It's been a good weekend. We are halfway through the Beginner Series at Aiki Arts Center and Autonomous Press has two new books almost ready. That means I get to conduct author interviews and share marketing tips with our contributors. Thank you to the Gods for a beautiful life.
We are pleased to share a new video, made for the parents of our youth students, though useful for everyone.
It shows the basic exercises that we practice as our foundation, along with new material. We are learning to be present in the body, calm and grounded, and to move with purpose.
"Human speech and consciousness should honor the Source of existence rather than degrade or desecrate it. Humanity is called to cultivate reverence for the sacred dimension of reality."
Yaakov Ort
It takes practice to become an affirming leader and the most capable leaders are always learning too. We can choose to inspire and motivate the group do perform their most useful actions, to communicate with thoughtfulness and decent strategy, and to orient towards the arc of progress.
It's a pleasure to share these upcoming events at Studio 12 in Berkeley, California. We have UpSwing Aerial Dance Company, Nishi Kaigan Iaido Dojo, Aiki Arts Center, and many other wonderful groups. See you there.
@aikiartscenter.bsky.social
www.studiotwelveberkeley.com/events.html
The beginner series is rolling along at Aiki Arts Center. We have two more Fridays (show up at 6pm) with these techniques and ki exercises.
katate tori - tenkan
katate tori - sayu nage
gyakute tori - irimi nage
ryo kata tori - kokyu nage tenkan
shomen uchi - kaiten nage
yokomen uchi - omote nage
When I was young, Ofer Zur designated a dessert cupboard with all the treats. That is now created in the fridge, with delicious things to enjoy.
I went to rehab in Utah at age sixteen to get a breather from the drug scene. The place was run by super sweet Mormons and there was plenty of space to be outside, with horses and a rope swing over a pool. We had fun there, healing from various expressions of ouch.
We are honored to give a demonstration at the Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Saturday, April 11 (2:30pm - 3pm). You can come by the stage at 1840 Sutter Street, and we will be looking for volunteers too.
We are delighted to share this interview with Hao about his first book, Skinny Woman in a Straw Hat. And you can stay tuned for a new book (and interview) later in the spring. He is a beautiful storyteller.
autpress.com/2023/09/inte...
@autonomouspress.bsky.social
What feels like purpose: introducing people that can support each other, and sprinkling the right ideas into the relevant places, so we can all get more efficient and more kind. In other words, improving the quality of life through deeper connections.
It was a good week. We got sales at work and in all areas of life, relationships feel lighter and more mutually trusting. The warmth will bounce us into a Beginner Series at Aiki Arts Center this evening.
@aikiartscenter.bsky.social
Our beginner series starts tonight (show up at 6pm) and spans all four Fridays in March. It's suitable for brand new students, anyone preparing for orange belt, and more experienced students. The fundamentals are always relevant.
I've been reflecting on acceptance and how seeing situations clearly can be relaxing. It takes tension to uphold delusion, whereas gentle observation takes little effort.
"One of the most significant changes was the improvement in my relationships. Without the distraction of my phone, I could be fully present in conversations, giving others my undivided attention."
medium.com/@denzeldamba...
I decided a few weeks ago to hang out with smarter people and the dojo is a big yes there. We are attracted to aikido because creating harmony out of conflict feels right in the soul.
“Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.”
― Bruce Lee
We are looking forward to the beginner series on Fridays next month. Here are the techniques that we'll learn (along with ki exercises).
katate tori - tenkan
katate tori - sayu nage
gyakute tori - irimi nage
ryo kata tori - kokyu nage tenkan
shomen uchi - kaiten nage
yokomen uchi - omote nage
It's a good day. We have young aikido students preparing for yellow belt and in the adult class, will be offering a Beginner Series next month. See you at the dojo.
@aikiartscenter.bsky.social
In the youth aikido class, we are hosting family day tomorrow. We did such events before the pandemic, so this is the first time with the new group. It will be fun.
@aikiartscenter.bsky.social
It's tax season and I will put in a plug for Bruce Friedman in El Cerrito (for anyone looking in California). He is a straight shooter and super organized. We like him.
www.yelp.com/biz/friedman...
Hope you feel better. Yes, these states happen.
"Most of us want to be more graceful and less awkward. But I don’t think the awkwardness of being human can ever be fully transcended. It might look that way when we see certain bodies on stages or movie screens, but there’s a lot of illusion involved in that."
neuroqueer.com/the-awkwardn...
Thank you to Marilyn Steele for the beautiful flower arrangement and meal. I like knowing that we are all growing and changing, as our own evolution is deeply connected to the path of humanity at large.
I've been reading Impact Players and learning that simply seeing our projects through to the end (unless there is a good reason to adjust or pause) can make a person stand out at work. When we show up reliable over the long term, we develop a reputation for trustworthiness.
thewisemangroup.com
We are pleased to share a Girl Scout Cookie option that benefits the dojo community. Here is the link to purchase from Alan Sensei's daughter. Thank you for supporting our local young people.
digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/scout/anna76...
“The point about connectors is that by having a foot in so many different worlds, they have the effect of bringing them all together.”
― Malcolm Gladwell
paulitaylor.com/2023/12/08/w...
