Striking is often overlooked or omitted from aikido. Was this always the case? We discuss this topic as well as bringing striking back and integrating it with aikido training.

For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:

http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline

Paypal tipjar:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Etiquette is used both as a method for showing respect and for safe practices. Etiquette and respect can go too far and create a negative experience, sometimes driving people away.

In this discussion, we take on the elephant in the room of when it can go too far.

For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:

http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline

Paypal tipjar:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

We discuss adjusting your training to make your aikido more martially viable, useful and practical for self-defense.

For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:

http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline

Paypal tipjar:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Our discussion goes into depth about the widely held belief that aikido is purely defensive in nature. Is it fact or myth - or somewhere in between?

Edit: My apologies. The intro from the previous episode is at the beginning, but the interview is the one with Ellis Amdur, not Remy Helgesen.

For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:

http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline

Paypal tipjar:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Misunderstandings and myths about what violence is, how it goes, and how to handle it are common among martial artists of all kinds. We discuss real violence and how understanding it better positively affects our martial arts training.

For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:

http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline

Paypal tipjar:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

We discuss Dunken's video series, going into the topics he covers in greater detail.

Aikido of Silverdale's playlist of the video series:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA520V4pOPWKrvo27LauSOC8qiPQKH7hK

For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:

http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline

Paypal tipjar:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

It is often said of aikido that it doesn't require strength. Is this strictly true? Not necessarily.

For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:

http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline

Paypal tipjar:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

All arts evolve, sometimes for good and sometimes not. Steven Scott and I discuss how martial arts training are evolving, both for good and bad.

For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:

http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline

Paypal tipjar:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

There are many times in history when martial arts changed significantly. From how arts evolved in terms of function, as well as how they are perceived by the public, these changes in the times led to revolutions in how the martial arts were practiced and how they became popular - or lost their popularity.

Are we currently at such a point in history?

For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:

http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline

Paypal tipjar:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

All arts have great things to offer, but also have their drawbacks.

We go through a number of martial arts and provide an overview breakdowns of their advantages and weaknesses. These can give you ideas for good arts to cross train in or which art(s) which may suit your own particular interests.

For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:

http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline

Paypal tipjar:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

It is often taught that Aikido's heritage was the ancient Japanese battlefield, where it's techniques were born. Is this true?

This episode is a conversation which is a follow up to the previous episode (ep. 167) with Ellis Amdur where he goes into the history of aikido back as far as Sokaku Takeda.

In this episode, we go back much farther into Japanese history and cover the development of the samurai, their weapons, and armor.

A link to Ellis' book, which we discuss on the show - Old School: Essays on Japanese Martial Traditions (Expanded Edition)

https://edgeworkbooks.com/old-school/

For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:

http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline

Paypal tipjar:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Facing someone who is faster than you are seems impossible to survive, but speed can be countered. We can train to be fast ourselves, but there will always be someone faster.

For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:

http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline

Paypal tipjar:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Reg shares his background with live weapons training and how it helped him improve his aikido and both self-defense and self-protection skills.

For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:

http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline

Paypal tipjar:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

It is commonly believed and stated that aikido is about conflict management. Is it true and does aikido training really cover conflict management skills?

There is more to it than meets the eye.

For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:

http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline

Paypal tipjar:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

What is the martial mindset and how should martial artists use it within our training.

For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:

http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline

Paypal tipjar:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Budo, the way of the warrior, is the underlying principle of the martial arts path. We explore Budo in this in depth discussion.

For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:

http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline

Paypal tipjar:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

We discuss the state of aikido prior to covid, the impact of covid, and where aikido may go from here.

For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:

http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline

Paypal tipjar:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Our discussion goes into detail about the role irimi (entering) plays in aikido, and how necessary it is to be balanced with more passive movements and tactics.

For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:

http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline

Paypal tipjar:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Ki is probably the most confusing word in all of the martial arts. It is also a major red flag which may point out a charlatan instructor.

We will dig in and try to get to the bottom of the issue of ki.

For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:

http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline

Paypal tipjar:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Our discussion covers the timings of attack (go no sen, sen, sen no sen, and sensen no sen) and their relationship to self-defense.

For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:

http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline

Paypal tipjar:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG