Before I walked into my first hapkido dojang (Korean word for martial art training hall), I was told by a friend that there were different styles of hapkido. He put it to me plainly, “There is traditional hapkido and there is taekwondo with some joint locks and throws added to it in order to charge … Continue reading Taekwon-kido (Not Hapkido)
My martial art journey began with a conversation. I had a good friend and mentor who had done martial arts for most of his life. He and I discussed many things, mainly philosophy, theology, and spiritual practices. I was not a religious person, but he turned me onto Taoist and Buddhist thought, mainly as a … Continue reading Hapkido (and Heartbreak)
My martial art journey began with a conversation. I had a good friend and mentor who had done martial arts for most of his life. He and I discussed many things, mainly philosophy, theology, and spiritual practices. I was not a religious person, but he turned me onto Taoist and Buddhist thought, mainly as a … Continue reading (Have you ever met) A Force of Nature?
There are certain people in this world, very few, whose personalities are so big that, for better or worse, simply meeting them can change the entire trajectory of our lives. These people seem larger than life. They draw attention by simply stepping into a room. Their very existence leaves an impression on everything and everyone … Continue reading Remembering Joe Sheya
Taikyoku Aikido (太曲合気道) is based on the observation that all aikido techniques can be ‘mapped’ on one of five vectors, conforming rather closely to the proper lines of ikkyo through gokyo aikido techniques. It is Ellis Amdur’s speculation that this may have been deliberate on Ueshiba Morihei’s part, but whether a conscious creation or not, … Continue reading Taikyoku Aikido with Ellis Amdur (太曲合気道)
