Kotsu Kotsu

Trying A New Technique Can Be Bumpy At First  This year, for our annual Kokikai Aikido Winter Camp, we decided to try selling t-shirts using an online seller. It seemed like the modern thing to do. Instead of guessing what people would want and ending up with leftover shirts, people could go online in advance and pre-order the exact size, style, color they wanted. They'd all get shipped to my house and we'd hand them out at camp. I'd order a few extra for those who like to make spur-of-the-moment purchases but there would be a lot less waste. My son, Martin, works for an online business printer. He said he knew a cool little startup he had worked with before that had a great website. He set up the campaign and we were all excited...UNTIL... The promised delivery date came and...no shirts. Not even a tracking number. Luckily I still had over a week's leeway: "Hope for the best, plan for the worst" is my motto. This  very online company had no custome...

I spoke to an aikido student during a Kokikai Aikido camp in March. I understand he is a fairly well-known mathematician. I asked whether it was challenging to work with human beings, who react differently every time, as opposed to mathematical constructs. He surprised me by saying that his biggest challenge was in dealing with things happening in real time, with no recourse to contemplation or consideration. Then he said something that was quite poignant. It is fairly accepted in scientific circles that most mathematicians do their groundbreaking work when they are in their 20s. By the time they're 35 they are "over the hill." With their best work behind them, it's time to make way for the new stars. This student said that for him the most rewarding thing about Kokikai practice is the possibility of continued growth throughout his lifetime. Before he practiced aikido, continued growth was not part of his outlook. It may seem like no big deal, the idea the you c...