Now you can further study Aikido online! Beginning this month, the Dojo News (our bi-monthly newsletter) will include what we are calling a Virtual Dojo segment where Albright Sensei and/or Shiraki Sensei will share an Aikido video clip with you and describe the significance of the techniques being demonstrated. Some video clips may emphasize fluidity, while others may emphasize power, hip movement or footwork. Expect to see videos of famous living Aikidoists and masters that have passed away.

This month's clip is of Mitsugi Saotome Sensei. Saotome Sensei was an uchideshi (or live in student) of the Founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba. Saotmoe Sensei is the author of numerous Aikido books and is also the founder of ASU, the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba and currently lives in the United States. You can learn more about Saotome Sensei on Wikipedia.

Click Here to view the inaugural segment of Virtual Dojo.

Do you want to find a traditional Aikido school?
Castle Rock Aikido is a Denver metro martial art school.Located just 20 minutes south of Denver Metro and 30 minutes north of Colorado Springs, Castle Rock Aikido attracts martial art students from surrounding areas including Denver, Aurora, Parker, Highlands Ranch, Colorado Springs, Larkspur, and Franktown. Come try a class for free and see why we were voted "Best in Castle Rock for martial arts, 2007" by Castle Rock Magazine.
Visit www.craikido.com to get a coupon for a free class.
Get driving directions to Castle Rock Aikido.
Visit www.craikido.com to watch an Aikido video.

Continued telephone Aikido interview

Sean: What qualities does a student need to have in order to be successful in the art of Aikido?

Jeff: Perhaps the most important thing people need is a willingness to learn, not to be too uptight, or too upset with themselves when they can't learn the Aikido techniques right away. It is OK to feel awkward and make mistakes – that is, after all, how we really learn. If you have a willingness to learn, and a willingness to make mistakes, then you are pretty much ready to train Aikido.

Something else that does help on the mat is a sense of humor. When you make mistakes, and you will, if you can smile and have a good time, then that is what it is all about. I think that is what life is all about – smiling and having a good time.


Sean: That is an interesting answer. I think if most martial arts teachers were asked the question, "What does it take to succeed as a martial arts student?", I think it would be rare to hear someone say "Well, you’ve got to be able to smile and have a sense of humor." I don't think those are behaviors people would normally think about as the pre-requisites for beginning a martial art. That is a pretty refreshing perspective.


It reminds me of that story I'm sure you've heard before of the student who climbs a mountain to meet with a master who has sequestered himself in an Asian mountain range. When the student gets to the top, he and the master start to have tea and the student is going on and on about all the training he's had. "Oh, I've trained here, I've trained there, I've done this, and I've done that." Meanwhile, as the student continues to talk about himself, the master starts pouring the student a cup of tea. The tea cup continues to fill up as the student continues to talk. The tea overflows the cup's edge and spills over but the master continues to pour the tea.


Finally the student, who has been watching the whole time says, "What are you doing? Stop pouring. Can't you see there isn't any more room in the cup?"


The master says, "Ah, yes, much like you. You've come to me with a full cup. If you want to learn anything from me, you need to present me with an empty cup." Maybe that is what you mean by having a willingness to learn, a willingness to be a beginner and to make mistakes.


Jeff: Yes, that is what we always strive for in Aikido. As we practice for years and years we are taught in our training to come back to our "beginner’s mind" – or having that empty cup. Be willing to go into a situation and just experience it rather than think it is supposed to turn out a certain way. Just try it, experience it, and let your body take it all in. That is the essence of the art of Aikido.



Do you want to find an Aikido school?
Castle Rock Aikido is a Denver metro martial art school.Located just 20 minutes south of Denver Metro and 30 minutes north of Colorado Springs, Castle Rock Aikido attracts martial art students from surrounding areas including Denver, Aurora, Parker, Highlands Ranch, Colorado Springs, Larkspur, and Franktown. Come try a class for free and see why we were voted "Best in Castle Rock for martial arts, 2007" by Castle Rock Magazine.
Visit http://www.craikido.com/ to get a coupon for a free class.
Get driving directions to Castle Rock Aikido. Visit http://www.craikido.com/ to watch an Aikido video.

April 2008 Castle Rock AIKIDO Student of the Month

Michael Kilman studies Cultural Anthropology at Metro State University in Denver. When he's not deep in the books, Michael is an Intuitive Life Coach who helps others to find a sense of peace in their lives. He also works part-time as a freelance videographer. He's been training at Castle Rock AIKIDO since last summer. Michael grew up in Philadelphia, had a short stint in Portland, Oregon, and have lived in Castle Rock for 11 years.

Michael, what are some of your hobbies in addition to Aikido?

"I spend a lot of time reading and meditating. I like to be in the outdoors and especially love the ocean, even though I live in Colorado. I like hiking and playing with my two young children, Francis and Gabriella."

What other martial arts have you trained?

"I trained briefly at an Aiki-Jujitsu, but I feel much more at home at Castle Rock AIKIDO with Albright Sensei and Shiraki Sensei. Even though my other teachers were great, I always felt like there was something missing, and Castle Rock AIKIDO is really like a big family. Everyone is wonderfully accepting of each other and is there to help each other learn and grown on a personal level, not just a martial arts level."

What do you like best about Aikido?

"Aikido is very similar to what I do with people on a daily basis. Aikido teaches you to stop and think about how you deal with conflict. It lets you step outside of yourself for a moment and see not only how you could try to do the technique differently, but how to deal with other aspects of your life differently. It works hand in hand perfectly with the transformational meditation that I do everyday. I think Aikido also teaches a person to remain calm in stressful situations and that, itself, can be an extremely valuable tool."

Why did you select Aikido as opposed to other martial art styles?

"I was told that Aikido was a more spiritual path; that it was a path of personal growth and change. After some research, I discovered that it was perfectly aligned with my goals as a person. I think Aikido helps me to be more well-rounded and it is nice to have a physical path towards spiritual growth. I think people often associate spirituality with the non-physical, but Aikido is proof that spiritual growth can be a very physical path! I feel my mind and body grow in harmony with one another, and I feel that the contrasting teaching styles of Albright Sensei and Shiraki Sensei really push that harmony along. Additionally, since I have started Aikido I have changed my whole attitude on physical health for the better."

Why do you think others should practice Aikido?

"I think anyone who is interested on trying to make positive changes in their life should at least try Aikido as one means toward achieving that change. Aikido presents us with a rare opportunity; one we don't normally have in our society. It gives us an open place to explore and attempt personal change with the support of two wonderful teachers who are willing to go above and beyond the simple title of "teacher." It is very difficult to find such an environment that fosters this kind of tremendous personal change and growth. Castle Rock AIKIDO is definitively the place to do just that."

