Kotsu Kotsu

At the beginning of every Kokikai Aikido class we practice ki development exercises. Beginning students often wonder about the purpose of these movements. I sometimes sense students are waiting to get the ki exercises over with so we can get to the fun part of class. Don't make this mistake! Ki development exercises are really important! I was lucky to have an instructor who devoted a lot of attention to ki exercises, and I learned to give as much attention to them as to all the other aspects of my practice. Ki Development Exercises: Purpose Sensei often compares ki exercises to strength training exercises for athletes . Quite simply: they help make us stronger. No one claims they're a substitute for technique when it's time to defend yourself. A boxer may do push-ups to become strong, but in the ring nobody's going to be doing push-ups! Mindful practice of ki development exercises helps us form good habits of mind/body coordination . One of the first things...

I often hear people talk about "being in the moment," the way you might say "I want to learn to play the saxophone" - like an objective you could achieve if you only had a little more time or money, maybe next month after you finish cleaning the garage, or once you retire. "I need to be in the moment more." I think this would make a great headline in The Onion : I'm Going to Be In the Moment...Next Week "Being in the moment" is simpler than you think . It doesn't cost money. It doesn't take time. It's not hard. You don't have to cram your body into yoga pants and sit in the lotus position. You don't have to move to New Jersey, learn Japanese, get a guru, believe in chakras, or even meditate. Here's all you have to do to be in the moment: Whatever you are doing right now: pause for a moment and notice that. "I am here, doing this." If you are experiencing strong emotions, you may want to pause and ...

Many of my Kokikai Aikido students have asked me about breathing exercises , and I thought it would be helpful to have some simple instructions in a place that is easy to access. These simple exercises increased my lung capacity by more than double within about a month , and as additional months went by, I could exhale continuously for 400% longer than when I began . If you're wondering  what are the benefits of a breathing practice,  (other than being able to exhale for a really long time!) here are three previous posts: Powerbreathe Why Teach Breathing When the Dog Bites Please keep in mind that other Kokikai instructors may have additional, or different ideas about how to practice breathing. Additionally,  Maruyama Sensei  occasionally modifies his instructions about breathing practice. The practice I outline below represents my understanding. It has worked well for me and for others I have instructed. Of course, it should go without sayi...