Aikido Success Blueprint

AIKIDO SUCCESS BLUEPRINT

FAST-TRACK YOUR AIKIDO TRAINING SKILLS

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INTRODUCTIONWelcome to Your Ebook... 'Aikido Success Blueprint', it is written and presented by Tony J. Wilden from the Aikido Health Centre.

You can Fast- T rack your Aikido skill levels by using these tips and techniques in your daily prac tic e.

In this Ebook we will focus on the key areas you will need to look at in order to achieve Aikidosuc cess. Here we give you an overview of the main subjec ts in the Aikido Suc cess Blueprint. Ofc ourse, we will also inc lude other important information, along the way, that you may need on yourjourney.

It is important not to overlook these important steps otherwise you may spend weeks, months, oreven years in unnec essary training patterns without gaining the valuable skills you want and need.

There are many pitfalls you will want to avoid, that c an bloc k your path to peak performance levelsand excellent Aikido skills. In the 'Aikido Suc cess Blueprint' we will focus in depth on the followingsubjec ts...

How To Choose Your Aikido Instructor.

Focus Your Mind on Aikido.

Remove Ego from Aikido.

Aikido Ukemi & Breakfalls.

Learning Aikido Techniques.

Analyzing Aikido Posture and Form.

Aikido Pressure Points.

Studying Aiki Principles.

Aikido Life Lessons.

Aikido Harmony.

Summary.

These are the main areas we will be spotlighting in this Ebook, but many other important issues willalso be c overed along the road, so stay tuned and buc kle up for a fasc inating ride!

SOME OF THE PITFALLS TO AVOIDIN YOUR AIKIDO TRAINING

There are several areas that will reduce the speed you c an learn the art of Aikido. Some of them canblock your path completely and stop you from achieving your ultimate goal. After all, the amount ofeffort to do it right is very similar to the amount of effort to do it wrong.

If you want to fast- track your Aikido skills, then it is important to have a good level of health... seemy Optimum Health Sec rets Ebook Collec tion for detailed info on the best ways to achieve powerfulenergy.

Y our fitness levels should be above average to speed up your Aikido development proc ess. T his willinc lude your ability to truly relax, flexibility, stamina, speed, and strength. These can all be vastlyimproved by regular and c orrec t exerc ise.

I highly recommend... walking, swimming, c yc ling, jogging (rebounder), stretching, yoga, tai chi, and ofc ourse Aikido as excellent ways to prepare yourself for training.

If you do not have a good level of general health and fitness, then your Aikido training hours will notbe focused on improving your skill levels, and this will reduce your ability to learn the techniques,postures and princ iples in a fast and effic ient manner.

I will inform you about more of the pitfalls on your journey to Aikido Excellence throughout this Ebook.

STUDY THE ART OF AIKIDO BEFORE YOU BEGIN TRAINING

In my opinion, if you have made a dec ision to begin an Aikido training program, then it is a good idea tomake a study of the art, and all of the possible paths you c an take during your individual journey.

Remember when c onsidering the style of Aikido, and Instruc tor you will train with, who you may bewith for many years to c ome, it is very important to make an informed and right dec ision beforehand.

If you do not c onsider these details properly you may find yourself with regrets later. The following is ashort overview of the possible paths you may dec ide to take on your Aikido journey...

The founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, taught many different ways of understanding Aikido during hislifetime. He began with a hard, powerful Aiki- Jujutsu style, and after many years developed the soft,flowing style. Remember that his soft Aiki style was just as effec tive, in selfdefense terms.

All of the following styles c ame direc tly from the teachings of Morihei Ueshiba...

1 - T raditional Aikikai - as taught by the Ueshiba family.

2 - Ki Aikido - as taught by Koichi Tohei.

3 - Yoshinkan Aikido - as taught by Gozo Shioda.

4 - Iwama Aikido - as taught by Morihiro Saito.

There are many more styles and excellent individual instruc tors available depending on your needs, butthese are the main ones. Both Aikikai and Ki Aikido are more intellec tual and thoughtful approaches tothe art. Y oshinkan and Iwama Aikido are harder, prac tic al styles for selfdefense purposes.

How will I know? ... I hear you ask!

Well what are YOU drawn towards, there your answers will be found. I rec ommend that you read andwatch a selec tion of Aikido Books and Dvds to help you dec ide what Aikido path is best for you .

One does not need buildings, money, power or status to prac tice the art ofpeace. Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is the place to train

The sec ret of Aikido is not in how you move your feet, it is how you move your mind. I'm not teaching you martial techniques, I'm teaching you non-violence "

Master Morihei Ueshiba

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HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR

AIKIDO INSTRUCTOR

Like many martial arts c lasses, aikido c an be found in most town's and c ity's around the world.However, trac king down a good aikido instruc tor c an be a real c hallenge. Y ou may be training with aninstruc tor for many years to c ome, so it is very important to do some serious research before youbegin.

Choosing the right Aikido Instruc tor is one of the most important dec isions you must make, and whatyou dec ide c ould put you on a fast- trac k to suc c ess or lead to a bloc ked path. There are lots ofpoints you will want to think about, and you may wish to c onsider some of the following questions...

AIKIDO INSTRUCTOR QUESTIONS

Many of the answers to these questions will be found by asking an instruc tor direc tly, or found in thec lub leaflets or flyers. Y ou may get further information from senior students etc . These answers willhelp remove some of the doubts and give you the peace of mind and c onfidence in your dec ision.

1 - How long has the instruc tor been training, and what is their rank?

Answer... 7- 10 years of training and a 2nd Dan with a recognized organization is the minimum youshould c onsider enough experienc e to teach you.

2 - Have they completed an Aikido instruc tor training course?

Answer... If the instruc tor has not taken the time to c omplete a recognized aikido instruc tor trainingcourse, then you should not c onsider training with them, they are not qualif ied to teach you.

3 - Who are their aikido instruc tors, affiliations, and governing body?

Answer - Find out who taught them and research (google) the bac kground of the instruc tor, theirinstruc tors, and the organization. If they do not have a solid history, it is not wise to train with them.

4 - Does the instruc tor have public liability insurance?

Answer - If they are not fully c overed with public liability insurance, then you may not be protec ted.This insurance is usually expec ted to cover them for $2-10 million.

5 - Is the aikido instruc tor first-aid qualified?

Answer - If they, and their assistants are not first- aiders, then your safety is at risk, as sometimestraining ac c idents happen and you may need protec tion.

6 - Have they had a CRB (c riminal records bureau) check, or equivalent?

Answer - You need to know if they have a c riminal record, as this may seriously affec t your safety.

7 - How do they conduc t their c lasses?

Answer - the c lasses may be disc iplined or relaxed, or somewhere in between, as there are manydifferent ways of teaching the art of Aikido. The main point to notic e is that the students andinstruc tors must show respec t for each other. If any amount of 'bullying' takes plac e, that is notcorrec ted by the instruc tor - leave.

8 - What is their training and grading schedule?

Answer - There must be a training syllabus that you c an work with, a list of techniques for eachgrading level. This way you will know how far along the road you are, at any given time. Manytraditional c lasses do not have c olour belt grading's below blac k belt, but will still have a trainingsc hedule.

9 - Do they offer access to other aikido dojo's?

Answer - If visits to other dojo's and seminars are not available, be suspic ious. They are essential, tolearn a variety of ideas from many different students and instruc tors.

10 - What is their personal background, and life experience?

Answer - An Aikido Instruc tor may have experience of other martial arts or self defense, this c ould behelpful. A more mature instruc tor will have more life experience and more likely to have important lifeskills and other info to pass on to you.

11 - Do they have a Holistic approach to their teaching?

Answer - Some instruc tors have a more balanced approach to their aikido teaching. In other words,they are not just passing on tec hniques that they were taught, but also Aiki Princ iples and health andharmony issues?

SUMMARY

Once you have made your dec ision on whic h aikido instruc tor to train with, you may want to beginwith a short period of instruc tion to make sure that what is being offered meets your partic ular needs.It's important to allow a testing period before spending a lot of time with an instruc tor.

Of c ourse, if it doesn't feel right, move on to another aikido instruc tor who will serve your needsbetter. If you live in an area that doesn't allow you much choic e, then you would be better off totravel further, than tolerate a poor instruc tor.

Aiki is the power of harmony, of all beings, all things working together.Relentlessly train yourself - followers of the way


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FOCUS YOUR MIND ONAIKIDO TRAINING

In this c hapter I will inc lude some of the best mind power tips and tools, that I have found, to helpyou achieve fast results with your training.

As you may know aikido has many different levels of skill training built in to the prac tic e. In fac t thereare so many aspec ts to the art that it c an become very c onfusing and diffic ult to know where to focusyour mind during regular prac tic e. Here are some of the areas you will need to c oncentrate on...

1 - Remembering exac tly where you should be and what you should be doing at all times in the dojo.This will inc lude etiquette, and how to c onduc t your behavior while in the dojo (and in life).