Anything else you'd like to offer about your experience at Castle Rock AIKIDO?

"I think we should recognize how important it is to learn to blend with and redirect conflict. Be it internal or external, there is conflict all around us. Aikido is a tool we can use to address conflict and to try to look at it from another perspective. Conflict is a part of life, and if you learn how to deal with it in a calm, rational manner many obstacles that life presents us with can become non-existent. Sometimes, when the sun shines on an object from a different direction, the image appears to change entirely. Similarly, Aikido helps me to look at my life in a different way, and many of my problems seem virtually non-existent."

Learn more about Michael's Intuitive Life Coaching services at: www.michaelkilman.com

We are blessed with a great group of students at Castle Rock AIKIDO. We welcome you to come and meet them and our teachers. You can even try a class for free. Visit www.craikido.com for more information.

We added A FOURTH evening per week to practice AIKIDO on April 10th!

Because you asked for it! We have decided to add a 4th evening per week to the Castle Rock AIKIDO training schedule.

On April 10th, 2008 we started holding an additional Thursday night class at our regular class time. That means we will now offer Aikido Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings!

This decision was made in an effort to allow students additional training time, particulary for those of you who are unable to attend class on other evenings per week. There will be no increase in tuition for this additional training time. We at Castle Rock AIKIDO are always looking for ways to add value to our students' training. We hope our new Thursday evening classes does exactly that!

Are you looking for things to do in Castle Rock, Colorado? Try a traditional form of Aikido. Aikido is perfect for adults who are looking for a fun way to get exercise and develop self-mastery.

Visit www.craikido.com to get a coupon for a free class.
Get driving directions to Castle Rock Aikido. Visit www.craikido.com to watch an Aikido video.

The Classic Japanese Text on the Way of Strategy by Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645)


Article and summary by Aikido Student, Sean Hannon


The Water Book is the second of Musashi's Book of Five Rings. Musashi continues his warriorship dissertation by describing why the second book is called the Water Book.

"When water is at its base, the soul is like water. Water takes on the shape of its vessel."

Musashi explores the virtue of ADAPTABILITY as it pertains to warriorship. He uses the element of water as a metaphor for describing this value.The longest of the five books, the Water Book spends a great deal of time on specific techniques of sword fighting. Musashi discusses topics such as posture in strategy, proper gaze in Strategy, proper footwork and stances, and specific techniques and principles such as no plan- no concept, running-water strike, and continuous cut. However, Musashi also still finds time to promulgate philosophical proverbs that can be extrapolated not only to Aikido training, but to daily life, in general. The virtue of adaptability that Musashi advocates (as implicated in the title The Water Book) is taken, by me, to mean adaptability in both physical skill and in the willingness to think and perceive situations flexibly.

In this article, I, once again, offer my own thoughts, opinions, and modern day interpretations of Musashi's poignant philosophy. Again, you are welcome to disagree with and/or ignore anything you read in this interpretative essay.

The second book is called the Water book because like water we must possess ADAPTABILITY to our every changing lives and environment. This is pure Darwinism. Adapt or die. I find it of particular interest that Musashi, a samurai, appears to have truly embraced the virtue of adaptability. As beautifully depicted in the 2003 film, The Last Samurai, starring Tom Cruise, the samurai were virtually wiped out because of their unwillingness to grow, change, and adapt to their rapidly changing environment. Of course, Musashi was a very strong individual.

Individualism was/is not necessarily considered a positive attribute in traditional Japanese culture. He was also rather eccentric. His school of Strategy Ni to ichi ryu broke with traditional by proposing that the best way to battle was with two swords simultaneously – one held in each hand. This contrasted considerably from the traditional, two-handed sword style of traditional samurai.

"You will not attain the Way of Strategy simply by reading this book. You must internalize the writings of this book… you must understand the principles with your body."


Action, action, action! To know is not to do. To know and not to do is to not really know at all. Experience and results are what count.

Of course, the Way cannot be comprehensively expressed in writing. Words, while valuable and diverse, are limited by their very nature. You cannot become a warrior of life just by reading books, watching movies or instructional videos, and certainly not by playing video games! Get out there and actually do it! Aikido is much the same way. You can't learn just by watching (although you can learn a lot from watching an Aikido class, particularly when you are injured).


"Your body should not relax in correspondence with your mind, and your mind must remain resolute when the body is calm."

Here's another paradox much like yin and yang. At no time, according to Musashi, should your body and mind both be relaxed. Similarly, at no time should your body and mind be over-tight. They should be at opposite ends of each other. Your body fit and your mind empty or you body relaxed and your mind at attention.

"In all types of strategy, you must assume this combat posture and make it your regular posture."

Live presently. Be ready. The ultimate aim of awareness is not in the ethereal or the abstract, but in the present: here and now. Nothing exists in the past. The past isn't real. Nothing exists in the future, it hasn't happened. The only reality that exists is the present. Our posture, our body language, should at all times reflect the present and only the present. Look at people. Can you not see the lack of presence in their physical body? One who is tired isn't living in the present, but is trapped in either the past or the future. You can see non-present-ness in people's eyes, in people's posture, in people's gait, in people's skin tone, and in people's body fat. If you can't see this in others, you then must practice your own present-ness.

There is nothing more present than the live blade of a sword and its inherent ability to cut. When was the last time you were completely in the present? Was it when you cut yourself with a kitchen knife or dropped something heavy on your toe? Was it when you narrowly avoided a car accident? Physical danger is often a means of bringing us into the present. However, paradoxically, attracting physical danger is often caused by non-present-ness. There are other, less dangerous, less risky ways of learning to be present in both mind and body. One such way is, of course, through the committed practice of Aikido (or other martial arts or discipline). There is no need to attract danger to live presently with a combat posture. Think not only of your body carrying a combat posture, but think of your mind as such. This is not to be confused with being paranoid or worry that you always may be in danger. It just means to live presently, know where you are, and recognize your relationship is to everything else.

"Use the eyes in a broad manner."

Musashi distinguishes sight as two things: seeing and perception. He views seeing as weak and perception as strong. Seeing is done merely with the eyes. Musashi views perception as more than just the physical sense of sight. To Musashi, perception means viewing with your eyes, ears, nose, and with your gut, your intuition, your internal "vibe." See people, read people with all of your faculties, both physical and non-physical. Tap into that visceral part of you, which says "yes" or "no" to something, not from a place of logic or evidence, but from a place of your gut or gut feeling. However, I would recommend that in order to trust your gut – your intuition – your vessel must be clear. The more polluted your body is with garbage like alcohol, tobacco, drugs, medications, fast food, etc… the less you will be able to use your eyes in a broad manner.

"It is important to be able to see both sides without moving your eyes."

