Over the years I’ve heard the statement made that Aikido is “without form”. I believe that this is a result of both misinterpretation of O-Sensei’s views and misunderstanding of Aikido pedagogy. My views are distinctly influenced by my Iwama Style background, but I think O-Sensei left quite a bit of evidence behind indicating that while HIS Aikido was without form, the path to getting to “Aikido without form” is not devoid of intense focus on form.
Tag Archives: Iwama Style Aikido
Zanshin (Remaining Mind) – Cultivating a Budo Mindset (Part 2)
This is the first installment in a five post series discussing the role of “mindset” in serious Budo training. This post discusses “Zanshin”, or “Remaining Mind”.
Shoshin (Beginner’s Mind) – Cultivating a Budo Mindset (Part 1)
This is the first installment in a five post series discussing the role of “mindset” in serious Budo training. This post discusses “Shoshin”, or “Beginner’s Mind”.
Aikido is a Martial Art…
There are some commonly held, and evolving, misconceptions about Aikido, some of which are held by Aikido practitioners. The Aikido of Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei is a martial art. It’s not a “health system” or a form of “dance”. This post discusses these misconceptions.
Iwama Style Aikido… The One True Path…
Studying Iwama-Style Aikido is a true path to understanding the legacy that O-Sensei left behind.
