Practicing When You Can't Practice - III

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Aikido students often ask me what they can do when they are away from Rutgers for the summer and they can't find a nearby Kokikai dojo to practice in.

Koichi Tohei taught that the practice of aikido technique was just one of five disciplines or aspects of practice, which include:

Aikido Technique
Ki Exercises
Kiatsu 
Breathing Practice
Meditation

Maruyama Sensei was Tohei's student until he founded Kokikai Aikido, and many of the concepts in Kokikai Aikido have roots in Tohei Sensei’s teaching.

I tell students that if they can't come to the dojo for an extended period of time, they can take part in any practice that will help them develop awareness of their bodies, increase their ability to relax while they are engaging in effortful activities, focus on one point and balance. This might include attentive practice of sports, music, yoga, and/or one of the activities listed above. 

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