This quote is particularly important to me. It reminds me a lot of Stephen Covey's 5th Habit in his best selling book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Habit number 5 is: "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." The ability to see both (or multiple) sides of any set of circumstances is critical to having successful relationships with family, spouses, colleagues, employers, or even enemies (or perceived enemies). When practicing the art of Aikido, this skill is critical to the optimal execution of a technique. Only by seeing both sides of a confrontation, yours and your opponents/partners are you able to optimally respond to an aggression. The people who are consistently victorious in combat, business, or in their personal lives are those who acknowledge the importance of, and learned competence in, the ability to be able to see both sides without moving your eyes. Without moving your eyes is another way of saying without having to use great effort. This comes only through repetitive practice.

People have often said to me, "How come you are such a good listener?" Or, "How come you are able to figure out or resolve this issue so quickly?" I believe the answer is because I have recognized the importance of seeing from both sides and have practiced it enough to be able to do it without moving my eyes.

"When you pick up a sword, you must be intent on cutting down your enemy. There should be no change in your grip as you do so."


Practicing everything you do with intent and perfection in mind. Pay attention! Everything is important, even the little things. "When walking, walk. When sitting, sit. But above all, don't wobble." When you are working, work well, work intently. When you are exercising, be focused on the exercising. Do it well. Do it intently. Don't read a magazine while exercising. When you are sleeping, sleep well. Make the room dark, quiet, and turn off the TV. Sleep well. When you are lying around on a Sunday afternoon watching television, just watch television. Watch television well, really well. Try not to multi-task. Multi-tasking is far over-rated. People think they are saving time or being more productive. It is my experience that the only thing multi-tasking makes you more proficient at is being less productive. It is my experience that people who multi-task get less things done, not more.


"A fixed hand is a dead hand. A flexible hand is a live hand."

Jack LaLane frequently say, "Life is motion. If you want to stay alive, keep moving." LaLane could be compared to Musashi in many ways. LaLane is as committed to his art of being forever fit and healthy as Musashi is to his perfection of the Way of Strategy. Both these masters encourage one not to get too stuck in your routines. Don't become old. Stay young, by constantly growing and constantly adapting.

"Encounter your opponent with the point of your sword aimed right at his face."

Be decisive. If you are going to engage with someone, do it directly; do it openly. Don't beat around the bush, don't gossip or go behind someone's back. Confront your enemies directly, be they external or internal. Like an Aikido technique, enter the confrontation, blend and take it off the intended line of attack, and attempt to redirect the energy to a hopefully mutual and harmonious conclusion.

"Attack the enemy at the exact moment he attacks you."

Don't hesitate. Aikido student Kriss M. introduced me to the acronym OODA. It means Observe. Orient. Decide. Act. While we may learn these steps sequentially, the master is one who appears to move through these four distinct steps instantaneously. This is a product of mastery, which is a product of repetition. The Aikido mat is a perfect place to learn these four steps viscerally and then take that sense of mastery into other areas of your life. "He who hesitates has lost" is a popular secular proverb. In Musashi's world, hesitation could mean death. Perhaps this still remains true today. Hesitation could be financial loss, injury, a career setback, the loss of a valued relationship or any other number of opportunities. A lack of clarity and lack of intent cause indecision. Napoleon Hill, author of the classic 1937 book, Think and Grow Rich! calls this "having a definiteness of purpose."

"Hit your opponent's hands from below, as he attacks… concentrate on hitting his hands."

This is a big challenge for all of us. Cut your opponents hands and the threat of his sword vanishes. Similarly, a gun isn't dangerous unless it is in someone's hand. I take this to mean: Focus on what matters. Don't get distracted by the frills. Avoid the shiny objects. I often use the shiny object metaphor to remind me to stay focused. I came up with it by watching my cat become completely distracted by something shiny reflecting in the house. Address the foundation of your challenges, the source of what ails you, not the symptoms!


"You must come to know my style and general rhythm and harmony in order to anticipate the opponent’s sword direction."


"By seriously understanding (the Way), you will be assured of victory by discerning your opponent's intent."


Practice centeredness. Know yourself and you will know nature's rhythm. Feel the natural rhythm of things and your opponent's intent will be revealed to you. Embrace nature's rhythm and you will find a path through your challenge (or enemy). Learn to step outside of your own interests and perspectives and you can learn to easily read and anticipate the actions, intentions, and motivations of others.


"If we are well aware of the path of the sword, we are able to handle it with ease."


Repetition is the mother of skill. We only get good at the things we do repeatedly. If you spend your time on things that benefit you, you will get good at those things. If you spend your time on things that harm you, you will get good at those things, too. So, spend your time on things that benefit your body, mind, and spirit and you will be able to handle challenges with relative ease.


"If you try to wield the long sword quickly, you will be mistaken in the Way."


Be present. Focus on where you are. Be mindful of the future, know exactly what you want to be, do, or have in the future, but don’t try to live in the future because the future doesn't really exist. And, when it does exist it will not longer be the future, but then will be the present. Don't be in too much of a hurry to "succeed" at something otherwise you may find that your alleged success unfulfilling. Remember: if it feels like you are cutting corners, if it feels easier, if it feels like it's cheating, then it is.


"The way you hold your sword must be that which makes it easiest for you to cut the enemy well."


Leverage. Live your life at a level of awareness, at a level of honesty that allows you to leverage your skills and assets in such a way that you optimize your time, your effectiveness, and your results. Don't create artificial prisons, mental prisons that hold you back in life. Avoid being sucked up into socially-conditioned beliefs that limit our happiness and sense of integrity.


"The most important principle when taking a sword into your handsis to cut down your enemy by whatever means need to be applied to this end."


Be decisive and act! The more clearly you know and feel your outcome, the faster you will achieve it. The most successful people in the world make decisions quickly and change those decisions very rarely, if ever. Unsuccessful people call this stubborn. Successful people call this committed.


"You must think first and foremost about performing the motionwhich will bring about cutting him."


Begin with the end in mind. Focus on your objective, your ideal outcome, while maintaining your awareness of the present and you will find that your obstacles are not really obstacles. Some say that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. If you can vividly identify these two points (Point A – where you are now, and Point B – where you want to be), that straight line will reveal itself. If you don’t know one or both of these two points, no map will help you.


"When your enemy tires, you must expand your body and your spirit,and cut him… using your power like that of water from a flowing stream."


Everything has momentum. Success has momentum. Failure has momentum. Health has momentum, and sickness has momentum. When our enemies (such as laziness, self-doubt, fear, etc.) begin to tire, begin to lose its momentum, we must seize the moment and expand our power, our commitment to your advantage. We must never allow our enemies to rest and regain their momentum. The art of Aikido teaches us how to do this.


"Cut quickly and strongly with your hands, body, and legs. If you practice well you will be able to cut with great force."