2 - Concentrating on your hara, posture or form, and how to improve your ability to c ontrol your mindand body movements together.

3 - Focusing on how you should be c onnec ting with your training partners, whether nage (performer oftechnique) or uke (receiver of technique).

4 - The c oncentration required to remember hundreds of different techniques that you must performwhen your instruc tor asks you to.

5 - Understanding the theory and princ iples involved in the art of aikido.

6 - Developing the mental c apac ity to go on to become an aikido instruc tor yourself.

As you c an see, the list goes on and you soon realize that it may be a lifetime of study. In fac t it wasfor Morihei Ueshiba and is for many Aikido Masters and Instruc tors. The tric k is learning how tomentally plac e all of these subjec ts in your mind, in a way that c an be ready to ac c ess at any momentin time.

MIND POWER DISTRACTIONS

So, we have established that it is diffic ult to learn all of the aspec ts of the art of aikido in a shortperiod of time. But, is it possible to fast- trac k your training and avoid unnecessary delays and bloc ksalong your path to aikido excellenc e?

YES, I believe there are several key ways to achieve this. But before we look at some of them morec losely, lets think about what may be slowing down the learning proc ess

The human mind c an only c oncentrate fully on one thing at a time. It appears that it c an do more, buthas developed the skill of jumping from one thing to another very quic kly. So, the less it has to thinkabout the faster it will pic k up and learn new things.

Y our mind focuses on what it needs to c omplete the task that you put before it, so how c an you takeaway some of the distrac tions that will c ome up? If you solve the following issues then your mind c anfocus on the more important parts of your aikido training, whic h will speed up the learning process. 1 - Be very enthusiastic to achieve a high level of skill and aim for your goals.

2 - You must be fit enough for it not to be an issue during your aikido training.

3 - Y ou should have good stamina, c ore strength, flexibility, and be able to relax.

4 - Y ou should be willing to help your training partners and students on the path.

5 - To help your instruc tor in any way you c an and get involved in your c lub or organization.

6 - Release and let go of any worries, anxieties, or problems in daily life while training.

If you solve the above issues, outside of the dojo, then you will be able to foc us your mind power onthe key skills required for peak performance in the dojo. This will speed up your ability to learn.

FOCUS YOUR MIND POWER

Well, so far we have looked at many of the different aspec ts of aikido training, and how to reducemental distrac tions. Now, its time to look at some of the best ways to develop your skills in aikido.

T he human mind learns new things by thought and repetition. So the fastest way to learn is to foc usyour thoughts on what you are doing and repeat it over and over again until it becomes a fixed skill.T his repetitive behavior tends to become boring, but if you stop focusing your mind on the inc reasingdetail of what you are doing, that is when you stop learning.

Who is in control here, You or your mind?

Mind is just a tool for your use. If you don't disc ipline it and use it, it will use you. So the use ofwillpower is essential, in the beginning, until the habit is formed.

This is why so many aikido instruc tors c hop and c hange the training techniques so often, as they c ansee a glazed look c ome over the students fac es, when they bec ome bored with what they arec overing. T he wise instruc tors allow the students to c ontinue with the same tec hniques long enoughto c ontrol their minds, and improve techniques each time they are c overed.

So, now we have established that you must c ontrol your mind and disc ipline it to work for you. Irecommend that you focus your mind on one thing at a time, study it, learn it, and digest it, until itbec omes a habit and then move on to the next. Once you have done this you have taken a large leaptowards fast- trac king the development of your aikido skills to a c ompletely new level.

Standing amidst heaven and earth, connec ted to all things with Ki,My mind is set, on the path of echoing all things




REMOVING EGOFROM AIKIDO

Here we turn the spotlight on how to truly attac k (uke) and defend (nage), without the interference ofarrogance and ego. We do this by releasing, letting go and putting it aside.

Aikido students and instruc tors should not try to c ompete with each other. Competition c omes fromthe animal drive to be superior to others by beating them. It often feels good when you beat someoneelse, until you realize that such a feeling is merely one of petty c onceit and ego.

We train to put the ego aside and rise above our animal mentality. We aim to be better today than wewere yesterday, and don't train to try and appear better than others by putting other people down.The aim should be to escape our built- in animal instinc ts (lower self), and become truly human (higherself).

Competition is just ego returning to animal behavior, much the way animals behave when fighting overfood, but humans tend to do it for attention instead. T raining and living from your higher self is toc ooperate and help other people for mutual benefit.

People born in the West, tend to be more c ompetitive, and are brought up to believe that winning isgood and losing is bad, such as in c ompetitive sports that have too much ego invested in theoutcome.

This c an be a major hurdle in Aikido training for people who are egotistic and self- c entered as theymay feel intimidated by senior students with a higher skill level. If people of this nature c annot puttheir ego aside and begin to train genuinely they will usually drop out of c lass.

Because of the fluid nature of Aikido, students should not resist the flow of the technique's movement.A beginner in Aikido will be able to advance much faster if they learn how to safely rec eive thetechniques as soon as possible. T his involves going with the movement and learning how to protec t

themselves and fall safely with good ukemi.

The egocentric , c ompetitively natured person often wishes to achieve their little ego- vic tories bypreventing their partner from throwing them. When a T eacher or senior student sees this happeningthey will attempt to explain why the technique must not be resisted.

In a real c ombat or selfdefense situation, if someone resists, then the movement flows into anothertechnique. Or if the movement has been c ompletely resisted we would 'relax' the attac ker, bydistrac ting them with a strike to a nerve c enter.

During my many years as a student and instruc tor, I have met many people who always had to resistand c ompete. T hat type of person often enjoys hurting other people, and many students try to avoidtraining with them.

If the Instruc tor is good, they will attempt to c hange this ego viewpoint through a variety of means. Ifunsuc c essful they will then strongly encourage the unwilling student to leave the Dojo (for the benefitof all). Of c ourse I have met Instruc tors who turn a blind eye to the situation, regarding it as part ofthe learning proc ess for everyone... this is unac ceptable.

When pressure to c hange is put on people with too muc h ego and a resistant attitude, they tend toeither c hange or drop out of c lass fairly quic kly. Many people are resistant to techniques in a moresubtle way, and this is still the ego c oming through from the subconsc ious mind.

Gradually after plenty of prac tic e and experience in the art of Aikido it is possible to almost remove egocompletely. This c an be an enlightening experience where training becomes easier, relaxed and muchmore enjoyable. Of c ourse, the more relaxed you are the faster you will learn.

RELEASE THE ARROGANT ' I ' AND LET THE E - GO

As you may know pain is a way to c ause growth and learning in Aikido, and it also direc tly encouragesyou to move away from it, but c an also c ause ego resistance. If you c an learn to ac c ept the pain inyour training and move instantly away from it then it is very brief, and useful for learning. If you do notadjust to pain immediately it c auses resistance in you... ego then shows its ugly head.

So out of suffering c omes relief and answers, but the learning proc ess c an slow down, as you c an getused to experienc ing pain as a c ertain buzz of disc omfort. This will slow you right down on your path,so try to avoid and move away from pain rather than ac cepting it. Complaining about our c irc umstances is just an ego outlet that feeds the majority of people. Y ou maycatch yourself doing it and even attempting to justify it when you do. Fear and ego c an c reatejealousy, hate, inferiority c omplex, worry, etc . Just as love is the cure, fear is what entangles us. Loveis ac c eptance of yourself first and foremost, so you c an reach out and love others.

How can you love others if you inwardly dislike or even hate yourself. The root problem is fear whichdrags you down, and the solution is love. So, you must c ontinue to watch yourself, but not judge, soyou c an reflec t on the choic es you make.

Through c ontinuous, regular training you learn to c reate positive new habits. Y ou are then moreinterested in the training experienc e of your fellow students, always trying to help improve each othersskills. T his takes your training to a higher level, where you c an develop fast, as there are no roc ks and

boulders of resistance on your path to self- disc overy.

In this way you learn to self- analyze, c hange your own bad habits and adopt better ways of doingthings. This is one of the major ways to separate animals from human beings. Bad habits c an be brokenand replac ed with good habits, through foc used prac tic e.

When you first c ome to Aikido you learn a whole new way of doing things. Y ou kneel and bow at thebeginning and end of c lass to remind yourself that the aim is to respec t all of life and remove ego. Youmust be empty-minded with no expec tations.

Y ou should aim to reduce verbal c ommunic ation and learn with your body so that techniques c an flownaturally from within yourself. Y ou have to teach your body new ways of moving and learn to extend Kienergy instead of relying on musc le strength.

Y ou c an also get new ways of learning by watc hing and listening with foc us and intent so that notonly do you see the tec hniques being demonstrated, but also feel how to do them within yourself.

Aikido is as infinite as the vastness of spac e and as in- depth as the studies of human behavior andrelationships. It inc ludes many ways for you to become a better person and the potential for helping tomake the world a better and more peaceful plac e.

