Why This Blog?

Aikido, as founded by Morihei Ueshiba has become many things to many people.

Mostly it has departed from his vision of developing an harmonious humanity in all spheres, and is often seen as only the development of protection skills, which is what makes the care and nurture, art and science then possible. This is the essential attribute, but there are other arts and sciences which achieve this. Conversely, in some spheres it has transmogrified into a dancey mimicry of form without understanding, purpose or direction which is inexplicable in that it is not applicable in any practical manner.

But Ueshiba's vision is not dead by any means. While some talk a lot, others chat, many indulge petty politicking and other shenanigans using the label of Aikido and its fame to their own ends, there exists a quiet multitude who simply LOVE and LIVE AIKIDO daily in real life!
O.K., what is Aikido?

Born in blood, guts and stench of the old warring states of feudal Japan as Aiki jutsu, a cutting edge survival art, it evolved over time as a superlative methodology for the outnumbered and the weaker to render skillfully.

Survival and evolution is at our core as sentient beings. The Aiki attitude enables us to this end in the best and most sustainable way. Aikido is love, all love, from human to universal love. And love, as all the enlightened continually strive to remind us is what binds and protects all existence and everything in it.

That is the, "old operating system" embedded in our genes, our structure and our making. The new operating system is an earned gift. Without negating the old foundation it unfurling and embedding was the result of a lifetime of immense personal discipline, training and progressive enlightenment of its founder, Morihei Ueshiba. A unique individual. Even in his eighties he said, "This old man must keep practicing, training, refining and serving the world.." His vision was unique and far reaching. His methodology was not overly structured but based on the core simplicity of what we are and how we best move and interact as human beings.

The "new operating system," a total paradigm shift, a practically applicable paramount ethic, was as if he had plucked an immense, previously thought-to-be-impossible treasure from the future and installed it into the world of today: This he named Aikido! The Way of Harmony.

Aikido is a means of regular personal training extending the body and mind in unison and the unlocking of deep inner discovery of our true selves. On this journey, this quest, Ueshiba allowed everyone their entitled freedom to choose, to make and to forge their own path. Each life is unique and filled with immense potential. Aikido is a means to unlock the power of possibility. But only you can find out what works best for you. As in all things there are basics, but how you compile, how you arrange and strategize your journey of becoming your truest and best self, is up to you.
Since strife, contention and contest stifle the fullness of being and expression, the primary is the ultimate power of the universe itself: Harmony! Through Aikido practice we can find harmony within ourselves, where its seed must first sprout and be born before it can vivify the world.

It is within each living being's realm of possibility to become enabled to extend harmony into the world. The question is: Do you have what it takes to get aboard your own ship and captain it through the many currents, moods and madness of this world? That, is entirely up to you! It can be done. You can do it! We live in a critical and discordant time. One that it has become possible for our intentions to be augmented by mass influencing technology and action with far reaching consequences. No longer are swords to the valid weapon wherewith to protect all you love, but the sharply honed blade of lucid MIND augmented by SKILL!

Body and mind conjoined harmonizing with skill constitutes Ai Ki. On the Way, Michi or Do you can access infinite power, wisdom and love You can deploy this infinite potency as you see fit. Aikido could not have arrived a moment sooner. The world needs all the real harmony it can get.

The consequences we need to generate in order to turn humanity from the abyss is now in all our hands, individually and collectively. We will arrive at our trajectory. Whatever that turns out to be, it is we who are making it. The power of choice will determine where that will be. How we live our lives will be the determinant.

Never underestimate the immense power of a small right action. It is in your hands! When the collective of many small right actions generate enough credit and hits saturation point, the reaction in the world is transforming for the whole planet.

It may not always be easy. Although all you need to do is show up and train, there are many byways and distractions that are not either harmony or the purpose of Aikido. These will attempt to detract you from the path. Not somebody else’s path, BUT YOUR OWN PATH, the mission in life for which you were born.

Aikido is ultimate freedom. Smashing the Matrix forever. Lack thinkers fear it. Abundance thinkers get addicted to unlocking more.

You can find Morihei's history better articulated within the numerous articles of Aikido Journal and some books. Ueshiba left a legacy. As he lay dying he said, "Thank you for helping me learn and grow. Take what I have developed and explore it further.." no cult, no dogma, no manipulation, simply universal principles hidden in plain sight for the sincere to notice at will. And then to follow your own heart taking intuition and common sense with you, to unlock the secrets of Nature and The Universe to live a better life adding value to the world everyone else shares with you.

I hope that these modest musings here given freely, will inspire you, challenge you, cause you to think and enable you live outside the box, outside the matrix of the manipulation of others. And that herein you may find keys that will serve to not openly augment your dojo training, but also enable you to increase as a leader of yourself!

As with your life journey, how you approach your inner work is for you to choose. Whatever arts, sciences, meditations and methodologies you choose to augment your personal path must be for you to find, evaluate, select and commit to.

Remember, the universe, nature and our very first ancestors emerged from challenge. Harmony is not ease or a vacation. Harmony is meeting challenges despite the fear, with deep love. Whatever you choose as your Aikido, yoga or personal skill discipline will be foundational.

Ideas are only ideas. At best they may serve as reminders. Without experience they are merely someone else's hot air.

Train regularly. Notice. Refine skill. Question everything. Then go again and refine some more. Form your own conclusions in all things. Re-evaluate as necessary, as all things change either to decay or to refine.

Meet yourself and become who you really are each day, an extraordinarily powerful fragment of the universal life force navigating the great universe as an instrument of that immensity adding to all that is good, beautiful and true within yourself and here on earth where you now find yourself.

This is the Aikido of all things.

I hope that you will enjoy these modest notes. Take from them only those things that resonate and work best for you. Discard the rest.