"The Cut and the Slash are distinct from each other. The cut is decisive,and done with a brave spirit. The slash is simply a touching of the enemy."


Nothing great happens when you only committed part way. If you commit only half of your resources to any effort, you often only get half a result... sometime even less! If you want great results, you must commit completely with your entire spirit. So ask yourself, are you really cutting in your life? Or are you just slashing?



"When you are fighting against many… you must crash the enemy together,as if you were tying a line of fish."


What often looks like many problems in life is often just one problem. Do not separately identify one problem as many, for it will overwhelm your spirit. Try to identify what the one problem is that is in your way from succeeding and then cut it down decisively. Defeat the one, and you will discover that the other problems may seemingly vanish. The ability to discern the one from the many is largely a matter of perceiving your challenge from a perspective of intensive honesty. Honesty is most often the "skeleton key" to solving most problems.


"You will be able to win using the One Cut… If you practice well in this way, strategy will flow from your mind and you will have the ability to win according to your will of mind."


Get really good at one thing and you will find that the other things often fall into place with great ease. Be just average or mediocre at several things (by not being focused) and your life will feel mediocre and cluttered, at best. Jack of all trades, masters of none are usually the most unsuccessful, least happy people. Develop mastery at something and succeed in that endeavor before you venture on to the next interest. Spread yourself too thin and unhappiness will find you quickly. Remember: avoid the shiny objects.


"You make a journey of a thousand miles by taking step after step."


There are no shortcuts that lead to success. So, stop searching for them. If you find such a shortcut, it will likely be short-lived. Perhaps by taking bigger steps or by walking more in a straight line may shorten your journey, but those physical steps still have to be taken.



Remember, you may begin with the end in mind, but you still have to actually get there by taking the physical steps in reality. Beginning with the end in mind just makes the journey more enjoyable, it doesn’t substitute for taking the steps.


Well, that’s enough for now. I'm off to Book Three: The Fire Book. See you next time!


Read Part One: The Book of Five Rings


Ready to Try Aikido or our Weapons Class?

Interview with Castle Rock AIKIDO Instructor, Jeff Albright Sensei

Sean: What do you like most about your students at Castle Rock AIKIDO?

Jeff: Well, we have a lot of really good folks here. They are really nice people. Everybody is trying to learn something, trying to grow, and trying to develop themselves. We don't seem to attract people who are out to hurt other, or people with a chip on their shoulder. They are just really nice people, the kind of people you want to hang out with.

Sean: Yeah, I know when I talk with some people about martial arts one of the first things they say is that they are intimidated. They say things like "Oh no, martial arts is not for me" or "I don't want to get hurt," or something like that. But it sounds to me like that is not the kind of person you attract.

Jeff: No, not at all. Typically the people who are a little more hot-headed tend to be attracted to other kinds of martial art styles like MMA. We attract a really neat group, have a great time, and stay safe.

Sean: Cool. What is MMA?

Jeff: MMA stands for mixed martial arts, all the no-holds-bar type fighting you see so much of on cable TV channels these days like Spike or VS.

more interview questions coming...

For more information about our Aikido culture, read our "Make Friends Fast with Aikido!" article.

Edgar Johannsen Sensei's personality and drive is, perhaps, the only reason that the Colorado Aikido Summit has come to fruition once again. It is only because of Edgar's amiable, easy going disposition that he is able to successfully blend with all the diverse personalities in the Colorado Aikido community and bring us all together each year to share in our similarities and learn from our differences. The Aikido Summit is a great place for younger Aikido students to experience a wide array of Aikido styles once they have attained their black belt and created a foundation from which to build. It is also an opportunity for more veteran black belts to get refocused on their own training and decide what aspects to develop on in the coming year.

Having attended several previous Colorado Aikido Summits, this year's was in many ways very much the same as years past. Therefore, it was my responsibility to be sure that I took away from it something new and different. The Aikido styles represented included Ki Society, Tomiki Aikido, Shindo Yoshin Ryu Aikijujutsu, Aikikai, represented by Kei Izawa Sensei of Aikikai Tanshinjuku, and Aikido Schools of Ueshiba represented by Hiroshi Ikeda Sensei.

As I thought about how I'd like my Aikido to evolve this year, and what I want my students to have as a foundation, I chose to focus my training at last week's Aikido Summit on the teachings of Izawa Sensei and Ikeda Sensei. These two instructors' unique styles have both been profoundly influential in my recent Aikido growth.

Over the past several decades, Kei Izawa Sensei has had the opportunity to train with several masters at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Japan. He even had the pleasure of training as 'uke' for Doshu himself in the past. Izawa Sensei also trained with Mitsunari Kanai Shihan, which must have contributed to the development of Izawa's incredible power and dynamic style rooted in the fundamentals of body movement in relationship to uke. If you have ever had the pleasure of being thrown about by Izawa Sensei, you already know that he possesses both tremendous control and power in his technique.

When I trained with Sasaki Sensei in Japan, he would often tell the story of how Osensei would give private lessons on the secrets of Aikido. One day Sasaki Sensei had the opportunity to peak into the training area through a shoji (sliding door) and noticed that what was being taught was, in fact, exactly the same as in the basic classes!

Sasaki Sensei asked about this, to which Osensei shouted, "BAKAMON!" – loosely translated as, "You Fool!" Osensei scolded young Sasaki and said, "all the 'secrets' lie in the basics and fundamentals." Izawa Sensei is an inspiring instructor who emphasizes Aikido's fundamentals to his students in Louisville, Colorado. Izawa Sensei's power originates in the hips and, in Kanai Sensei fashion, is used to forge elliptical power at various angles. As uke, these angles when applied – whether horizontal, vertical, or a combination thereof – are what project you through the air. It may sound odd, but you actually feel a wonderful sense of control and awe over the distance that you travel as Izawa Sensei completes the technique.

The class led by Ikeda Sensei at the Summit was much more focused on the internal aspects of the art. His movement reminded me of some of the more esoteric, metaphysical, and spiritual training that I received while studying with such instructors as Sasaki, Endo, Shiragami Senseis in Japan. Musubi, or connection, is a somewhat ethereal experience that, when applied, can truly develop internal power. Ikeda Sensei regularly teaches an entire class dedicated to this very subject at his dojo, Boulder Aikikai in Boulder, Colorado.

The internal power derived from connection or musubi is quite an advanced concept for many Aikido beginners and can take a long time for beginners to acquire. Ikeda Sensei demonstrated one particular path that Aikido students may choose to walk, and to develop from within, once they have firmly trained and ingrained the fundamentals into natural reflexes.

