Road Trip Preparations
I shouldn’t be sitting here writing. I should be doing my laundry, feeding the donkeys, and getting everything packed and ready to go. I’ll be … Read more …
Linda Eskin - Grab My Wrist
GrabMyWrist Goes on the Road
For 5 days, starting bright and early this Thursday morning (May 17th, 2012), I will be off on an Aikido road trip. I’ll be driving … Read more …
Three Years
Today, May 5, 2012, it’s three years since I first stepped onto the mat. I had a post half written, about dates and seminars and … Read more …
A very busy past few months. Too busy.
It’s pretty amazing how circumstances can get overwhelming sometimes. Take a 95% busy schedule, add 10%, and like a road at more than its capacity, … Read more …
Doors
This is an image that came to me in my work during the Evolutionary Aikido seminar this weekend with Patrick Cassidy Sensei and Dave Goldberg … Read more …
For us, warriors are not what you think of as warriors. The warrior is not someone who fights, because no one has the right to take another’s life. The warrior, for us, is one who sacrifices himself for the good of others. His task is to take care of the elderly, the defenseless, those who cannot provide for themselves, and above all, the children, the future of humanity.
[Yet another quote on the nature of the warrior.]
Sitting Bull
Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux chief and holy man.
“Don’t Waste It”
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
Steve Jobs
Commencement Address, Stanford University, June 12, 2005
What if you could…?
Every few months Sensei offers “Aikido In Focus” workshops. These are a series of “concise topical training clinics for accelerating both your Aikido and personal … Read more …
Here’s a short video by Mark De Souza (who I finally got to meet here!) that’s a very representative bit of the 3-day seminar with Dan Messisco Sensei at Two Rivers Budo in Sacramento, California. When I signed up, I had no idea who Messisco Sensei was, or what his seminar might be like. I really enjoyed it, especially because the pace was very slow. By that I mean there was a lot of vigorous training, but plenty of time to absorb the information presented. Some seminars are very interesting, but there’s so much thrown at you that it’s hard to retain any of it. Here I felt I actually was able to experience, and experiment with, what we were working on, not just get a quick look and move on. I’ll definitely be looking for more opportunities to train with Dan Messisco Sensei.
This was the first seminar held at Geoff Yudien and Adam Fong’s new dojo. Three of us from Aikido of San Diego drove up, picking up a fourth friend along the way. We had a great time, start to finish. A classic road trip, with great truck stop food, long conversations, and amazing scenery. The whole Central Valley was in bloom (almonds, mostly). If you are planning to visit this dojo we would all highly recommend the Residence Inn, Cal Expo as a place to stay. They have big suites that are perfect for 3-5 people. Also, be sure to eat at Thai Chef’s House, near the dojo, and the Mongolian BBQ across from the Inn.
I’ll be going back to Two Rivers Budo when George Ledyard Sensei visits in September. Already looking forward to it.
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