With your right hand showing yang andyour left hand showing yin, lead your opponent "




AIKIDO UKEMI & BREAKFALLS

Aikido training is based on two partners prac tic ing pre- arranged forms (kata) rather than freestyleprac tic e. The basic pattern is for the rec eiver of the technique (uke) to start an attac k against thethrower (nage), who c ontrols it with an aikido technique.

Both halves of the technique, that of uke and that of nage, are c onsidered essential to aikido training,and both are studying aiki princ iples of blending. Nage learns to blend with and c ontrol attac kingenergy, while uke learns to become c alm and flexible in a disadvantaged, off- balanced position.

Uke c ontinuously seeks to regain balanc e and c over weak areas, while nage uses position and timing tokeep uke off- balance and weak. In more advanced training, uke will sometimes attempt to applyreversal tec hniques to regain balanc e.

Of the two roles that exist in aikido, the one that most aikido students focus on is the role of thenage, whic h is the easiest to understand and puts us in the 'winning position'. In the West, peoplehave been taught all of their lives to win, and losing makes them feel bad.

In reality, winning and losing are two parts of the same positive and negative energy (Y in/Yang). Wewin, we lose... this is life itself. We c an see both, not as mistakes, but as a lesson to learn more aboutlife. There is no losing, only life lessons that develop experience and charac ter.

WHY IS AIKIDO UKEMI SO IMPORTANT ?

Ukemi prac tic e involves rolls and other breakfalls. Here are a few of the reasons why we prac tic eukemi in Aikido, and why it is so important...

1 - T o stay safe, not only to avoid injury in the c onfrontation, but to be aware of what is going onthroughout the whole enc ounter to be able to f ind and respond to openings and, perhaps, to esc ape.

2 - T o experienc e the throw. Part of the learning proc ess must be to understand what the 'other' sideof the encounter is - what does it feel like to be tied up in a partic ular technique? To observe theother person's technique, partic ularly if nage is a senior student or teacher.

3 - T o learn to listen with your body. To throw well requires sensitivity to your partner. Often you areso c aught up in the ac tive role of nage that you forget to be rec eptive to your partner and move in away that harmonizes with uke. By being uke you get a c hance to rec eive and ac c ept body movement.

4 - T o assist your partner to learn. Being a good uke means maintaining the c onnec tion with nage, andallowing nage to experienc e that c onnec tion and to really experienc e the tec hnique. Being a good ukeallows nage to perform the tec hnique without worrying about injuries.

5 - To c ondition the body. Taking good ukemi requires a lot of work to stay c onnec ted, flexible,aware.

After plenty of Ukemi prac tic e, you may c ome to an understanding of the positive and negative flow oflife energy. This vital life force is often called Ki, Chi, Prana, Magnetism, Energy etc .

This will further give you many insights into nature and the universe, that you c an take and use inyour daily life. After all Aikido is not just an effec tive martial art, it is also an ethic al and moral way orpath.

Good Ukemi is moving through a technique looking for an opportunity to educate youropponent/partner, whic h raises both persons skill levels. Once you welc ome, allow and ac c ept energy,as it is, then you can take control by leading it.

UKEMI SKILLS

These skills c an inc lude moves similar to tumbling and are often used as an exerc ise in itself. In aikidotraining many c lasses begin with ukemi training as c onditioning exerc ises

1 - Zempo Ukemi, a forward roll, like a ball, ending on the feet, in a ready stance.

2 - Zempo Hyaku Ukemi, a forward breakfall, usually higher and further, using the arm to protec t thebody on landing, ending on the feet in a ready posture.

3 - Koho Ukemi, a backward half roll, returning to the feet, like a pendulum, in a ready position.

4 - Koho Kaiten Ukemi, a backward roll, ending on the feet, in a ready stance.

These are the basic methods used by Aikido uke to protec t themselves when they are thrown. Ofc ourse there are many variations, depending on the angle and power used by the nage (defender).

An essential ingredient of ukemi is awareness. The uke is able, with experience, to respond quic kly toany ac tion. T ruly graceful ukemi c omes from serious training with harmony between partners.

UKEMI THE ENERGY CONNECTION

Taking ukemi is far more than falling down, how to fall down, and about being thrown. It is about thephysic al and energy c onnec tion, the intention to attac k and the c ontinuation of that attac k. It is alsoabout looking for an opening to take bac k c ontrol after you have been unbalanc ed, c ontinuing theattac k while keeping yourself safe, and c onstant awareness of all that is around you.

This awareness and c onnec tion with your surrounding environment is often missing in prac tic e. It is farmore important to focus your attention on your training partner, than to look c ool and flashy, (ego).

In Aikido prac tic e both uke and nage are always attac king each other's c enter of gravity. Both mustkeep themselves safe, and find a way to take the other's balanc e, to keep the c onnec tion.

How should the rec eiver of a technique reac t? T aken too far one way, uke flinches from every strikeand rolls at the first sign of a throw. Too far the other way and nage is left with the c hoic e of eitherdoing it for real by breaking joints and noses, or walking away shrugging.

When a new student is first learning a technique, a partner may need to perform their side of thetechnique regardless of its effec tiveness. Alternatively, uke may need to resist a technique, perhapsto demonstrate a weakness in the tec hnique, or to disc over whether or not the tec hnique is effec tive.

The preferenc e is for an ac tive uke, who is pushing the boundaries of the tec hnique for weaknessesbut ac knowledging the ac tions of nage. If uke is suffic iently responsive it is possible for nage toperform techniques with c ommitment and integrity whilst uke survives to return another day.

Nage and uke form a partnership, and need good c ommunic ation between them in order to agree themanner in which to perform. How do you achieve that c ommunic ation? There's no substitute for mattime, but not just passively performing techniques. If you find that you are being thrown easily,question it, try staying on your feet, moving beyond nage or just plain resisting.

Does the technique still work? Constantly c hallenging your partner during training c an sometimes hurt,but at the end of it you will know what works and what doesn't.

Are you the uke that no one c an throw? Are you failing to be honest with your partner? Are youignoring his potential c ontrol or attac king with a punch that never c overs more than half thedistanc e?

Find a partner you trust, as on oc c asion, you are going to hurt each other, you need to both feelc onfident in the other. Work through some of the basic techniques with full c ommitment from bothsides. Find out what works and what doesn't. Onc e you've experienc ed and understood a c ommittedtechnique, bring that feeling into your training when techniques are being performed at a lowerintensity.

And above all, don't forget to relax, enjoy your training, have fun and smile!

Do not look upon this world with fear and loathing. Bravely face whatever the God's offer




LEARNINGAIKIDO TECHNIQUES

There are mental distrac tions to the learning proc ess, and your mind learns new things by thought andrepetit ion. So the fastest way to learn anything new is to foc us your thoughts on what you are doingand repeat it over and over again until it becomes a fixed skill and habit.

So, we have established that you must c ontrol your mind and disc ipline it to work for you. Irecommend that you focus your mind on one thing at a time, study it, learn it, digest it, and thenmove on.

We will now take a look at how you c an suc c essfully ac cumulate more and more techniques, withoutbeing overloaded, and in a way that your mind c an get fast ac c ess to them.

I rec ommend that you take a basic technique and work on it over and over again until you become anexpert on one tec hnique. T hen you just repeat the proc ess with the next basic tec hnique, and so on.After a few months you will have many techniques in your arsenal that are far more effec tive andpowerful than many students who have been prac tic ing for years, hopping from this and that.

If you c arry on this process over a number of years, you will go on to become an expert in the art ofaikido. This is how many of the top instruc tors have developed themselves to such a high level of skill.

Of c ourse, there is a c omplete system to learn, to the point where it bec omes sec ond nature to you.Once you achieve this level then you will be free to focus more on the aspec ts of aikido training thattend to be pushed to one side. T hese are the most interesting and the essenc e of Master MoriheiUeshiba O'Sensei's teachings. But first how to gather many techniques in your mind...

LEARNING LOTS OFAIKIDO TECHNIQUES

First of all it is essential to study the basic techniques, to the point where you c an perform themwhenever your instruc tor requires it of you. Lets look at these basic techniques in an orderly fashion,and see how you c an logic ally store them.

Your mind, in many ways is like a c omputer, and that c omputer c an be programmed to work fast,effic iently and without errors. Of c ourse, like a computer, if you do not set your mind up correc tly allsorts of problems c an oc cur. So, how do you set up your mind to store lots of technic al information?

Well, you use a simple filing system of c ourse!

And a good way of doing this is to c reate a Folder c alled Aikido Blueprint, whic h will have other foldersinside maybe called... Aikido Rules, Aikido Breakfalls, Aikido Techniques, Aikido Princ iples, Aikido SelfDefense, Aikido Freestyle and Aikido Misc ellaneous.

