Some thought about the meaning of wearing a black belt in martial arts
What kind of belt do you have?
Categoria: Martial Arts
Hybridization of the Elements in Martial Arts
One of the points of contact and comparison between Western and Eastern thought is offered by investigating founding elements of nature. In our area, since ancient times, air, water, earth and fire have been considered the elements whose combinations build up what exists in nature. Over time, the systematized study of nature (Physics) and its […]
Descendants of Mars. A new meaning of the term “martial”
This time offers, probably also for the concept of martiality, a chance of evolution. Greeks defined the god Ares as brutal, murderer and above all βροτολοιγός, destroyer of men. He represented the concept of the ferocity of war, of the blood war demands, of the total destruction of the human community war generates. A god […]
Carrot and stick: kumi jo and fourtwelve steps kata
The use of the stick as a weapon has a history as old as the world. The stick is in fact the cheapest and most easily available tool -much more than a blade, in effect- and it is therefore not surprising that it is part of the training of many martial disciplines. In the vast […]
What if IOC erases Karate…
In these days the International Olympic Committee has decided that, starting from the 2024 Olympics, Karate will give way to the new incoming: Break-dance. The news can be an useful a stimulus for reflection, especially if made from the perspective of those who practice a martial art without competitions and competitions as Aikido is. The […]
“The eye of the tiger”. The importance of the gaze in Martial Arts
“Do not stare into the eyes of your opponent: he may mesmerize you. Do not fix your gaze on his sword: he may intimidate you. Do not focus on your opponent at all: he may absorb your energy. The essence of training is to bring your opponent completely into your sphere. Then you can stand […]
The eight fold
Eastern martial philosophy impacts on us with its undeniable fascination. A life of discipline, of the search for perfection that collides with the banality, the haste, the superficiality of the world we live in. Quoting Nathan Algren, the main character of “The Last Samurai” played by Tom Cruise: They (Japanese people) are an intriguing people. […]
The smart bullet
One hundred-four years ago, Francesco Olivero, an Italian soldier, wrote from the trenches in the middle of WWI “Because of the labors and dangers of war, there are certain fools who invoke the smart bullet. With this smart bullet, they intend to receive a bullet that does not offend the main parts but only that […]
Training the respect
In that kind of do-it-yourself marketing that rages in the world of Martial Arts, one of the various mantras is the claim that the practice of a discipline “teaches respect”. That’s true: one of the many gifts of constant practice is also an increased capability to respect yourself and others. Yet, is it really possible […]
Learning how to feeling good. Learning for feeling good
In the past four days, I have heard four different people, in different environments, saying more or less the same thing. In order: An Aikido teacher: “If we are here, if we are alive, it is because we have not yet finished learning, because there is still the chance of growing, improving ourselves”; A priest: […]