Having trained Aikido for many years, it is exciting to see what others are focused on, and the Colorado Aikido Summit is a great place for all to do just that. It is a nice, fun social gathering and a time to catch up with friends made in years past. The Summit always causes me to re-evaluate and to renew my personal commitment to Aikido training. It is a great way to be exposed to the vast variety that exists in the "art" of Aikido. Seeing these tremendous differences in style at the Summit reminded me that Aikido truly is much more an "art" than a science with perhaps as many different "styles" as practitioners.

Thank you, Edgar Sensei, for bringing us all together, once again. I very much look forward to attending in years to come.

Review of the Colorado Aikido Summit by Castle Rock AIKIDO instructor, Jeff Albright.

Article and summary by Aikido Student, Sean Hannon

Miyamoto Musashi's Book of Five Rings is a classic Japanese text of samurai sword strategy. Yet, it is so much more than just a manual on how best to wield a sword. The principles discussed in Miyamoto Musashi's masterpiece can, in many respects, be applied to life as a whole. Even though most of us today may not carry around a samurai sword on a daily basis, a reader can still find great value in the observations of this great, innovative, and eccentric samurai. Musashi developed what is called ni to ichi ryu or the "two as one way." In short, it is Musashi's preferred way of fighting with two swords simultaneously, instead of the traditional, two-handed fighting style of Japanese samurai. We can find meaning in Musashi's text beyond that of just sword fighting because, in both in Japanese and in other cultures, the sword is often used as a comprehensive metaphor for life.

Musashi was born in 1584. According to legend, Musashi had a real knack for fighting and killed his first opponent, a well-known samurai, when he was only 13 years of age. He cut down dozens more men by the time he was in his late twenties. In one such altercation, Musashi was said to have single-handedly killed over thirty men in a single challenge. Perhaps mired by his constant killing, in 1612 Musashi made the decision to never use a real blade in battle again. He, instead, elected to use only a wooden sword (a bokken). It is thought by some that he believed himself to be too good to fight others with a real sword. Perhaps out of mercy or a true compassion for life, he chose not to use a live blade. It just wasn't fair to his lesser skilled opponents.

It was also around this time that Musashi speculated that his undefeatedness was not due to his mastery of the sword, but perhaps only to natural talent, luck, or even divine intervention. So at thirty years of age Musashi then decided to dedicate the rest of his life to discovering the Principle, or as he called it, the Way of Strategy. It was not for another twenty years, at age fifty, that he had decided that he had truly discovered this Way.

In 1645, at age sixty, Musashi isolated himself in a cave near Mt. Iwato on the island of Kyushu. It was there that he committed the Way of Strategy to writing. Allegedly, Musashi died only a few days after completing Go Rin No Shu, the Book of Five Rings. Each book of the Book of Five Rings is titled after an element of nature; Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and, what Musashi calls, the Void.

In this six part series, I offer my own thoughts and propose modern day interpretations of this great master's philosophy. I present excerpts from Musashi's introduction plus each of the five books that I found important in my own study of budo. Please keep in mind that what I share here is strictly my own opinions and interpretations of Musashi's writings. You, of course, are welcome to disagree and/or dismiss my interpretations in part or in whole as you see fit. I make to claim to know the true mind of Musashi.

I believe that understanding Musashi's writings requires an appreciation for the notion of paradox. Many people could easily read his books and say that he constantly contradicts himself. I feel differently. Many paradoxes exist in his writings, but I don't feel that they are necessarily contradictory because, after all, life is full of paradoxes. For example, Aikido is a very powerful martial art, yet it can be practiced very gently without sacrificing power. To some this is a contradiction. To others, it is merely a complementary paradox. A paradox being a statement where two facts appear to be in conflict with each other, but, in fact, are both true. This, of course, is congruent with some of the principles of Chinese Taoism and Musashi appears to have an appreciation for such a philosophical perspective.

Introduction to Go Rin no Shu

Before entering the first book, the Earth Book, Musashi acknowledges his place in the Universe and demonstrates humility on the subject to which others claim him to be a master.

"There is no fighter in the world today
who understands the Way of Strategy completely."

Within this statement Musashi acknowledges that even he cannot claim complete mastery over the Way. I think this statement demonstrates Musashi's humility despite sometimes appearing to be somewhat arrogant. I have found that sometimes, a healthy self-confidence is interpreted by others with less self-confidence as arrogance. A modern day cliché or affirmation expressing a similar notion might be the idea that "no matter how good you are, there is always someone better." This, of course, may or not be true. You very well may be the best at something. However, the acknowledgement of such a possibility is the admirable trait of humility. A similar saying is "There's always room for improvement." We can strive for mastery in any calling, even achieve it to some degree, as long as we simultaneously recognize and respect the fact that there is no such thing as perfection; there is no such thing as absolute mastery. Indeed, there is very much a difference between mastery and perfection. One is achievable, one is not.

"Even if a man does not have an inborn ability to fight,
he can become a warrior by consistently practicing each of these Ways."

To me this statement simply means that we are all capable of reaching our own potential. One of the most common things I hear when prospective students call our Aikido school in Castle Rock is, "I'm not sure I'll be any good at Aikido. I'm really out of shape and I'm in my mid thirties." Of course, when it come to Aikido, your age and your weight aren't relevant. Virtually anyone can train Aikido at any age. We can all become a warrior in any calling, on or off the mat, if we choose to make the decision to do so and take the persistent action necessary to become such.

"The Way of the warrior is the brave acceptance of death."

This is often quoted in samurai bushido code and I think it tends to come across to many people as scary or morbid. To me, this quote doesn't mean you need to be prepared to die in order to train martial arts. It really just means embracing life to the fullest and not taking this great gift we have for granted. Accepting the notion of death is just a more macho way of saying to live fully… to live completely. It is only because of death that we, as humans, value life to begin with. It is the supposed contrast between these two that creates value. The fictitious samurai, Katsumoto, in 2003's film, The Last Samurai expressed a similar notion as "Life in every breath." This is the brave acceptance of death. It is the willingness and the courage to experience life in every breath. This is something most people never do.

"The warrior is different because by studying the Way of Strategy
he learns to defeat other men."

Here Musashi differentiates his Way of Strategy from that of mastery over other non-martial arts such as calligraphy, tea ceremony, carpentry, dance or even sword crafting. He contends that they are different, in many respects, because mastery of, for example, the Japanese art of tea ceremony (sado) is the mastery of a system of self – or put another way, one defeats oneself. In warriorship, people learn to defeat other people. Personally, I don't recognize the difference Musashi is trying to make, but, of course, I am not a samurai master!

"The spirit which defeats one man is the same
as that which defeats ten million men."

"If one masters the long sword, that one man can beat ten men."