Now you have 1 main folder with 7 folders inside, and then you begin to build the information that youwill store inside, and make it simple and to the point. Any info that is vague, just put it in your Aikidomisc ellaneous folder, to be sorted later.

In order to easily remember each folder, you c an assoc iate them with c olors, images, sounds, numbers,etc . This is how the memory experts do it in order to ac cess the information fast. Of c ourse if you areperforming freestyle you will not use your brain to ac cess info, but reac t naturally to c irc umstances.

GATHERING AIKIDO TECHNIQUES

Now its time to open your Aikido techniques folder, and store the very basic techniques inside...Kokyu-ho, Kokyu-nage, Shiho-nage, Tenchi-nage, Irimi-nage, Kaiten-nage, Kote-gaeshi, Hiji- jime,Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo, Gokyo, etc .

Also inside this folder are two sub- folders, one with the Aikido attac ks... Katate, Kata, Y okomen,Shomen, Mune, Ushiro, etc . and the other with positive or negative movements... Ic hi (forward,positive, ac tive), Ni (backwards, negative, reac tive).

There are a few more tec hniques and attac ks to add to these lists, but I am sure that you get thepic ture. Once you have all of this info neatly stored in the files and folders of your mind, then withprac tise you will have easy ac cess to them, very fast... this is how I use it in my own personaltraining!

It may be diffic ult at first, but when you get the hang of it, you are much less likely to stand there like

a lemon with a glazed look on your fac e, when your instruc tor c alls out your techniques...

...Prac tise makes perfec t :)

Once you have all of these files and folders developed in your brain, and as you gather new aikidoinformation, you will now know exac tly where to store it for easy ac c ess. This way, you will get to thepoint where you have the basic s sorted out, where more interesting princ iples and advanc edtec hniques c an be worked on.

You c an be an Aikido expert, and the sure way to achieve it is to focus your mind, train hard and trainsmart. Of c ourse you will greatly improve your speed of learning if you also relax deeply, enjoy yourtraining and have fun.

Aikido is the manifestation of love




ANALYZINGPOSTURE AND FORM

In this c hapter we will examine some of the most important points regarding good posture and form.Correc t posture and how you hold yourself is vital to achieve suc c ess in your Aikido development.Creating and developing a good posture, one that will hold up while moving takes a lot ofc oncentration, in the beginning.

One of the best ways to gain benefit, is to separate posture and movement in order to work on eachaspec t separately. After some prac tise you c an then put them back together to perfec t your postureand movement as one.

So, what is good form? It is a way of holding yourself that allows you to move freely without losingyour balanc e. Having good posture will also allow you to apply power to your training partner(opponent, attac ker), at any time throughout the movement.

There are many different types of posture in the martial arts that are exc ellent for developing speed

and power in your movements. But many of them are only useful in a training atmosphere, a dojo, or ac ompetition with dozens of rules.

In reality, the posture you dec ide to prac tise needs to be able to func tion under extremely stressfulsituations. For example a real street fight or c ombat situation does not allow you the time to get intoposture. Y ou would have to reac t instantly to the c irc umstances you find yourself in, whic h will oftennot be ideal.

With this in mind, you c an now eliminate those types of posture that are not natural. This will leaveyou with only three c hoic es in how you hold yourself. A natural standing and walking posture will f lowbetween weight over the front foot, weight over the bac k foot, and weight in the middle.

You will find yourself moving through all three of these postures naturally as you go from plac e toplac e during your daily life. Breathing deeply and relaxing your weight down c reates stability andpower.

There are two basic aikido postures... migi Hanmi Kamae (right) and hidari Hanmi Kamae (left). Here aresome of the postures, stances, and spec ific positioning you will take with your attac ker during yourregular Aikido training...

Shizentai Kamae (natural), Migi Hanmi Kamae (right side forward), Hidari Hanmi Kamae (left sideforward), Ai Hanmi Kamae (same as attacker), Gyaku Hanmi Kamae (opposite to attacker), Ma-ai (safedistance), and your hand positions may be - Gedan (low), Chudan (natural), or Jodan (high).

AIKIDO POSTURES AND STANCES

In the early years of Aikido development, Master Morihei Ueshiba O'Sensei made a transition from theold Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu postures and forms. This was mainly with 60-70% of the weight over thefront foot with the front foot turned out, as seen in Aikido Yoshinkan. This type of prac tise helped todevelop a very strong posture.

Later on, as Aikido c ame out of the old forms, O'Sensei taught a more natural posture with the weightdistributed evenly between the front and bac k foot, and sometimes 60-70% over the bac k foot.Inc luded in this the front foot pointed straight forward, and sometimes pointed inwards slightly. Thistook some of the pressure away from the knees and was a more natural stanc e.

Of c ourse, there are many high ranking and highly qualif ied instruc tors who swear that their way isc orrec t. There are lots of positive and negative, plus and minus points for all of these differentpostures. The main thing to remember is that with lots of training, all are effec tive.

" It is not how you move your feet, but how you move your mind that matters "


Whether moving or standing still in Aikido, your body should feel strong and resilient, without unduetension or stiffness. Y our hands should be extended in front of you with your fingers slightly spread, aposture very similar to that adopted while holding a Japanese sword. Visualize your Ki (energy)projec ting out through your fingers.

The leading hand (on the same side as your front foot) guards the head and upper body, while theother hand protec ts the lower body and thighs. T ry to avoid lift ing your weight up and down as youstep. Be sure to keep your weight low and your movement fluid and even. Y our hips and shouldersshould remain at the same level as you move, and your spine should remain upright.

It c an help to visualize all of your motion as being c entered around a point a c ouple of inc hes belowyour navel this is c alled your hara or 'one point', and is your c enter of gravity.

If you need to get lower, keep your bac k upright and bend your legs, but don't bend over at the hips.This way you c an maintain your posture, without the risk of losing your balance.

CHOOSE YOUR POSTURE AND WORK ON IT

Aikido posture takes time to get used to, and you have to train until it feels natural to you. Thevarious sc hools of Aikido all have their own ideas on what good posture is and another point ofc onfusion is how to hold out your arms...

Firm Arms ... This dic tates stric t posture with arms somewhat forc efully extended. It c an be a usefulstarting point for beginners to get into the shape of Aikido from a mechanic al point of view.

Sword Arms ... Imagine holding a sword and stand ac cordingly to make posture. Naturally, it works alot better if you ac tually train with a bokken (wooden sword) from time to time. Sword work puts theposture and mind in order and c ontributes a lot to good Aikido technique. Some people don't putenough extension in the arms when holding and too much when striking.

Floppy Arms ... Because Aikido is supposed to take little effort, you should raise your arms intoposture with as little effort as possible, whic h is c onfusing at first. It helps with development as peopleuse the weight of their arms c ombined with speed of movement to make technique.

Heavy Arms ... Developing this is thought to be a sourc e of strength or power in technique, but sometend to overly c oncentrate on the arms and forget to apply heaviness to the rest of their body, as inweight dropping or weight shifting.

Extended arms The arms reach out naturally, without becoming absolutely straight or overextended. Correc t extension produces an unbendable arm. It c an be gentle, to the extent of seemingfloppy, or hard, to the extent of appearing stiff.

Correc tly extended arms offer a c lue to the true feeling of aiki, and all of the techniques of Aikido c anbe performed in this way. T o think only one of these methods to be c orrec t is to rob yourself of ideasthat might aid your development. Of c ourse, it is not only the arms, but the legs and body that alsoneed the same treatment, or 'ki extension'.

Posture is often thought to be the point of readiness before tec hnique begins but this kind of thinkingoffers only a limited view into the nature of posture. Rather, 'posture' should be there at every pointthroughout the technique, and in your daily life. As a keen aikido student you should look for key'posture' positions within a technique and aim to join them together in one powerful motion.

" The great universe is itself the way of ai-ki "




AIKIDO PRESSURE POINTS

T here are many areas of the body where intense pain develops when they are attac ked. At thesepoints, energy c an be transmitted into a nerve very effec tively, and as a result, they are known aspressure points or nerve c enters.

Pressure points of this type oc c ur where a nerve branch c onnec ts to a major nerve pathway or whereseveral major nerves join together to form a nerve plexus.

When such a point is stimulated by pressing or striking, the resulting pain registers on more than onenerve pathway. As a result, the brain rec eives signals from multiple nerves and the pain felt isamplified.

In Martial arts, nerve c enters or pressure points are used to disable and defeat opponents. However,the same points are used in ac upunc ture and ac upressure to heal the body and restore harmony.

Different pressure points respond to different kinds of stimulation. Some respond to striking, others topressing or rubbing. In addition, the angle at which a point is attac ked is c ritic al to proper ac tivation.In many c ases, the full effec t of pressure point ac tivation c an only be felt if the angle of attack issuch that the entire nerve plexus or c onnec tion is stimulated.

