Thoughts and ideas for the aikido practitioners and any martial artists interested in martial arts history, training, strategy, and growth.

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Explore the differences, advantages and limitations, in your aikido when training in street clothes and shoes. There are some fun and interesting things to appreciate. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Ep. 205: Training in Regular Clothing

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Aikido is viewed as an elegant and beautiful martial art. Are these traits beneficial to the art itself or do they get in the way of aikido&#39;s effectiveness? For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Ep. 204: Aikido's Elegance - Good or Bad?

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Is combatives training useful, or the best approach for self-defense training? For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Ep. 203: Combatives - Good or Bad?

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Growth is about change and evolution. How does our training evolve as we grow? How can we improve ourselves, our skills, and our understanding? This episode takes a look at the influences of changes and growth in the training and learning. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Ep. 202: Training for Our Modern Age

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All martial artists progress, but only some progress to the point where they internalize what they learn to achieve a high degree of prowess. How do you you do it? This podcast talks about why, when, and how should you do it. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Ep. 201: Making Your Martial Art Your Own

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Our discussion covers many reasons why martial arts become too specialized, sometimes to their detriment. How do we spot it and what can we do to make sure our art doesn&#39;t become impractical or irrelevant. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Ep. 200: When is a Martial Art Too Specialized? - with Matt Stait

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An in depth conversation with a long time aikido instructor who trained under some of O&#39;sensei&#39;s primary students. We talk about how aikido and training has changed over the long span of time and under different influences.For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Ep. 199: Aikido's Past and Present with Marcus Encel

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It is widely acknowledged that strikes (atemi) are a crucial aspect of aikido, based on quotes from Morehei Ueshiba and other shihan. Are we looking at striking comprehensively in our aikido training?  This podcast gives you some perspectives to consider when it comes to striking and how it applies to aikido. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Ep. 197: Deep Dive on Atemi

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The weapons of aikido (tanto, bokken, and jo) seem integral to aikido, but is that true and does how these are trained benefit or detract from aikido&#39;s image and reputation?  This podcast goes in depth with many points to examine and think about for how you think about weapons training. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Ep. 196: The Issues with Aikido's Weapons

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We cover a variety of topics about aikido and its future, including suggestions from members of the Aikido: the Martial Side forum. For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Ep. 195: Aikido and Its Future - with Tengu

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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://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Ep. 194: Teaching De-escalation in Training - with Dunken Francis

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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&amp;t=17s&amp;ab_channel=AikidoShudokan For more information about Spirit Aikido Online:http://spiritaikido.com/spiritaikidoonline Paypal tipjar:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Ep. 193: The Future of Yoshinkan Aikido - with Joe Thambu

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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&amp;hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Ep. 192: Next Evolution in Martial Arts - with Matt Stait and John Keeley

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How would you approach forming a new dojo or looking at your current dojo&#39;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&amp;hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Ep. 191: Reimagining the Dojo and Training - with Col. Todd Hulsey

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Our discussion dives deep and covers an examination of many aspects of how we can adjust aikido&#39;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&amp;hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Ep. 190: Aikido Renaissance? - with John Keeley

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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&amp;hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Ep. 189: Aikido Pressure Testing - with Dunken Francis

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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&amp;hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Ep. 188: Aikido and Grappling - with Steven Scott

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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&amp;hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Ep. 187: Aikido and Striking - with Oliver Martinez

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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/spiritaikidoonlinePaypal tipjar:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG

Ep. 186: When Etiquette Goes Too Far - with Ellis Amdur and Steven Scott

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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&amp;hosted_button_id=B6AX94H6N4HBG