I came across these two blogposts that I particularly like from Aikido World Blog.
Aikido and Spirituality This post discusses the spiritual and technical side of aikido. It's a good reminder that aikido is not always about techniques, but that it is also way of life. Various teachers and school of aikido tend to stress one aspect more than the other.
"Ueshiba taught that, while it was important to become proficient in physical technique, this is not the ultimate purpose of training... He once commented that he was teaching students not how to move their feet but, rather, how to move their minds."
Lessons from the World of Aikido From this article, I love how Garr Reynolds states that aikido is not aggressive, nor is it passive. While you do not attempt to harm someone, you also don't sit back and let them harm you. 'Going with the flow' actually requires awareness and an understanding of reality.
"Do not regard others as the enemy... the only real enemy is inside us; this we can control. "
Happy reading!
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