Nerve c enter pressure point attac ks are very effec tive in self defense situations. Some martial arts arebuilt almost entirely upon the applic ation of pressure point knowledge, but it should be used in additionto the art, not instead of it. T hese points are used to c ontrol or to quic kly inc apac itate an opponent.

Ac tivation of a pressure point c an c ause exc ruc iating pain c apable of making almost any adversarybac k down. When the pressure point is released, the pain subsides. T herefore, c omplianc e c an begained without inflic ting serious injury.

PRESSURE POINTS IN AIKIDO

Nearly all of the techniques of Aikido have the elements of pressure point strikes available in them.These c an be very useful in reduc ing the strength and focus of your attac kers, in order to suc c essfullyesc ape or apply a c ontrolling technique.

If the technique chosen, is the c orrec t c hoic e in the c irc umstances, and has perfec t timing, thenpressure point strikes will not be necessary. So most of us (who are learning to get our moves right),may have use of this information, even if it is just as a back up skill to your normal training experience.

In Aikido, 'Atemi' is the term used for a distrac ting strike to give you an advantage over your attacker.When distrac ted an attac ker may focus on your hand, or their pain, rather than their strike or grasp.

Some instruc tors insist on more rigorous definitions such as only strikes to pressure points.

In this c ontext, you c ould regard atemi as 'Ki energy disturbance'. Y ou may not even need to touchthe attac ker with your atemi to upset their physic al and psychologic al balance. Some c laim that thebest way to unbalanc e an attac ker is to deliver a real strike, espec ially where there is potential forstrong resistanc e, as in a real street c ombat situation. Be sure to inc lude a distrac ting Ki- ai (shout), at the same time as your atemi strike. This is likely tohave a greater effec t on your attac ker, by distrac ting their attention and inc reasing the power of yourstrike.

Atemi does inc lude a wide range of applied forc e, from striking without touching to striking vital pointswith the intent of c ausing unconsc iousness. Knowing about the different effec ts that a strike onvarious parts of the body c an have, will improve your technique and self defense skills.

T he largest weapon available to you, wherever you are, is the planet Earth itself. Hitting your attac kerwith this weapon, by unbalanc ing them, so they fall down, will gain you valuable time to retreat ortake c ontrol of the situation.

DOES YOUR INSTRUCTOR TEACH PRESSURE POINTS?

Most of the pressure points are not usually prac tic ed in mainstream aikido dojo's. There may be one ofthree main reasons for this...

1 - Y our Instruc tor does not know about pressure point applic ation bec ause their instruc tor did notteach it or know it, and they have not researc hed the subjec t etc .

2 - Y our Instruc tor does not have time to teach pressure points during normal c lasses, but may teachit in their 'extra c lasses'.

3 The suc cessful applic ation requires prac tic e to be effec tive, and it is diffic ult to teach this to largeamounts of people in a safe manner.

Either way you are unlikely to find an Aikido instruc tor who can or will pass this on to you. So, if youwant to inc lude this in your aikido arsenal of skills, you will need to do a lot of individual research onthe subjec t and find someone who c an and will teach you.

This is what I have done myself... I have spent many years of time and effort studying acupressurepoints for healing and self defense purposes. I then used two of my top students to help me developthe skills further for aikido prac tise.

It is interesting to know that the hand positions in most aikido tec hniques are ready for pressure pointapplic ation. If used c orrec tly you c an make your techniques twic e as powerful and much moreeffec tive, even on those 'resistant training partners'. Y onkyo or yonkajo (wrist/arm technique) is often disc ussed in assoc iation with a partic ular pressurepoint on the forearm. There are many points available during the applic ation of techniques like...kote-gaeshi, nikyo etc .

Knowledge of pressure points inc reases your awareness of the c onnec tions within the body andprovides a more prec ise manipulation of an opponent. T here are also many healing applic ationsassoc iated with these points.

PRESSURE POINT SUGGESTIONS

1 - Experiment with spots that you know from past experience hurt. For example the mastoid proc essis the soft spot behind the ear. Press that indentation lightly to feel the pain involved. Also, justabove the inside of the elbow when performing ikkyo.

2 - Join a martial arts c lass that focuses on self defense. Good c lasses may inc lude some of thepressure points in their training sc hedule.

3 - Find Chinese health c harts that show meridians and pressure points - near where musc les,ligaments, and tendons are attac hed often offer some painful points.

4 - Read more artic les on the subjec t and take notes.

OR you c an save yourself months and years of study time and learn, in my opinion, the very bestinformation on the subjec t... it really works!

BEST PRESSURE POINT SYSTEMFOR EFFECTIVE RESULTS

Master Russell Stutely has been ac knowledged as Europe's Leading Authority on the use of PressurePoints in the Martial Arts. He is one of the best sourc es of inspiration in street effec tive pressurepoints, and has been instrumental in dragging T raditional Martial Arts into the 21st Century.

Russell is a regular Columnist for the UK's most prestigious Martial Arts magazines... Martial ArtsIllustrated, T raditional Karate and Combat. He is also one of the leading Seminar Instruc tors in the UKand Europe.

He has rec ently developed a set of Dvd's c alled 'Pressure Points Black' c overing all of the essentialsrequired to help you make this art effec tive in your aikido prac tise. You will also learn some prac tic al,easy- to- apply methods that are effec tive in a real street attac k.

I personally have this series and use many of the amazing tec hniques that are shown in great detail. Ic an, without hesitation, Highly rec ommend 'Pressure Points blac k' for more info, see the resourc espage.

When you bow deeply to the universe, it bows back;when you call out the name of God, it echoes inside you




STUDYING

AIKI PRINCIPLES

Princ iples are the key lessons you learn from any study or ac tivity you take part in. During your shortvisit to the planet earth, there are many lessons you need to learn. If you get too bogged down in thedetails you will experience an overload to your system, which stops you from learning effec tively.

So, in order to learn your life lessons you will need to make some dec isions. If you dont do this thenyou will eventually have the same regrets as millions of other people who didn't realize their goals inlife. The following may be of some use to you on your unique journey through life...

1 - List your dreams, desires and life goals and put them in order of importance.

2 - Imagine them complete, how they make you feel, and list the necessary steps to get there.

3 - T ake massive ac tion and work through the steps one by one until c ompleted.

This plan is surprisingly simple and is a good example of what learning powerful princ iples c an do foryou. If you c arry out the above 3 steps then you will reach peace and happiness... it is as simple asthat!

I will now turn your attention to the subject of Aikido Principles...

If you are making a serious study of Aikido, then it is going to take you many years to master the art.Y es you do have to study all of the details involved in your training, but, if you ask yourself (and yourinstruc tor)...

What are the key princ iples I need to learn from this? T here your real answers may be found!

You see, the aim is to free your mind so you c an perform your aikido techniques in a flowing, relaxedbut powerful way. Y ou c annot do this if you are bogged down with mental baggage like... 'My way isright and yours is wrong'. Using princ iples of aikido you c an free your mind of its baggage and just let itgo.

Aiki Princ iples teach a deeper understanding of Aikido. The aim of Aiki is to lead the mind and the bodywill follow, and as an instruc tor the best way to lead the mind of your students is through motivation,inspiration, encouragement, and then disc ipline.

See below for a list of Aiki Princ iples that you may wish to inc lude in your studies. Many of these c angreatly enhance and develop your Aikido skills to a much more advanced level.

BASIC AIKI PRINCIPLES

What did the founder of Aikido, Master Morihei Ueshiba O'Sensei prac tise on a daily basis? After all thisis what he thought was most important... right?

During his personal training he would perform a series of aiki exerc ises, misogi purific ation rituals,

kototama sound vibration c hants and also inc lude many hours of pure prayer to divine spirit.

The aim of these prac tic es was to purify his mind, body and spirit. Also to harmonize and balance hisenergy c enters (c hakras), and develop massive amounts of powerful healing energy (ki). In this way hegreatly influenc ed the positive energy of people and the planet in his goal of World Peac e.

So it really is your dec ision how far you wish to go with your training. Develop powerful technique,understand aiki princ iples, experience the flow of universal energy, or even raise the level ofc onsc iousness of humanity, as OSensei did.

Anyway, if you are thinking of joining an Aikido c lass, are a student or an instruc tor you will be workingon a variety of ways to c ontrol your attac kers through the use of their own energy. The following maybe a typic al c lass struc ture that you will be, or are working on to develop your aiki skills...

Aikido Class Blueprint

Rei (bow), Mokusu (breathing meditation), Warm-up, Ukemi (breakfalls), Kihon Dosa (basic postures),Waza (Basic T echniques, Advanced Techniques, Applied Techniques), Jiyu-Waza (freestyle) KokyuNage (breath throw), Kokyu Ho (harmonizing exerc ises), Cool- down, Mokusu (breathing meditation), Rei(bow)

Aikido Attacks and Techniques

Ai, Katate, Ryote, Mune, Kata, Hiji, Eri, Shomen, Yokomen, Shomen Tsuki, Ushiro, Ikkajo (ikkyo),Nikkajo (nikyo), Sankajo (sankyo), Yonkajo (yonkyo), Gokajo (gokyo), Iriminage, Sokumen- Iriminage,Kote -Gaeshi, Kaiten-Nage, Kokyu Ho, Kokyu Nage, Jiyuwaza, Kaeshawaza, Bokken Happo Giri, 31 JoKata etc .

