Aikido often claims to value de-escalation as a core value. It is a crucial self-defense skill, but is it included in our training and how do we do that? We discuss this in depth, and provide some suggestions for how to look at integrating conflict management skills from a practical standpoint. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http:…

We discuss the future of Yoshinkan aikido, and the material shared in the first of three conversations posted on the Aikido Shudokan YouTube channel. Link to that discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4xiIFRRCCg&t=17s&ab_channel=AikidoShudokan For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal …

The martial arts are going through a major evolution in a number of ways currently. Our discussion covers how this affects dojos and practitioners alike. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG…

How would you approach forming a new dojo or looking at your current dojo's training and practices with an eye on how to improve? What traditions would you keep, lose, or change? For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_butto…

Our discussion dives deep and covers an examination of many aspects of how we can adjust aikido's martial future. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG…

Martial arts training must include a live element to develop applicable skills and discover deficiencies. Our discussion covers how to approach this, and how not to approach it. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button…

Our discussion covers many aspects of the relationship between aikido and grappling, including whether aikido is a grappling art. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG…

Striking is often overlooked or omitted from aikido. Was this always the case? We discuss this topic as well as bringing striking back and integrating it with aikido training. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_i…

Etiquette is used both as a method for showing respect and for safe practices. Etiquette and respect can go too far and create a negative experience, sometimes driving people away. In this discussion, we take on the elephant in the room of when it can go too far. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoo…

We discuss adjusting your training to make your aikido more martially viable, useful and practical for self-defense. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG…

Our discussion goes into depth about the widely held belief that aikido is purely defensive in nature. Is it fact or myth - or somewhere in between? Edit: My apologies. The intro from the previous episode is at the beginning, but the interview is the one with Ellis Amdur, not Remy Helgesen. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http://sp…

Misunderstandings and myths about what violence is, how it goes, and how to handle it are common among martial artists of all kinds. We discuss real violence and how understanding it better positively affects our martial arts training. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar: https:/…

We discuss Dunken's video series, going into the topics he covers in greater detail. Aikido of Silverdale's playlist of the video series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA520V4pOPWKrvo27LauSOC8qiPQKH7hK For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/w…

It is often said of aikido that it doesn't require strength. Is this strictly true? Not necessarily. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBGBy Tristan Chermack

All arts evolve, sometimes for good and sometimes not. Steven Scott and I discuss how martial arts training are evolving, both for good and bad. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG…

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

All arts have great things to offer, but also have their drawbacks. We go through a number of martial arts and provide an overview breakdowns of their advantages and weaknesses. These can give you ideas for good arts to cross train in or which art(s) which may suit your own particular interests. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http…

It is often taught that Aikido's heritage was the ancient Japanese battlefield, where it's techniques were born. Is this true? This episode is a conversation which is a follow up to the previous episode (ep. 167) with Ellis Amdur where he goes into the history of aikido back as far as Sokaku Takeda. In this episode, we go back much farther into Jap…

Facing someone who is faster than you are seems impossible to survive, but speed can be countered. We can train to be fast ourselves, but there will always be someone faster. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id…

Reg shares his background with live weapons training and how it helped him improve his aikido and both self-defense and self-protection skills. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG…

It is commonly believed and stated that aikido is about conflict management. Is it true and does aikido training really cover conflict management skills? There is more to it than meets the eye. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xcli…

What is the martial mindset and how should martial artists use it within our training. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBGBy Tristan Chermack

Budo, the way of the warrior, is the underlying principle of the martial arts path. We explore Budo in this in depth discussion. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG…

We discuss the state of aikido prior to covid, the impact of covid, and where aikido may go from here. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBGBy Tristan Chermack

Our discussion goes into detail about the role irimi (entering) plays in aikido, and how necessary it is to be balanced with more passive movements and tactics. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online: http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG…