This blog features all things budo – aikido, judo, and jodo tips as well as general martial arts philosophy and advice. Writings from some of Kaze Uta Budo Kai’s finest teachers, students, and friends.
Posts from the Budo Blog
- Why Chen Style Tai Chi Can Enhance Martial Skills
by Angel Castillo, Stillness in Movement Blog Tai Chi is Not Just for the Senior Center Next March, Windsong Dojo will host a two-day workshop on Chen-style Taijiquan (tai chi), led by… - Ju no Kata in Judo with Patrick Parker Sensei
Ju No Kata (forms of gentleness) as taught by Patrick Parker Sensei, head instructor at Mokuren Dojo. Footage from seminar at Windsong Dojo in Oklahoma City on September 20-21, 2012. Parker Sensei discussed… - Aikido Release Chains
Introduction to Release Chains Release chain series was put together by Karl Geis from the toshu randori drills. These are based on the concept of renzoku, which focuses on smooth transitions between… - Gravity Assist & Structure Assist in Aikido
by Kitty Sullivan Learn to use gravity and structure to assist with effective aikido kuzushi / off-balance As long as you are not floating around in space, you are probably attached to… - Budo: Practice without a Partner
The dojo is closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but you can still practice with these aikido, judo, and jodo exercises that can be done without a partner. - The Seventeen: Aigamaeate
Jim Ellison (from Spiritual Gravity blog) The second move in “The 17” is called aigamaeate. It roughly translates to forward posture strike. Aigamaeate is part of the atemi waza, or striking techniques…. - The Seventeen: Shomenate
Jim Ellison (from Spiritual Gravity blog) Ju Nana Hon Kata – also known as “The 17” is one of the first katas we learn in our aikido curriculum. This video series will… - Jim Ellison’s Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything)
Jim Ellison (Spiritual Gravity blog) I began practicing aikido in 1979, at the age of 33, and have been teaching it since the mid-1980s. Our dojo teaches a Tomiki style of aikido… - Shodan to Sensei: An Aikido Story
Jim Ellison When I first stumbled onto aikido in 1979, I was looking for little more than a way to keep in shape and possibly learn a few self-defense moves. One of… - Aikido: Advice for the Kyu Grades
Jim Ellison (original post from Spiritual Gravity blog) In our dojo, we have four levels between white and black belts: yonkyu (green belt), sankyu (brown belt), nikyu (brown belt), and ikkyu (brown… - Finding Aikido
Jim Ellison (Spiritual Gravity blog) Life is full of small miracles. Some people like to call them “coincidences”, but I think that “small miracles” is a much more fitting term. For me,… - Advice for the Beginning Aikido StudentAs an aikido practitioner and teacher for almost 4 decades, I occasionally get asked what advice I would give to someone who is just starting out in aikido. Probably the hardest thing…