AIKI PRINCIPLES AND TRAINING IDEAS

There are so many princ iple lessons learned during your aikido training, and here are many of the waysI have improved my training experience, and ability. I recommend you look through them, try them outand if useful add them to your arsenal of skills, or if you find them useless, throw them out.

Assessing Students AbilityEtiquette, Attitude, Mindset, Disc ipline, Effort, Concentration, Relaxation, Kamae (posture), Ma-ai(distance), Ki- ai (shout), Atemi (distrac ting strike), Ukemi (breakfalls), Kihon (basic moves), Evasion,Balance- taking, Immobilization (c ontrol), Throw, Waza (technique), Jiyu-Waza (freestyle technique),Awareness of Surrounding Environment, Coaching Potential etc . It is essential to instill disc ipline in students regardless of the qualities and c harac teristic s they bring tothe Dojo. Disc ipline is often something the ego does not enjoy, but c ould save lives one day.

Aiki PrinciplesAiki is Hidden in the Open, and What You See is Not What You Get.

You Think Where You Feel, Flow like Water, Sensitivity, Don't T ry to Make it Work, Allow it to Work... Just Do it.

Aikido Techniques are Learnt Big to Small, Slow to Fast, T ensed to Relaxed, and Stylized to Realistic .

Kamae (basic posture) is for T raining andShizentai (natural posture) is for Sudden Attac k Defense.

Skeletal Locking - sequential loc king to affec t the spine indirec tly.

Mind Moves BodyKeep One Point, Relax Completely, Keep Weight Underside, Extend Ki.

Breath Control, Relaxation, Non-Resistance, Allow, Avoid Direc t Conflic t, Connec tion, Circ les, Leading the Mind, Ki Energy Extension, Balance Taking, Pain Incentive.

There are 3 Methods of TrainingAccumulating Techniques, Analyzing Form, Understanding Princ iples.

Strong PostureMind on Hara, Control Weight by Relaxing the Centre of Gravity Down,

Weight shifting (push with rear foot - pull with front foot), Establish a momentary base and pull your weight to it,

Methods of PowerAlignment, Relaxation, Focus, Intention, Ki- Extension, Penetration, Ac celeration.

Relax/Tense... Sudden Tension gets Uke's Reac tion in a Predic table Manner, Sudden Weight Dropping & Relaxation Compliments the Direc tion,

A Very Relaxed Applic ation Creates a Void for Uke to Fall Into the Emptiness, Contrac tion - breathe energy in, Expansion - breathe energy out,

Sudden energy in and out, c hange of pace, vibration.

Balance TakingBeing Aware of Angles of Pressure to the T riangulation Points,

Throw Uke by Created Co-operation, Prepare Uke To Unwillingly Throw Himself, Prepare and Base uke by Double-Weighting before off- balanc ing.

These are just some of the princ iples you may wish to work with, and it will be surprising how manycan be worked on and used during your normal aikido training ac tivity. T o understand many of theseprinc iples then you must work on them, and most of them can be found in your Aikido techniques.

In 2009, I will be writing a book, in full detail, all about Aiki Princ iples. This will c over all of theprinc iples listed here and many, many more. I may even add a series of video tutorials... so staytuned! Of c ourse, I am available for private lessons on the South Coast, in West Sussex, UK. ;- )

The Art of Peace is medic ine for a sick world. There is evil and disorder in the world because people have

forgotten that all things emanate from one source.Return to that source and leave behind all self-centered thoughts,

petty desires, and anger. Those who are possessed by nothing possess everything




AIKIDO LIFE LESSONS

Morihei Ueshiba O'Sensei c ombined the princ iples and philosophy of Buddhism, Shintoism and the Wayof the Samurai to c reate modern Aikido. The art is great for personal growth, self defense, mind andbody meditation, and for reaching a state of single mindedness, oneness, and enlightenment.

Aikido has a philosophy that c an be applied to everyday living. Through physic al training, you learn toharmonize with the energy of your uke (training partner), using flowing dynamic motions to 'c ontrol'them. From here you learn to balanc e your own energy with the world around you and learn to takecontrol of your own life experience.

Although many people think of martial arts as a set of fighting techniques, Aikido was c reated to helpits students become better human beings by prac tic ing non- aggressive ways of dealing with c onflic tand stress. The name 'Aikido' literally means 'the way of harmonizing energy' because the aim is tolearn how to harmonize your own personal energy with that of others and your environment.

What you learn in aikido c an be applied to life outside of c lass and what you learn in life c an be appliedto Aikido during prac tic e. Y ou grow through regular prac tic e of c entering, harmonizing with people, andusing c onstruc tive responses to diffic ult situations. The ultimate goal of Aikido is to develop habitsallowing you to become more effec tive in daily life.

In your training you learn never to go against the power of your attac kers, so in life you c an avoidc lashing with energy by being more passive when c onfronted by aggressive people. If someone isintentionally argumentative and you do not respond, their aggression has nowhere to go. T his c almsthem down, where you c an take c ontrol of the situation and steer it in another direc tion.

EFFECTIVE AIKIDO HABITS

Take Responsibility for making dec isions based on your values rather than your environment,situation, or other people. T hrough training, you aim to develop the knowledge and skill to respond toconflic t without resorting to more. The belief that you are free to make this c hoic e is at the very c oreof Aikido.

Beginning With The End In Mind is about reaching for your values. If you do not know what you aretrying to achieve you c an be very busy doing the wrong things. Morihei Ueshiba wrote that the goal isnot to c onquer the opponent but to c onquer your own ego, your fears, and your desire to dominate.

Put First Things First so you progress towards what is most important to you. Although this soundsobvious, we often tend to follow the path of least resistanc e or of responding to peer pressure orexpec tations. Y ou should think or talk about peace and harmony, but not ac t in ways that involveviolence and c onflic t or are ego-driven. You need to ac t in a manner that is c onsistent with yourgoals.

Thinking Win/Win is at the c ore of Aikido, both the philosophy and the daily prac tic e. You aresearching for a way to respond to c onflic t whic h protec ts yourself while protec ting your prac tic epartners. Daily prac tic e is not a c ompetition, and no-one should lose dignity or be put in danger. Oneconcept in aikido is that the person falling down is not the 'loser', but suc c eeds in protec ting himselfand may suc c eed in esc aping or reversing the technique. Bec ause win/win solutions require balanc e,aikido helps timid people become more c onfident and arrogant people gentler.

Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood is a key c oncept in both the philosophy andprac tic e of aikido. Basic movements often involve turning your body to look in the same direc tion thatyour partner is looking, and see the world as your partner sees it. Y ou first blend with the attac k, thenchange the direc tion. By learning to 'listen' with your whole body, you c an find a pathway to peace.

Harmony is about c ollaborating to make the whole more than the sum of its parts. T hroughcooperation, both the person doing and rec eiving the aikido tec hnique learn and achieve more thaneither c ould individually. Harmony is the best win/win result. When trust and c ooperation are absent,the interac tion is defensive and one person wins and the other loses. Aikido strives for training inwhic h both partners feel both c hallenged and c apable of meeting that c hallenge.

Self-Improvement is about investing time and energy to learn better ways of doing things so thatyou c an be more effec tive in the future. The c oncept of self- improvement is also at the foundation ofaikido, as you never finish learning aikido, you only progress further along the path.

Y ou prac tic e techniques over and over so that you c an c hange the ways that you instinc tivelyrespond in diffic ult situations. In aikido, you c onstantly think about how life applies to prac tic e andhow prac tic e applies to life; sinc e life is filled with challenges, aikido prac tic e is a c onstant explorationof how to meet those c hallenges. Aikido's emphasis on mutual respec t fosters a supportive learningenvironment that helps promote self- c onfidence and poise, developing mind, body and spirit.

AIKIDO IN DAILY LIFE

You prac tic e being both uke and nage in the dojo, and sometimes it is important to attac k. While atother times it is important to relax during an attac k, allow it to happen, then redirec t that attac kingenergy in another more harmonious direc tion.

You c an be in either the role of the attac ker/uke, or the defender/nage, on the dojo mat. Y ou as ahuman being c an also play both parts in life. Sometimes you are just straight up attac king life anddoing it well, setting goals and then achieving them.

Y ou are staying grounded and are c onnec ted to those dreams. T his is what it is to be a good uke in

life, and what it means to attack life. So if you are not attacking life, life is attacking you, and isc onstantly throwing things at you, hitting you, and trying to push you off balance and take you offc enter.

