Taking Up Space
The attacker lunged for Lisa. She deftly shifted back a few inches out of reach. She gripped his hand. She made a graceful pivot....
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philipriffe
Jun 17, 20216 min read
Shadow Boxing
I felt dismayed. In the midst of preparing for my first aikido test—consisting of 10 techniques—I made the mistake of asking one of the...
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durangosbkaikido
Dec 30, 20193 min read
Bound to Connect: Musubi Part 1
Aikido is a Japanese martial art. Although it is practiced around the world, its cultural context is important. From the uniform to the...
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philipriffe
Jul 12, 20193 min read
When I’m Ninety Six
As the milk for my morning’s cappuccino was frothing, I tore off yesterday’s page from our daily Zen calendar. Today’s quote was brief:...
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durangosbkaikido
Jun 16, 20194 min read
So Glad I Stayed
“Dude! That is so smooth!” My uke, Tim, makes this declaration while teetering on his toes, one arm so twisted his spine bevels. He looks...
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durangosbkaikido
Sep 13, 20182 min read
The Caretaker’s Test
The above picture comes from Scott Carlton’s recent 5th kyu test—the first demonstration a person gives to establish their rank as a...
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durangosbkaikido
Apr 11, 20182 min read
Dignity and Respect
I’ve always thought of myself as the kind of person who treats everyone with dignity and respect. In the short 21 months that I’ve been...
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philipriffe
Aug 15, 20173 min read
Kinesthetic Skill
I never expected to fall in love again. For several months, my wife Adele had been taking tai chi at the community college. After class,...
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durangosbkaikido
Aug 8, 20172 min read
Exploring the Principles: Relax Completely
Martial arts require practicing new ways of moving, thinking, and interacting with others. Aikido relies on several key principles that...
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durangosbkaikido
Jul 31, 20172 min read
A Choice in the Matter
I could have gone blind the light was so bright. It blazed so abruptly. I didn’t have time to take cover and shield my eyes. This...
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durangosbkaikido
Jul 25, 20172 min read
Moving Around My Own Center
Mark Sensei commonly reminds us to move around our own center, regardless of what uke may be doing or not doing. After spending my entire...
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