Musashi appears to be a big believer in the idea that there is no such thing as size or scale. One is the same as ten. Ten is the same as one hundred and, of course, one hundred is the same as one. For a classic, pop-culture reference, I would relate this saying to that of the Yoda character in the Star Wars movies of the 1980's. Of course, many know that the character of Yoda (a Jedi master) was probably influenced to one degree or another by ancient samurai masters, perhaps even Musashi. Nonetheless, Yoda, a creature probably less than two feet tall was represented as having great strength and power despite his physical stature. "Size matters not. Do or do not. There is no try," is a famous saying of the little master.

Notice how Musashi states that it is the "spirit" that defeats one man or ten million men. He didn't say it was the man, or the skill, or the weapon, but the spirit. This is essential in learning the Way of Strategy. A classic illustration of this principle is the infamous Japanese Tea Master Story.

When the tea master met the samurai, he thought the samurai was a Ronin, and this insulted the samurai greatly. The samurai was so displeased that he challenged the team master to a dual the next morning. The tea master was terrified. He ran to the only sword master he knew and pleaded with him to train him in one night to become an able swordsman. But the tea master was a hopeless student. No matter how patiently the sword master tried to teach him, the tea master remained inept. At last the sword master said to him, "Just approach your sword fight the way you approach your tea ceremonies," and gave up.

The following morning, heavy hearted, his fate sealed, the tea master reluctantly went to his appointment. When he faced the samurai on the misty hill he shut his eyes tight, lifted the heavy sword above his head, then concentrated and centered himself the way he did when he performed his tea ceremonies. At that, the samurai threw down his sword, got down on his knees, and begged the tea master for forgiveness. "If I had known you were such a great swordsman," he said, "I never would have challenged you!"
(Source)

Musashi tries to communicate that large is small, and small is large. It is a rather holistic way of viewing the world, a world of sameness, likeness, and whole-partedness (if there is such as word).

In my opinion, Benjamin Franklin made a very similar quote. "You can only grow to the size of your thoughts." Think small and you will be small. Think big and you will be big. This also applies to other aspects of our lives. Think yourself fat and you will be fat. Think yourself tired and you will be tired.

"The principle of strategy is the accomplishment of one thing,
in order to accomplish ten thousand things."

I sum this notion up in one word: Focus. Musashi is firm on the notion of mastering one thing in order to be victorious in every thing. It is only by mastering one thing that we can learn how to master all things. Most people try to be great at a number of things before they have learned to be great at just one thing. I contend that it is this misconception that keeps people from having the success in their lives that they crave.

What will you master? How will you learn the art of mastery? Aikido? Your job? Another hobby? Your emotional state? Master one thing and you will be able to achieve great things because of what you learn in the process of mastery. Try to succeed at multiple things simultaneously without first learning the process and having the experience of mastery, and you will struggle indefinitely.

"You must train day and night in order for you to be able
to make decisions quickly."

Successful people from Napoleon Hill to Andrew Carnegie; from Henry Ford to Anthony Robbins all say that the most successful people are those who make decisions quickly and change their minds rarely, if at all. The ability to make decisions quickly in battle, of course, can mean the difference between life and death. This is definitely a skill that must be acquired. But this skill very much spills over into other areas of life as well.

To acquire this skill, you will be the recipient of heavy criticism. You may be called excessive, compulsive, stubborn, or even neurotic. However, these are often the criticisms of people less committed to their own success, growth, and mastery. I recommend that you ignore anyone who isn't absolutely and completely supportive of your attempts at mastery.

Your training doesn't end when you step off the mat – at least, not if you are paying attention it doesn't. If you've been practicing Aikido for even just a few months I'm certain you have already recognized how you actually are practicing Aikido (or the Way of Strategy) 24 hours a day, seven days per week, even though you may only train at the dojo 2 or 3 times per week. You begin to see the Aikido in everything, in every interaction, in every challenge you face. The more you practice Aikido the more you will find your intuition, your visceral body wisdom, and the more you will be willing to trust and execute your instinctive decision making abilities. I believe this is what Musashi means about training to make decisions quickly.

In the next article, we will dive into The Earth Book, the first of the 5 books of rings.

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Castle Rock Aikido combines Aikido philosophy and Hombu recognized Aikido training. We practice Aikido in everyday life. We are greatful for our students who commit to regular training and are even willing to travel from Denver or Colorado Springs to practice Aikido at our dojo. We welcome people to come watch or try a class for free.

By Sean Hannon

I am a student of the traditional, Japanese martial art of Aikido. I train three nights per week at Castle Rock AIKIDO in Castle Rock, Colorado. Yet, I haven't stepped foot on an Aikido mat in over a year. In early 2006, I injured my lower spine so severely that I could not hold up my own body weight and could not walk at all for several months. Practicing Aikido on the mat with everyone else was simply out of the question. Despite my not having been able to get on the mat, my Aikido continues to improve with each and every class I attend because, for the time being, I practice 'midorigeiko.' Midorigeiko loosely translates as "watch and steal" practice.

I am always surprised and somewhat saddened to see martial art students of any style like karate, taekwondo, judo, mixed martial arts (MMA fighting or submission fighting) stop coming to train at the dojo when they sustain any injury, only to return once that injury is healed. Incurring an injury simply means, to me, that I must train differently until I am able to return to the mat. I regret that some students miss out on the total experience of Aikido; that, in my opinion, they don't quite understand or embrace the comprehensive value and benefit of Aikido. I regret that they perceive Aikido only as a physical art and not as a way of life.

In America, students expect to be "taught" Aikido (or any martial art) step-by-step-by-step by a willing and generous instructor. What a luxury that is! In Japan, students never expect to be taught. Instead, they are expected to have to "steal" technique from their sensei by carefully watching them demonstrate Aikido techniques year after year. Observation is in many ways just as valuable as actually practicing the techniques. Perhaps in some ways, it is more valuable. We at Castle Rock AIKIDO are very fortunate to have instructors traditionally trained in Japan who give us the best of both cultures. They "teach," but they also force us to "steal it" from them.

By using midorigeiko, I learn Aikido through OPM – No, not "Other People's Money," but by watching "Other People's Mistakes." I remember how difficult it was at times to learn while on the mat. I was sometimes self-conscious and, therefore, less than completely self-aware of my body position, my body movement and my mind. This self-consciousness adversely affected by ability to learn. In fact, sometimes I was too aware of my mind and that adversely affected my training just as much. It reminds me of a great scene in the movie, The Last Samurai, with Tom Cruise where the samurai say to him, "Arugen-san, you too many mind!" I remember how I would have a tendency to try to break down each technique step-by-step when I was on the mat. And, while perhaps necessary at the time, I would simultaneously lose the "essence" of the technique because each technique is more than just the sum of its parts. That is something I really learned through midorigeiko.

