Aikido

  • Interview with Christian Tissier Shihan, 7th dan Aikikai
    August 17th, 2009By Guillaume Erard
    Christian Tissier Shihan is an Aikido instructor who holds the rank of 7th dan Aikikai. He spent over 7 years training daily at the Aikido World Headquarters in the 70’s and was the very first foreigner to have reached such a distinction (Shihan rank were reserved, until then, to Japanese instructors). » Continue Reading
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  • The necessity of critical thinking in Martial Arts
    August 11th, 2009By Guillaume Erard
    As a scientist, I have often encountered teachers who considered the epistemological approach as an aberration in the study of a Budo, sometimes even like an insult directed towards their work or their own persona. Today, I would like to discuss the benefits there are in studying a Japanese martial » Continue Reading
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  • Introduction to the Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu, the roots of Aikido
    August 7th, 2009By Guillaume Erard
    The more I spend time in Tokyo practicing at the Aikikai, the more I realize that the world of Aikido is indeed very small. The beauty of this is that it is during random encounters and acquaintances that we make the most crucial experiences for our personal development. Such an acquaintance » Continue Reading
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  • Why Budo is not supposed to work in real fights
    August 3rd, 2009By Guillaume Erard
    Please accept my apologizes for the voluntarily provocative title but I think it sums up well what a little research on the word Budo can teach you. The word Budo is now ubiquitous in the popular culture and it is safe to say that along with sushi, karaoke, bonsai and manga, » Continue Reading
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  • A gaijin’s first Aikido practice at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo
    July 30th, 2009By Guillaume Erard
    Practicing at the World headquarters of the Aikikai foundation is a dream shared by many foreign Aikidoka. In my case, I had to wait for nearly 13 years to see this dream fulfilled. I would like to share this experience and perhaps encourage fellow martial artists to do the same. » Continue Reading
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  • Aikido, Part III: The Secret of Sweep
    May 29th, 2009By Blewing
    The children all ran to a line of brooms waiting at the left side of the dojo, and the rest of the students ran to the front. They started to sweep the mats, pushing the dirt from left to right making their way down their designated column of mats then handed » Continue Reading
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  • Aikido, Part II – The Intermission
    May 21st, 2009By Blewing
    I was partnered with a sweet boy from the local university (Kagawa University). His face was dark, and his hair was expertly separated with wax into the spiky chunks only the cool guys can pull off. He did not speak much English… at all, but his smile was encouraging. We watched as the » Continue Reading
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  • Aikido, Part I – So it began
    April 24th, 2009By Blewing
    photo credit: Michael Cornelius I was lucky that my Japanese friend helped me find an Aikido dojo, and offered to take me there early so I could meet the sensei, or teacher. It was my first time joining any kind of club outside of Canada, and I had no idea what to expect. » Continue Reading
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