When uke attac ks the first thing you as nage do is breathe deeply and relax into the attac k to allow itto happen. The next thing to do is stand strong in your own presence. This means to have faith inyourself, to believe that the dec isions and c ommitments you choose are dec isive.

Extend Your energy right through Life (or uke). Move through life relaxed and c entered as it attac ks,and do the same to uke on the mat. When uke on the mat attac ks and nage stops at any point duringthe tec hnique, things break down, and life c an be the same way. When life attac ks, a good thing to dois breath deeply and relax. It is healthy to believe in who you are.

It is important to extent right through life, and keep moving forward. Aikido is a template for life andlife is a template for Aikido, and to prac tic e one is to prac tic e the other. To live one is to live theother... breathe deeply, relax and enjoy your prac tise of life and aikido.

Create each day anew by c lothing yourself with heaven and earth, bathing yourself with wisdom and love, and plac ing yourself in the heart of mother nature




AIKIDO HARMONY

T here are many paths to harmony, but the art of Aikido has the power to c reate real balance in yourlife. It examines, through combat, the many different aspec ts of life energy. Apart from the vastvariety of techniques used in Aikido, there are two main princ iples involved...

1 - Positive Energy, Yang, Fire, Male, Hard, Direc t etc .

2 - Negative Energy, Y in, Water, Female, Soft, Indirec t etc .

T he perfec t balanc e between these two energies c reates harmony and peac e. In order to c reate truebalance and harmony, first you must establish your c enter of gravity whic h is about an inch below yournavel (belly button). This is the c orrec t place to focus your physic al and mental energies. The

Japanese c all this the 'Hara' or 'Seika-no- itten' (one point) and is where your life energy is loc ated.

HARMONY EXERCISES

To focus your physical energy ... align your body by standing or kneeling with your spine straight,push your hips forward, shoulders bac k and down, breathe deeply and c ompletely relax into thisposture.

T hen take deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. As you breathe in, tenseyour musc les, as you breathe out, c ompletely relax down and release all of your tension. After doingthis several times, tension and stress will leave your body and you c an c ontinue while fully relaxed.

To focus your mental energy ... c oncentrate your mind on your c enter or 'one point' and imagineenergy as a ball of white light getting smaller and smaller OR as ever dec reasing c irc les. With this, it isimportant to keep your mind busy, so this proc ess is c ontinuous and never ends.

After some consc ious effort and willpower, your mind will learn how to do this naturally, and you will becentered and in harmony. Your mind will try to rebel against you, but remember who is in c harge here,your mind is just a tool to be used for your benefit, so be strong.

Please, do not expec t this to be easy, after all anything worthwhile takes c onsiderable effort andpatience. After a while your mind will ac cept its true position as your servant, not your master.

Eventually you will begin to feel a strong c onnec tion with people, nature and the universe. When youfeel c onnec ted you c an read the intention of your partner or attac ker and reac t ac c ordingly. As youbecome more relaxed you begin to tune in to the subtle energy that surrounds you.

Once you have reached this level you will naturally avoid direc t c onflic t in your Aikido prac tise andyour daily life. Like water you will flow with and not against the natural life- stream. You c an thenac cept life and allow it to be as it is.

When you lose the desire to c hange life to fit your individual needs and wants, you lose your ego mindand you c an relax into and enjoy life just as it is... this is true mastery of balance and harmony.

YOU CAN CHOOSE HARMONY

Aikido teaches you to get in touch with and understand the patterns that you go into to protec tyourself, both physic al and emotional, and that there is an alternative to this behavior. Consc iousresponse and c hoic e, rather than unconsc ious reac tion.

Knowing what it would feel like to have your own feelings 'violated', you then do not go out and violatesomeone else's. Y ou c an also be aware that most people ac t aggressively or defensively bec ause theyare responding unconsc iously to their own vulnerable feelings.

With an awareness of the other person's intent and blending with that, you begin to enter into the

experience of Aiki. So, in Aikido, rather than block and punch or hurt and maim, you blend with theenergy/intention/movement of the aggressive ac t and redirec t it to a more benefic ial c onc lusion. Being c entered, extending Ki energy, blending, and leading are basic to Aikido training. The nature ofAikido movements are designed so that you ac tually move from a different place, from Center with Ki,and c an address the nature of the interac tion, rather than getting c ompletely c aught up in theattack.

Aikido then becomes a form to let go of the things inside of you that awakens you to the harmony andtrue nature of all things big and small, personal and spiritual, and apply that knowledge and experienc eto anything you wish to in life.

Breathe deeply, relax and let all of your worries just go - you don't need them anymore!

Foster and polish the warrior spirit while serving in the world;illuminate the Path in accordance with the divine will

Master Morihei Ueshiba O'Sensei



AIKIDO SUCCESS BLUEPRINT

SUMMARYIn this Ebook we looked at some of the key areas to work on in order to fast- trac k your training forAikido suc cess and mastery. Y ou must have a good level of general health and fitness, for your Aikidotraining time to be focused on improving your skill levels.

The founder of Aikido, taught many different ways of understanding Aikido during his lifetime. He beganwith a hard, powerful Aiki- Jujutsu style, and after many years developed the soft, flowing style. All ofthe following styles c ame direc tly from the teachings of Master Morihei Ueshiba...

1 - T raditional Aikikai - as taught by the Ueshiba family.

2 - Ki Aikido - as taught by Koichi Tohei.

3 - Yoshinkan Aikido - as taught by Gozo Shioda.

4 - Iwama Aikido - as taught by Morihiro Saito.

I rec ommend that you read and watch a selec tion of Aikido Books and Dvd's to help you dec ide whatAikido path is best for you... what are you drawn to? there your answers will be found!

The sec ret of Aikido is not in how you move your feet, it is how you move your mind. I'm not teaching you martial techniques, I'm teaching you non-violence


CHOOSE YOUR AIKIDO INSTRUCTOR

Choosing the right Aikido Instruc tor is one of the most important dec isions you c an make, and whatyou dec ide c ould be a fast- trac k to suc c ess or a bloc ked path.

In my opinion, 7-10 years of training and a 2nd Dan with a recognized organization is the minimum youshould c onsider enough experience in your Aikido Instruc tor.

If the instruc tor has not taken the time to c omplete a recognized aikido instruc tor training c ourse,then you should not c onsider training with them, they are not qualif ied to teach you.

Find out who taught them and research (google) the background of the instruc tor, their instruc tor,and the organization. If they do not have a solid history, it is not wise to train with them.

If they are not First-Aid qualified, then your safety is at risk, as sometimes training ac c idents happen.Find out if they have a c riminal record, as this may affec t your safety and security.

The c lasses may be very disc iplined or very relaxed, or somewhere in between, the main point tonotic e is that the students and instruc tors must show respec t for each other. If any 'bullying' takesplace that is not c orrec ted by the instruc tor... leave.

There must be a training syllabus that you c an work with, a list of techniques for each grading level.This way you will know how far along the road you are, at any given time, although many traditionalc lasses do not have belt grading's below blac k.

If visits to other dojo's and seminars are not available, be suspic ious, you dont want to be isolated.Visits and seminars are essential to learn a variety of ideas.

An Aikido Instruc tor may have experience of other martial arts or self defense, this c ould be helpful. Amore mature instruc tor will have more life experience and likely to have important life skills and otherinfo to pass on to you. Some instruc tors have a more balanced approach to their teaching, and arenot just passing on tec hniques that they were taught, but also aiki princ iples and health and harmonyissues.

Once you have made your dec ision on whic h aikido instruc tor to train with, you may want to begin

with a short period of instruc tion to make sure that what is offered meets your partic ular needs.

" Aiki is the power of harmony, of all beings, all things working together.Relentlessly train yourself - followers of the way "


FOCUS YOUR MIND

It is diffic ult to learn all of the aspec ts of the art of aikido in a short space of time, but is it possible tofast- trac k your training and avoid unnecessary delays and bloc ks along your path to aikido exc ellenc e?YES, I believe there are several key ways to achieve this.

The human mind c an only c oncentrate fully on one thing at a time, so the less it has to think aboutthe faster it will learn new things. Y our mind focuses on what it needs to c omplete the task that youput before it, so take away some of the distrac tions that may c ome up. 1 - Be very enthusiastic to achieve a high level of skill and aim for your goals.

2 - Y ou should be fit enough for it not to be an issue during training.

3 - Y ou should be relaxed, have good stamina, c ore strength and flexibility.

4 - Y ou should be willing to help your training partners and students on the path.

5 - Help your instruc tor in any way you c an and get involved in the c lub or organization.

6 - Release and let go of any worries, anxieties, or problems in daily life while training.

If you solve the above issues, then you will be able to focus your mind power on the key skills requiredfor peak performance in the dojo and fast- trac k to higher peak performance levels.

T he human mind learns new things by thought and repetition. So the fastest way to learn is to foc usyour thoughts on what you are doing and repeat it over and over again until it becomes a fixed skill.