I also continue to learn Aikido by watching OPS – "Other People’s Successes." I learn by watching Aikido practiced well and successfully by other students. By seeing techniques practiced over and over again I learn to see the holistic totality of each technique and the synergistic energy it creates – or as Albright Sensei would say the "musubi." Additionally, I see how to apply the philosophy behind Aikido – entering, blending, and redirecting – off the mat and in my daily life. When I practice midorigeiko I feel as though I get to see the whole forest of Aikido instead of just the trees.

Without a doubt, one must physically practice the techniques in order to fully learn the art of Aikido. But there is another, more philosophic, more panoramic dimension of Aikido to be learned through midorigeiko.

When you have an injury like mine you end up wearing a different set of "glasses" from which you see the world. You have to learn to perceive things from a different vantage point than you have in the past and you have to find value and significance in the things you can do, instead of brooding in the things that you can't do. Even though I am not yet ready to return to the mat, I find my own way of entering, blending and redirecting with the things I can do. That is how I practice midorigeiko. That is how I practice Aikido… for now. I'll see you back on the mat soon.

In the meantime, I would encourage you to come try an adult Aikido class in Castle Rock for free and discover how Aikido can add tremendous power, achievement and depth of friendship to your life.

I used to be a karate student. I began studying Okinawan karate when I was 17 years old. I loved it. It was hard, challenging, it pushed me to my physical and psychological limits. And after four long hard years I finally earned my black belt and wore it proudly in the karate dojo.

I found myself not progressing...

Less than 12 months later, I found myself teaching many of the classes to the lower ranks. It was kinda fun… for a while. But I soon found myself not progressing. My sensei at the time said to me that after black belt one's rank is based more on their contribution to the art and the amount of time they train rather than on technical skill or progress. I found this answer frustrating and, to be quite honest, unacceptable.

While I was good, I certainly didn't think of myself as great. I wanted more. I wanted to continue to grow my skills. Yet, my instructor was quite adamant about me (and the other black belts in the dojo) not venturing outside of the art of karate. I didn't understand why. Afterall, the art I was training was the synthesis of three previous styles of martial arts.

If the founder of our art studied multiple styles, why wasn't it OK for me to do the same? Like something out of medieval Europe, "Blasphemy!" is what I heard. "How dare you! Who do you think you are venturing outside our style? Do you think you are better than the founder?"

What could be more exciting than earning a black belt?

Earning a second one!

I remember secretly confiding in one of my karate black belt peers who was about 18 years my senior that the truth was that I found the journey from white belt to black belt far more fun and exciting than actually being a black belt – that in many ways, I longed to put a white belt back on again and learn something new. I was surprised to discover that he completely agreed with me.

Even though I was only 22 years old back then, I deemed this "blasphemous"attitude as mere dogma and set out to evolve and diversify my martial arts skills. Since I had been studying karate, a very rigid, linear, hard-style of martial art, I decided to try a style I thought was on the opposite end of the spectrum. I decided to train Aikido. Based on what I knew at the time about Aikido, it was very much the opposite of karate. Aikido was flexible instead of rigid, circular in nature instead of linear and more gentle on my body instead of hard like karate.

(Special Offer to Try Aikido and See if it Can Diversify Your Martial Arts Training once you click on this link, see bottom of the page for the special offers)

A Quick Lesson in Humility

At my first Aikido class, now more than 12 years ago, I remember stepping on the mat with perhaps a wee bit more confidence than some of the other new students. After all, I was already a black belt! Not in the art of Aikido, mind you, but at least in karate. For the next 90 minutes I found myself being repeatedly instructed by the senior students to relax. "Lighter, softer," they would say. "You’ve got to loosen up. You’re going to tire yourself out very quickly expending all of that energy." Strangely, the other new students in the class were not being told the same things I was and didn't seem to be having any of the difficulty I was having.

Then one of the senior black belts said to me, "You’ve studied karate before, haven't you?"

"Yes!" I respond quite proudly. I was glad that somebody acknowledged my skills.

"It would have been better if you hadn't!" He retorted.

What!? I was shocked, even a little hurt (or at least my ego was). Why would he say that? I assumed my karate training would have helped me learn Aikido faster? Several months later after continued Aikido training, I finally began to realize what this gentleman was saying to me and why. It reminded me a lot of the famous "empty cup" story.

The Empty Cup
A great martial arts teacher was visited by a young, well-known and respected university professor. "I have come a long way to see you," he said. "I have heard that you are a great Karate Master, the Art of Empty Self. I have so many questions for you. I, myself, have studied very hard for many years to understand the essence of what you teach. Can you tell me the meaning of Karate? Of Empty Self? How it can bring peace to the world? What is the secret of this teaching?"

The Martial Arts Master was serving the professor tea as the professor rambled on with question after question. The Master poured the visitor's cup to the brim with tea… and then, kept on pouring. Now, the tea was running off the table onto the floor.

The professor watched bewildered until he could no longer restrain himself. Finally, he shouted, "Can't you see the cup is full! No more will go in!"

"Like this cup," the Master smiled, "your mind is full of questions and seeking answers! Until you empty your cup, no more can go in. Likewise, until you present me with an empty mind, you cannot learn or receive anything."

Growing my skills by starting over

The decision to leave my karate school, take off my black belt and strap on fresh white belt in Aikido was my way of "emptying my cup." I still love karate. I still practice my katas almost daily, but Aikido has opened up my world, giving me a whole new way of looking at martial arts, self-defense, and even self-mastery.

If you have grown bored with your karate training, or just feel stifled, and wish to diversify your martial art skills with a complementary, yet radically different art then I would encourage you to come join us in Castle Rock.

(Special Offer to Try Aikido and See if it Can Diversify Your Martial Arts Training once you click on this link, see bottom of the page for the special offers)

We welcome you to train with us in Castle Rock...
Our dojo is just 25 minutes south of downtown Denver and 35 minutes north of Colorado Springs. We have students from these areas and everywhere in between coming to train with us several times per week. Come find out why people from all over the Denver metro and Colorado Springs areas are willing to travel to Castle Rock several times per week to practice Aikido with us. Contact us today so that you can come try a class for FREE, meet our talented instructors, and friendly, excited students.

By Jeff Albright Sensei and Sean Hannon


A past teacher of mine would frequently say, "Bring it!" What she meant by that was whatever you want to experience, you have to "bring it" to the experience. This can apply to tangible things as well as intangible things. For example, let's say you are going to a party. If you want there to be guacamole at the party then you'd better "bring it." Similarly, if you want to have a fun at the party, then it is your responsibility to "bring it," – the fun, that is – to the party and not expect it to be waiting there for you. It is your responsibility to "bring it." It is not the responsibility of others, the activity or the event.

