aikido:life | North valley Aikikai

By Marjorie Motooka, Shodan A Hakama is the skirt-like pants that some Aikidoka wear. In our dojo it is worn by Yudansha (black belts) and Kenshusei (Teacher Training Apprentices). It is a traditional piece of Samurai clothing. The standard Gi worn...

By Marjorie Motooka, Shodan Dōmō Arigatō Gozaimashita (pronounded Dō-mō Ari-ga-tō Gozai-mash-ta) is a phrase heard at the end of practice and the end of class.  This phrase is also accompanied by a standing...

By Stephanie Pardo, 4th Kyu I joined the Kenshusei program because I wanted to dive deeper into a martial art that I loved. I thought, “What better way to explore my passion than join an intensive program, which focuses on just that?” The opport...

By Marjorie Motooka, Shodan Onegai Shimasu (pronounced o-ne-ga-e shi-mas) is a phrase that is exchanged at the beginning of class between students to teacher.  It is also uttered to your partner before the start of any tech...

by Reza Haghshenas, 4th Kyu  What is Aikido? And what is this martial art going to bring into my life? I don't know the answer. But I feel that Aikido is a manifestation of love, as it lights up something special in my heart, to see my true self...

by Vincent John, 5th Kyu Your face is pressed against the mat. This serves to relieve the pressure derived from whoever is stretching your right arm up towards your spine, firmly into your back. At first nothing is felt. Not a shred of discomfort.

{Weeding my garden this morning, kneeling close to the ground under the Southern California sun, brought about some simple truths— for life, for Aikido. Just like weeding, we are evolving in our Aikido by peeling off, ridding of the extra, and digg...