After yet another inspiring Summer seminar in England (some photos below), we’re starting new season. Absolute beginners and all levels of fitness are welcome. Ki Aikido consists of exercising with a partner, and all the movements come naturally within the individual’s physical limits. These exercises simulate problems in daily life. We learn that force andContinue reading “New season starting”
Author Archives: Dimitri Popolov
Juniors welcome
Juniors (14 y/o and older) are welcome to join. Calm, rhythmic and smooth movements promote calmer and more focused mind. No aggression, tension or competition. 2024-09-07
First prize, new Dan Grades
Please don’t miss the August update on the Ki Federation website: “… We had plenty of laughs on our fancy dress evening again. The prize for the funniest costume went to Dimitri and family, over from Canada. They paraded by, banging a gong and calling “Bring out your dead”. The body in the cart keptContinue reading “First prize, new Dan Grades”
New season
We are back from excellent Summer Seminar’2024, full of new learning an inspiration. Seeing Sensei Williams at 90+ years of age demonstrating what can be achieved with KI was amazing. No photographs this time because photographing Aikido is like photographing music – one sees musicians, but not the music. Practice of Ki Aikido is veryContinue reading “New season”
Ki Aikido and Anxiety
A lot of us experience anxiety and even panic attacks in spite of “doing the right thing” and “taking care of ourselves”. Many turn to martial arts for solution. After all, teachers and instructors are looking so capable and self-assured on promotional videos. Students hope that learning how to defeat opponents and protect themselves willContinue reading “Ki Aikido and Anxiety”
Coping skills through Ki Aikido
Here one of the most profound thinkers of Western Civilization contrasts ‘improvisation’ wrestling with a choreographed dance. In Ki Aikido the purpose of practice is to train the mind to cope with unexpected events in our life. Multiple partners’ attack represents problems in the daily life that come to us from all sides and areContinue reading “Coping skills through Ki Aikido”
Great progress: story behind a photo
This photo might not make much sense at a first glance, but there’s a great story behind it. About nine months ago a gentlemen came to our club with a walker (on the left) and a history of brain injury and asked to join. He joined and started with Ki Development and Ki for HealthContinue reading “Great progress: story behind a photo”
The hardest part of Aikido practice
I chanced upon a copy of a 1969 book to which Sensei Williams has contributed a chapter on Aikido. I thought that this quote could be encouraging for those making up their mind to come to a class. It is not so much the practice that is the difficult part but the getting down toContinue reading “The hardest part of Aikido practice”
How do I begin …
Our classes are mixed-grade, beginners are practicing on the same mat as higher grades, but in our classes all beginners go through a staggered process that allows them to start enjoyably and safely. There is a sequence of movements, exercises and Ki tests that everyone is going through as they start. Students move through themContinue reading “How do I begin …”
The Artist’s Way. Audacity.
All too often, it is audacity and not talent that moves an artist to center stage. – Julia Cameron, The Artist’s way One of the objectives in the practice of Ki Aikido is “to eliminate the fear of living”. This refers to that feeling of performance anxiety and overthinking ever-present in our lives. It getsContinue reading “The Artist’s Way. Audacity.”
Ki Aikido 