Can you learn to apply “martial arts principles” without training in a martial art?

posted in: Aiki, Leadership | 8

Anyone serious about martial arts will tell you that their practice has transformed them over time.
We often wish that more other people could share in these benefits.
But many people don’t want to learn martial arts!
However, in true Aikido style, sensei Quentin Cooke wants to blend with (not fight!) this fact and turn it around – in his mission to introduce the principles of Aikido to non-martial artists . . .

A closer look at the three kanji in “Aikido”

posted in: Aiki, Kanji | 2

The word Aikido 合気道 is pretty much impossible to translate into English precisely. We tend to say things like:

– The Way of Universal Harmony
– The Way of unifying (with) life energy
– The Way of harmonious spirit.

In trying to understand this complex word, it may help to know a little more about the three kanji that make it up . . .