a strictly material point of view. Techniques are investigated, effectiveness is sought, […]

However, there are also many humans who are not alive…

If the partner gets stuck, everyone usually insists on pushing and pressing on the point of contact. Instead, I relax the point and change direction. At that point, if my mate is a living human, he will start moving However, there are also many humans who are not alive. Two years ago, just before everything […]