We welcome additional contributions and references.

Dojo / Personal

Dojo Atmosphere Should the atmosphere in a dojo be one of "love and harmony" or something far more intense, aimed at precipitating a psychological state entirely different from that of our everyday lives?"
Mat Duties Ever noticed people arriving late or sneaking off to avoid helping to lay the mats? Well, you're not the only one.
Training with Ex Looks at some opinions of training with ex-girlfriends and/or their current partners.
Taking Control of the Mat The meaning of taking control on the mat.
Training with a Difficult Partner Ever trained with someone who gives you just way too much advice?

 

Equipment

Traveling with Weapons Some advice on transporting your weapons when going overseas.
Traveling with Weapons 2 (the Gulf) Advice with relevance to military personnel traveling to the Gulf.
Iaito / Shinken - Lightweight Talks about certain type of swords available.

 

Exercises

Bad Stretching Discusses the impact of a bad stretch on certain of the body's tendons and joints.
Aikido, Running & Knees Is is too much for the knees to take all these activities?

 

Grades

Aikido Grades Attributing far greater value to the lower Dan grades than is the norm in Japan ...
Ro-kyu Experience Experience of a 6th kyu grading.
Go-kyu Requirements Describes requirements of 5th kyu grading.

 

Health

First Aid Kits What some dojos keep within their first aid boxes.
Back Pain Discussion on some back problems.
Shoulder Injury What can be done to ease a shoulder injury.
RSI Repetitive Strain Injuries with relevance to swords-work.
Aching Wrists How to handle aching wrists.
Possible Injuries Discusses some possible injuries in Aikido.
Elbow Injury Description of an elbow ailment.

 

History

UK Aikido History Highlights of certain historical moments of Aikido in UK.

 

Practice / Training

Unexpected Has there ever been an aikido technique (or kata) that has brought something unexpected out of you?
Full-time Study is the Key A discussion on practicing Aikido full-time.
Celebrity Boxing / Untrained Fighters Some mistakes you shouldn't make.
Centredness, Technical Babble, on topic Naval-gazing Thoughts on centredness and some technical aspects in a technique.
Cross Training in Different Dojos Discusses purposes of cross training.
Katate-Dori Effectiveness and realism of a wrist grab.
Suwari-Waza Effect of performing techniques on your knees.
Taigi  
Tenkan  
Kokyu-Dosa  
A First Taste of Something An account of experiencing a blending of nage's and uke's center during practice.
Practicing at Home Alone Suggestions on what you can practice at home without a partner.
Learning Learning as uke, nage, while watching and even teaching.
Direction of the Hips Ever wondered whether your hips should be facing the front squarely or slanted a little to the side?
Breathing Some pointers on breathing.
Weapons in Aikido A view of weapons in Aikido training.
Techniques in a Narrow Space How to apply Aikido where there is a space constraint (eg. in a bus)?
Open Fingers Executing techniques with your fingers open ... or closed?
Ukemi

Some tips and pointers on ukemi to reduce discomfort.
Silent Practice Opinions on chatter during training class. What some people feel is too much and what is acceptable.
Exercises without Attack Is it effective to just offer your hand to an exercise instead of reacting to an attack?
Ukemi and Handedness A discussion on ukemi with/and left or right 'handedness'.
Ukemi, Interesting Study An interesting analysis of ukemi in this discussion.
Connecting with Uke How would you connect with an uke?

 

Teaching

Accepting Students Some points on accepting students.
Coach vs Teacher vs Sensei Analyses the role of a instructor.
Aikido Kids A discussion on kids in Aikido.

 

Techniques

Tenchinage Discusses the Heaven and Earth throw.
Kotegaeshi Some pointers.
Ikkyo Nage Every heard of ikkyo nage, a form of ikkyo? Know what it's like?
Painless Nikkyo Interested in how some people are able to execute a nikkyo which doesn't hurt?

 

Uniform

Obi Tying the belt.
Hakama Pleat Meanings A look at what the pleats in the hakama means.

 

Miscellaneous

Instinctive Response How Aikido has conditioned some instinctive responses.
Ju-Jitsu A discussion on Ju-Jitsu.
Has Aikido Become the Next Karate Already? Has Aikido become so mainstream that it has become cliche, like something of a 'McDojo'?
Wado Ryu Karate A Karate style combining Aikijujitsu and Karate.
Aikido and Tai Chi Discusses certain similarities and differences between Aikido and Tai Chi.
Is Budo for Everyone? A straightforward question.
Iaido Styles Some Iaido styles out there.
Do you need an An Instructor to Learn Martial Arts? States some points on the role of an instructor.
Sumo Some information on Sumo.
Aikido Learning Curve Discusses the learning curve in Aikido.
Kiatsu Introduction to Kiatsu.
Zen and Aikido Discussion on Zen, Aikido and how they relate. Also includes some links of external references on this topic.
Principles of Budo Talks about the origin of the 8 principles of Budo.
Aikido on Animals How some people had or would apply Aikido on animals.
7 Degrees A discussion on avoiding and managing conflict.
Size in Aikido How size affects Aikido techniques and your partner.
Tales of Centering Stories and examples of centering.
Changes as a Result of Aikido How people have changed their life or habits as a result of Aikido.
Aiki Jinja Some information on the Aiki Jinja shrine in Iwama.
Shoshin (Beginners's mind), Mushin (Empty mind), Zanshin (Lingering mind) The meaning of beginner's mind, empty mind and lingering mind in Aikido training.
Educational Value of Videos Are videos good supplements in training? And to what extent?
Unwritten Contract There's an 'unwritten contract' between nage and uke during practice. How far does this go before a 'contract' is breached?
Disappointment and an Entering Thought Someone's experience of being rejected for an application to a dojo.
Budo, Compassion, Loving Protection, Responsibility How it's possible to apply these 4 factors when you are attacked?
Class Size and Uke Teacher

How class size affects teaching and when will being an uke to explain a technique?
With Some, Not with Others Discusses what some people like, and dislike, about working with some Senseis.
Choosing an Instructor What you can look for in an instructor or class.
More about Compassion A reflection on how to be a bit more compassionate to your partner in practice.
Aikido and Mysticism How do you resolve Aikido's mystical/spiritual underpinnings with your own religious beliefs?
Where do I want to go with this stuff (Aikido)? A short reflection of how far one would like to go in his Aikido journey.
Credibility and Acceptance Why martial arts get less credibility in academic circles than arts (eg. dancing)?

 

Last updated on 12 Mar 2003