Book Review: Aikido Talks – Conversations with American Aikidoists

Susan Perry and Ronald Rubin. Arete Press, 2001 This book contains 20 interviews with prominent American teachers and students. The interviews were originally published in ... Read more

Book Review: Sumo from Rite to Sport

P L Cuyler. John Weatherhill Inc, 1979 The author graduated from Princeton University where she majored in Japanese history. A well thought out book that ... Read more

Book Review: The 36 Secret Strategies of the Martial Arts, The Classic Chinese guide for success in war, business, and life

By Hiroshi Moriya: Forward and translation by William Scott Wilson. Kodansha International, 2004. Hiroshi Moriya is an expert on Chinese culture / philosophy. Apparently he ... Read more

Book Review: Beyond the Known, The Ultimate Goal of the Martial Arts

Tri Thong Dang. Charles E Tuttle Company, 1993 Tri Thong Dang was born in Vietnam and has studied and taught martial arts worldwide. He is ... Read more

Book Review: Teaching Martial Arts, The Way of the Master

Sang H Kim, PHD. Thistle Press, 1997 Dr Kim is an author of at least 7 martial art books and 40 instructional video tapes. He ... Read more

Book Review: This is Kendo – The Art of Japanese Fencing

J Sasamori and G Warner. Charles C Tuttle Company, 1974 Fully illustrated book introducing Kendo. I found this book extremely helpful when I was studying ... Read more

Book Review: The Samurai

H Paul Varley with Ivan Morris and Nobuko. Penguin Books Ltd, 1974 Not a book for those who want an easy read – a detailed ... Read more

Book Review: The Spirit of Aikido

Kisshomaru Ueshiba. Kodansha, Tokyo, 1984 Discusses the founder’s philosophy as well as pre-war development of Aikido.

Book Review: Bruce Lee and Me – A Martial Arts Adventure

Brian Preston. Atlantic Books, 2007 At the age of 47 Brian Preston a novice martial artist embarks on a King Fu journey. A marital artist ... Read more

Book Review: The Art of Peace

By Morihei Ueshiba, translated by John Stevens. Shambhala Publications, 1992 Literally a pocket-sized book which draws on talks and writings of O’Sensei. A book you ... Read more

The recipe for aikido

Ingredients: Method: 1. Sensei We all know O Sensei is the creator of Aikido and Robert Nadeau Shihan is his direct student. Our leader in New Zealand is Henry Lynch ... Read more

A couple of concepts

Having the opportunity to write and engage you all for the second time is an honour and privilege.  I have had several serious injuries on my Aiki path which I ... Read more

Managing the mind

Our Sensei Robert Nadeau Shihan talks a lot about how the mind and the body are different systems. We tend to spend a lot of time focusing on the push ... Read more

Peace

Aikido is many things to many people! It evolves with every new teacher and every new person that participates in training but I believe there is one core value that ... Read more

Irimi and Atemi, Intention and Presence

Irimi and Atemi, Intention and Presence: what place do these concepts have in my journey through Aikido? I was once told that O-Sensei said Aikido was Irimi and Atemi. The ... Read more

Aikido: Harmony, Unity, Peace

The term Aikido has been interpreted in many different ways. According to the Collins Dictionary, Aikido means “the way to join or receive spirits or forces”. The Oxford defines it ... Read more

Connections

Sometime in 1979, Papakura Auckland: “That’s the martial art I think would be good to start” said my Ju Jitsu teacher after class one evening. Dave Butler sensei invited the ... Read more

The Power of One

Just what is “The Power of One” and how can we use our personal influence to grow Aikido in our regions. If our art was dying, what could you do ... Read more

A very simple thought – A very simple Roban

Recently I asked myself why I practice Aikido. Why is it that I am still doing it. Over the years other sports and passions have come and gone…. but why ... Read more

NZ Martial Arts Institute signs agreement with Transparency International

Sensei Henry Lynch (right) at the signing of an agreement between  NZMAI (NZ Martial Arts Institute) and Transparency International with (from letf) Suzanne Snively, Chair TINZ,  Kyoshi Angelina Carden, President ... Read more

Becoming a Yellow Belt (6 Kyu)

By Hannah Lynch, Riai Aikido Wellington When I was little (about 5 years old) I would always pester my dad (Henry Lynch, Riai Aikido) and say I really wanted to ... Read more

Aikido – Great For All Ages

If you are around 50 and want to keep fit, balanced, boost your self-confidence and learn to blend with others in a martial art that is based on peace and ... Read more

Riai Aikido: A gentle art for kids – Jason Oxenham

Tucked away in Eden Terrace is a peaceful room complete with muted tones and potted lilies – it’s the Riai Aikido Learning Centre. The facility, known as a dojo, echoes ... Read more

Irimi and Atemi, Intention and Presence

Irimi and Atemi, Intention and Presence: what place do these concepts have in my journey through Aikido? I was once told that O-Sensei said Aikido was Irimi and Atemi. The ... Read more