Aikido training works exactly the same way. Bring a willingness to learn, an attitude of humility and, perhaps most importantly, a sense of humor to Aikido class, and those qualities – and their inherent benefits – are what you will experience at class. I should point out that this attitude isn't unique to the traditional, Japanese martial art of Aikido, but would also apply to other martial arts like karate, taekwondo, judo, and Brazilian Jujitsu or any form of mixed martial arts (MMA fighting or submission fighting. Unfortunately, the "bring it" philosophy works both ways. If you bring anger, frustration and resentment to Aikido class, then that is what you are sure to experience on the mat.

Aikido really is a microcosm of life… your life. If you experience happiness throughout your day, then that is what will come out on the Aikido mat. If you carry your ego around all day, you shouldn't be surprised when you find yourself bumping into egos on the mat – both others and your own!

The value of "bringing it" to the Aikido mat is that it offers us an opportunity to have a physical, non-verbal dialogue with ourselves that can lead to psychological, or for some, even spiritual transcendence. On some level this physical, non-verbal dialogue we have with ourselves on the Aikido mat is more honest than the usual mental dialogue we engage in within our own minds each day. While words can hide truth and significance, physiology cannot. Your body doesn't lie physically. Physical dishonesty will often manifest as an ache or pain or, if held long enough, even a disease. As Aikido students we can learn to "listen" to our physical-selves, our physical movements and make changes in our lives accordingly.

Aikido provides us with a venue of self-exploration and self-transformation. It reveals and unearths things deep within ourselves that we sometimes don't want to explore or don't think we need to work on. Yet, if we don't explore these things students often find themselves frustrated, not progressing in their training or sometimes even quitting. Students are often surprised to discover just how much of their "inner selves" manifest physically, outwardly on the Aikido mat. It is nearly impossible to hide on the Aikido mat what lies inside… especially to an experienced Aikido teacher.

Physical movement (like that experienced in Aikido training) is one of the most primitive and fundamental forms of communication and is, in my opinion, far superior to verbal communication. There is something primordial and deeply honest about physical movement and the powerful messages it contains. Most people have heard the saying that only 20% of communication is verbal. Personally, I think that percentage is way too high. You can tell a lot about a person by their physical movement. Confidence, comfort, ease and happiness have a certain "look" to them on and off the Aikido mat. Self-consciousness, fear, anger and frustration have an equally identifiable "look."

Interestingly, the presence or absence of these physical attributes has nothing to do with how long or how experienced a person is at Aikido. It has to do with what they psychologically "bring" to the Aikido dojo. I have seen first day Aikido students demonstrate tremendous confidence and comfort. Similarly, I have seen experienced Aikido students demonstrate near-paralyzing timidity and unparalleled anger at times. Again, what shows up physically on the Aikido mat is what they "bring" to the mat. Their physical appearance, posture, movement and fluidity are all part of a larger physical language that is Aikido. A student's physical flexibility or inflexibility is often (but not always) congruent with their mental, emotional or psychological flexibility. As such, Aikido instructors will sometimes even challenge their students mentally or emotionally through physical movement on the mat or even verbally off the mat in order to help them progress in their Aikido training. Of course, these efforts are not always welcomed by students, but nonetheless, is still an important aspect of their training.

My instructors in Japan would often deliberately provoke a reaction in me in their efforts to teach me something. In Japan the Sensei/Student relationship is a sacred one. The Sensei's role is one of technical instructor, confidant, coach, counselor, trainer and most importantly, friend. I take my experiences to heart and attempt to provide students with insight and lessons in not only the physical aspects of Aikido techniques, but more importantly about life. I do this not as a superior in Aikido, but as a peer in life.

Those who make Aikido a life-long pursuit often do so not for the martial art and/or self-defense applications, per se, but for the self-transcending benefits of Aikido. Aikido truly is a physical path to self-mastery. Ultimately, Aikido is meant to be experienced firsthand, not just read about. Aikido is always challenging to describe purely in writing because the experience of Aikido transcends the written word. The practice of Aikido really represents an opportunity for transcendence on every level of existence. So let’s get rolling… and bring it!

Come discover how Aikido can serve as a catalyst for tremendous growth and expansion in your life. We invite you to come try a free class at our Aikido school in Castle Rock, Colorado. Call us today at 720-221-3665 or visit us at: http://www.craikido.com/ for a limited time special offer. Experience a power you never knew you had. Experience Aikido!

Dr. Jeff Albright of Rocky Mountain Wellness in Castle Rock, Colorado recently released a 40 minute instructional Aikido martial arts DVD. This DVD is a high quality demonstration of the fundamental techniques of the Japanese martial art of Aikido. Video training helps students see the different aikido techniques in slow motion so they can work on their techniques at home.

Sensei Jeff Albright has been practicing martial arts for over 20 years. He holds a 3rd degree black belt the art of Aikido and also holds black belts and teaching certificates in various other martial arts styles.

Albright Sensei has taught at well-known Aikido schools in Nagasaki, Japan and instructed officers and personnel of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. He is also a graduate of Ichikukai Misogi Shogaku, a prestigious ascetic training program many infamous martial artists undergo in Japan.

Being fluent in Japanese language and having trained in Japan for nearly five years, Albright Sensei has a deep understanding of Japanese culture and provides an authentic style of Aikido emphasizing both fluidity of movement and practicality. Today, he and his wife, Miho Shiraki, are the head instructors at Castle Rock AIKIDO located in the heart of Castle Rock, Colorado.

A copy of this Aikido DVD has been donated to the Philip S Miller Library in Castle Rock, Colorado. Inquire at the reference desk.

Copies are also for sale through Castle Rock AIKIDO.

And through a special promotion, find out if you qualify to receive a FREE copy of the Aikido DVD while supplies last.

Many people seek out martial arts as a means to creating more power in their lives. Power, of course, can be defined in many ways. Some people are seeking self-empowerment in the form of self-improvement, self-discipline, or self-esteem, while others may be seeking power or control over others. Martial arts can be a very a good place to discover power. However, more often than not what people end up learning is not true power, but force. Many martial arts teachers do not really understand the difference between power and force, or worse, think they are the same things. As such, the student ends up creating more resistance in their life, instead of more power and he or she never learns to truly generate power.

In Aikido, your objective should be on generating power. Most people tend to think that the fastest way to power is through force. Not true. Short-term power can be generated through force. However, that power is one-dimensional and usually doesn't last. It could be argued that the Japanese discipline of Aikido is, in fact, the endless endeavor of physically harnessing maximum power with the least amount of physical exertion. Overwhelmingly, the power people learn to generate in Aikido is a form of personal power within themselves as opposed to a power over others. Power over others is almost always a product of people exerting force, not harnessing power. Indeed, people's misconception of what power is often leads to the very opposite outcome of what people seek.

In physics, Power and Force are often (but not always) used interchangeably. However, in Aikido force and power are too very different things. In the Aikido dojo power is a product of intent and position.