You must control your mind and disc ipline it to work for you. I recommend that you focus your mind onone thing at a time, study it, learn it, and digest it, until it becomes a habit and then move on.

" Standing amidst heaven and earth, connec ted to all things with Ki,My mind is set, on the path of echoing all things "


REMOVE EGO

FROM YOUR AIKIDO

In Aikido we train to put the ego aside and rise above our animal mentality. We aim to be better todaythan we were yesterday. We don't train to try and appear better than others by putting other peopledown, but aim to escape our built- in animal instinc ts (lower self), and become truly human (higherself).

Because of the fluid nature of Aikido, students should not resist the flow of the technique's movement.A beginner in Aikido will be able to advance much faster if they learn how to safely rec eive thetechniques as soon as possible. T his involves going with the movement and learning how to protec tthemselves and fall safely.

Many people are resistant to techniques in a more subtle way, and this is the ego c oming through fromthe subconsc ious mind. Gradually after plenty of prac tise and experience in Aikido it is possible toalmost remove ego c ompletely. This is an enlightening experience where training becomes easier,relaxed, fun and more enjoyable.

T hrough c ontinuous, regular training we learn to c reate positive new habits. We are then moreinterested in the training experienc e of our fellow students, always trying to help improve each othersskills. T his takes our training to a higher level, where we c an develop fast, as there is no resistance onthe path to self- disc overy.

If we c an learn to ac cept the pain in our training and move instantly away from it then it is very brief,and useful for learning. If we do not adjust to pain immediately it c auses resistance in us.

" With your right hand showing yang and your left hand showing yin, lead your opponent "


AIKIDO UKEMI & BREAKFALLS

Aikido training is based on two partners prac tic ing pre- arranged forms (kata) rather than freestyleprac tic e. The basic pattern is for the rec eiver of the technique (uke) to begin an attac k against thethrower (nage), who c ontrols it with an aikido technique.

Both halves of the technique, that of uke and nage, are c onsidered essential to aikido training. Both

are studying aiki princ iples of blending. Nage learns to blend with and c ontrol attac king energy, whileuke learns to become c alm and flexible in a disadvantaged, off- balanced position that nage puts themin.

Uke c ontinuously seeks to regain balanc e and c over weak areas, while nage uses position and timing tokeep uke off- balance and vulnerable. In more advanced training, uke will sometimes attempt to applyreversal tec hniques to regain balanc e.

Of the two roles that exist in aikido, the one that most aikido students focus on is the role of thenage, whic h is the easiest to understand and puts us in the 'winning position'. We have been taught allof our lives to win, and losing makes us feel bad. In reality, winning and losing are two parts of thesame positive and negative energy. We win, we lose... this is life itself. We c an see both, not asmistakes, but as a lesson to learn more about life and develop experienc e and c harac ter. Ukemi prac tic e involves rolls and other breakfalls. Here are a few reasons why we prac tic e ukemi inAikido, and why it is so important...

1 - T o stay safe, not only to avoid injury in the c onfrontation, but to be aware of what is going onthroughout the whole enc ounter to be able to f ind and respond to openings and, perhaps, to esc ape.

2 - T o experienc e the throw, to understand what the 'other' side of the enc ounter is and to observethe other person's technique, partic ularly if nage is a senior student or teacher.

3 - T o learn to listen with your body, as to throw well requires sensitivity to your partner. Often weare so c aught up in the ac tive role of nage that we forget to be rec eptive to our partner and move ina way that harmonizes with uke. By being uke we get a c hance to be sensitive to body movement.

4 - T o assist your partner to learn. Being a good uke means maintaining the c onnec tion with nage, andallowing nage to experienc e that c onnec tion and to really experienc e the tec hnique. Being a good ukeallows nage to perform the tec hnique without worrying about injuries.

5 - To c ondition the body. Ukemi requires work, and mind focus to stay c onnec ted, flexible andaware.

An essential ingredient of ukemi is awareness. The uke is able, with experience, to respond quic kly toany ac tion. T rue ukemi c omes from serious training with harmony and balance between partners. Andabove all, don't forget to enjoy your training, relax and smile!

" Do not look upon this world with fear and loathing. Bravely face whatever the God's offer "


LEARNINGAIKIDO TECHNIQUES

There are mental distrac tions to the learning proc ess, and that your mind learns new things by thoughtand repetition. You must c ontrol your mind and disc ipline it to work for you. I recommend that youfocus your mind on one thing at a time, study it, learn it, digest it, and then move on to the next.

Take a basic tec hnique and work on it over and over again until you become an expert on onetechnique. T hen, just repeat the proc ess with the next tec hnique, and so on. After a few months youwill have many quality techniques in your arsenal. Carry on this process for years, and you will becomean expert in the art of aikido. This is how many instruc tors have developed to such a high level ofskill.

Y our mind, in many ways is like a c omputer that c an be programmed to work fast, effic iently andwithout errors. Of c ourse, like a c omputer, if you do not set your mind up correc tly by using a simplefiling system, to store technic al information, all sorts of problems can oc cur.

And a good way of doing this is to c reate a Folder c alled Aikido Blueprint, whic h will have other foldersinside maybe called... Aikido Rules & Etiquette, Aikido Breakfalls, Aikido Techniques, Aikido Princ iples,Aikido Self Defence, Aikido Freestyle and maybe Aikido Miscellaneous.

Now you have 1 main folder with 7 folders inside, as you begin to build and store the informationinside. Make it simple and to the point, any info that is vague, just put it in your Aikido miscellaneousfolder.

To easily remember each folder, you c an assoc iate them with c olors, images, sounds, numbers, etc .This is how the memory experts do it in order to ac cess the information fast. Of c ourse if you areperforming freestyle you will not be using your brain to ac cess info, but reac ting naturally to yourc ircumstances.

Now its time to open your Aikido techniques folder, and store the very basic techniques inside...Kokyu-ho, Kokyu-nage, Shiho-nage, Tenchi-nage, Irimi-nage, Kaiten-nage, Kote-gaeshi, Hiji- jime,Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo, Gokyo, etc .

Also inside this folder are two sub- folders, one with the attac ks... Katate, Kata, Y okomen, Shomen,Mune, Ushiro, etc . and the other with positive or negative movements... ic hi (forward, positive, ac tive)Ni (backwards, negative, reac tive).

Once you have all of these files and folders developed in your brain, and as you gather newinformation, you will know exac tly where to store it for easy ac c ess. Y ou c an be an Aikido expert, andthe sure way to achieve it is to focus your mind, train hard and train smart. Of c ourse you will greatlyimprove your speed of learning if you also relax deeply, enjoy your training and have fun.

" Aikido is the manifestation of love "


ANALYZING AIKIDO POSTURE AND FORM

We found that c reating and developing a good posture, one that will hold up while moving takes a lotof c oncentration, in the beginning. So, what is good form? It is a way of holding yourself that allowsyou to move freely without losing your balanc e. Having good posture will also allow you to apply powerto your training partner (opponent, attac ker), at any time throughout the movement.

In reality, the posture you dec ide to prac tise needs to be able to func tion under extremely stressfulsituations. For example a real street fight or c ombat situation does not allow you the time to get intoposture. You need to reac t instantly to the c irc umstances you find yourself in, which will not be ideal.

There are two basic aikido postures... migi Hanmi Kamae (right) and hidari Hanmi Kamae (left). Here aresome of the postures, stances, and spec ific positioning you will take with your attac ker duringtraining...

Shizentai Kamae (natural), Migi Hanmi Kamae (right side forward), Hidari Hanmi Kamae (left sideforward), Ai Hanmi Kamae (same), Gyaku Hanmi Kamae (opposite), Ma-ai (safe distance), HandPositions - Gedan (low), Chudan (natural), Jodan (high).

A natural standing/walking posture has weight over the front foot, in the middle and over the bac kfoot, changing as you move from place to place in daily life. Whether moving or standing still in Aikido,your body should feel strong and resilient, without undue tension or stiffness. Y our hands should beextended in front of you with your fingers slightly spread with ki (energy) projec ting out through yourfingers.

In all Aikido movement, be sure to keep your weight low and your movement fluid and even. It c an helpto visualize all of your motion as being c entered around a point a c ouple of inches below your navel this is c alled your hara, c enter of gravity or 'one point'.

Avoid lift ing your weight up and down as you step, your hips and shoulders remain at the same level asyou move, and your spine remains upright. T o get lower, keep your back upright and bend your legs,but don't bend over at the hips. This way you maintain your posture, without the risk of losing yourbalanc e.

Aikido posture takes time to get used to, and at first does not feel natural, so you have to train until itdoes feel natural. T he various sc hools of Aikido all have their own ideas on what good posture is, andshould be there at every point throughout the tec hnique. As a keen student you should look for keypositions within a technique and aim to join them together.

" The great universe is

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Aikido Success Blueprint