Duende … is the spirit which inspires those extraordinary, perhaps fleeting, moments in Flamenco (as in other arts like the corrida, or bull-fighting) when the performer achieves a total communion with his audience. Only the truest artistry and afición, free of any taint of egoism or showmanship, can create the possibility of this occurring. ItContinue reading “Duende”
Category Archives: uncategorized
Old poster
The building where we practice is very old and full of odd and wonderful things. One of them is this fencing club poster This says about fencing pretty much the same as what we could say about our Ki Aikido classes: safe, easy, inexpensive. Muscular and mental response – yeah that is one way ofContinue reading “Old poster”
Christmas Ki
Our small Christmas do on Dec 7th after a class Sensei Williams once said – “Ki is happiness” so we must be doing the right thing Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2019 everyone! … and we’re open during the Christmas break btw
Speaking of Aikido…
If I could express the same thing with words as with music, I would, of course, use a verbal expression. Music is something autonomous and much richer. Music begins where the possibilities of language end. That is why I write music. Jean Sibelius, 1919 Replace in your mind ‘music’ with Aikido. … and then perhapsContinue reading “Speaking of Aikido…”
Courses in Toronto and Vancouver
It’s now official. Next year Sensei O’Connell 8th Dan will run courses in Toronto on May 9-10, and in Vancouver on May 16-18. Some photos from Sensei O’Connell’s course in Moscow in 2012.
make One with all
… in this one thing, all the discipline Of manners and of manhood is contain’d:— A man to joyne himselfe with th’Universe In his maine sway, and make (in all things fit) One with that all, and goe on round as it; Not plucking from the whole his wretched part, And into straites, or intoContinue reading “make One with all”
Tough guy role
Stu Grimson on playing the tough guy role and the toll it takes: https://www.cbc.ca/playersvoice/entry/the-grim-reaper-meets-his-nemesis In our daily life many of us play tough roles and are in need of means to cope. Coming from warrior tradition Ki Aikido offers a unique way to resolve conflicts in a non-violent way. Since its primary focus is trainingContinue reading “Tough guy role”
2nd Dan at 94
From the Ki Federation web-site: … We don’t normally take photographs of gradings. However, Rose, at age 94, gave us permission to take and publish these images from her 2nd Dan Grading. http://kifederationofgreatbritain.co.uk/all-articles/october-2019-aikido-update/ As a bit of background: It typically takes around 6 years of practice to achieve 2nd Dan, that should give an ideaContinue reading “2nd Dan at 94”
Halloween
No class on the 31st. Too scary outside…
Gracefulness
One night while watching a dancer, and inwardly condemning her tours de force as barbarisms which would be hissed, were not people such cowards as always to applaud what they think it the fashion to applaud, I remarked that the truly graceful motions occasionally introduced, were those performed with comparatively little effort. After calling toContinue reading “Gracefulness”
Ki Aikido 