Aikido of Ashland

My Aikido Walk

aikidoofashland — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 02:27:07 +0000

By: Jo Anna Shaw Nidan Exam Paper May 29, 2022 Recently, I had the pleasure of hearing Anno Sensei share the wisdom of O’Sensei which, at 94, he says he continues to make his daily practice. His message, translated by Holiday Sensei and paraphrased here, was: Aikido is Love. The Universe is Love. Our purpose is …

Continue reading "My Aikido Walk"

Aikido in Law Enforcement

aikidoofashland — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 02:13:36 +0000

Shihan Michael Friedl has been my sensei for 35 years. I have much to be thankful for. He entered my life at an age where I had a career in law enforcement but didn’t know how to navigate a successful career without a mentor and a friend to help guide me through an art that …

Continue reading "Aikido in Law Enforcement"

Shodan Paper by Jo Anna Shaw

aikidoofashland — Thu, 02 May 2019 18:39:33 +0000

Epilogue to My Aikido Story in My Book, “Design and Live the Life YOU Love: A Guide for Living in Your Power and Fulfilling Your Purpose” — 12/13/18 In a moment of feeling empty and alone during the fall of 2016, I walked into the Aikido of Ashland dojo one October Saturday morning to see …

Continue reading "Shodan Paper by Jo Anna Shaw"

合気道 (The Way of Unifying Life Energy) — A Poem by Megan Kim

aikidoofashland — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 01:13:38 +0000

This poem by Megan Kim, in honor of her father Andrew Kim, was originally published in the Fall 2018 issue of Kodon, Wheaton College’s literary journal. My father practices aikido three times a week, dons a white gi and bows to his peers. I went once to his dojo, its air the weight of cathedral …

Continue reading "合気道 (The Way of Unifying Life Energy) — A Poem by Megan Kim"

Bow In – A Poem by Jo Anna Shaw

aikidoofashland — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 00:26:12 +0000

“When you bow deeply to the Universe, It bows back.” — O’Sensei, Morehei Ueshiba bow in the practice mat invites the aikidoka to be a humble student to enter empty as a soft glow signals the birth of a new day and way as shadows merge with the void of night to respectfully bow in …

Continue reading "Bow In – A Poem by Jo Anna Shaw"

The Four Flies

aikidoofashland — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 20:07:22 +0000

A samurai was calmly eating his supper in a small inn, ignoring four flies which kept buzzing around him. Three ronin (masterless samurai) came in, they looked enviously at the two magnificent swords which the man had fixed in his belt, for these weapons represented a small fortune. A look of intense satisfaction came over …

Continue reading "The Four Flies"

Historical Fiction by Rocky Gunn and Kazuko Sakura

aikidoofashland — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 20:01:07 +0000

Jingoro sat comfortably by the fireplace, surrounded by his young grandchildren. He had served in the Emperor’s army for twenty years and had been awarded the highest honors for his meritorious service. He had worked his way up from a young foot soldier to a wise and respected counselor who was pursued not only for …

Continue reading "Historical Fiction by Rocky Gunn and Kazuko Sakura"

The Master and His Three Sons

aikidoofashland — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 19:48:18 +0000

There was once a great master of kenjutsu (sword) renowned throughout Japan who, when visited by another great master, wished to demonstrate the teaching he had given his three sons. The master winked at his guest and placed a heavy metal vase on the corner of the sliding doors, wedged it with a piece of …

Continue reading "The Master and His Three Sons"

How Do We Teach Aikido Anyway? (By: Kimberly Richardson)

aikidoofashland — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 06:49:41 +0000

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelo How do we teach Aikido? The query invites me to reflect on how I learned Aikido. I got lucky. By accident in 1978, while studying dance at The …

Continue reading "How Do We Teach Aikido Anyway? (By: Kimberly Richardson)"

Developing Good Aikido Teachers – Whose Responsibility Is It?

aikidoofashland — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 21:46:19 +0000

It is over 40 years since I started on this Aiki path and I am still so inspired by my teachers and their ability to teach Aikdo with clarity, humor, enthusiasm, and mastery. How does one become a good teacher? A difficult question to answer because I think there are so many variables that come …

Continue reading "Developing Good Aikido Teachers – Whose Responsibility Is It?"