09/12/2025
Remember that practicing aikido in the dojo is not necessarily practice focused for a street fight.
We are teaching our bodies ‘tai sabaki’ (learning to acutely manage our own bodies), based around movement that is counter intuitive, while restricted to a set of principles. Practice can emphasize a Budo aspect, or it can focus on a more ‘energetic’ control over uke. It can visually appear primarily direct or aesthetic depending on the inherent value in regards to what is emphasized.
Skill is attained as mindful awareness in movement becomes embodied and intuitive - not reflexive, unconscious and incidental.
These aspects might display aikido as more of a ‘survival/defensive’ art as opposed to mass orientation toward ‘crush and destroy’. Yet aikido can be budo as well as spiritual, martial as well as energetic. These varied approaches do exist, but note that all schools manage the same set of principles. Being able to learn the versatility in governing movement from all approaches -while maintaining set principles and philosophy- creates that lifetime of layered learning.
The curious who are drawn to a more peaceful resolution of conflict, the counter intuitive precision of movement, and the study regarding energetic parameters, might be more inclined to remain devoted to this art.
The fortunate circumstance is that there are many other excellent martial arts to choose from in regards to fulfilling our own individual needs.
Whatever discipline, note that it is the quality of attention toward our own earnest and sincere study that promotes continuing progress.
Beware of the distractions.
G. Breeland, 6th dan
