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Tag Archives: martial arts
The Circle and the Spiral
I often think of Aikido in philosophical terms. When a teacher gives advice about how to do a technique physically, I sometimes translate it into advice on how to live my life. It doesn’t always happen, and I’m not always … Continue reading →
Posted in Aikido
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Tagged Aikido, ikkyo, Kim Barton, Kimberly S Barton, martial arts, O'Sensei
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3 Comments
Energetic Batteries
Aikido is energy training. The name itself speaks of this energy; the ‘ki’ in aiKIdo means energy or life force. Put together, the word Ai-ki-do means ‘the way of joining energy’ or ‘the way of harmony.’ I recently spent a … Continue reading →
Posted in Aikido, Dance
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Tagged Aikido, energy training, Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan, internal power, Kim Barton, Kimberly S Barton, martial arts, The Force
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This is Where You Live
In the movie Hitch with Will Smith and Kevin James, Hitch, played by Will Smith, is the ‘Date Doctor,’ a man who hires himself out to help other men get dates with women, often unattainable women. Albert, played by Kevin … Continue reading →
Posted in Aikido, Dance, Movies
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Tagged Aikido, Dance, Hitch, Kevin James, Kim Barton, Kimberly S Barton, martial arts, Will Smith
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3 Comments
O’Sensei
Today, April 26th, is the anniversary of the death of Morihei Ueshiba, or O’Sensei as Aikido practitioners call him, which means ‘Great Teacher’. Morihei Ueshiba created the martial art Aikido. Although O’Sensei is no longer with us, his art lives … Continue reading →
Posted in Aikido, life
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Tagged Aikido, Kim Barton, Kimberly S Barton, martial arts, Morihei Ueshiba, O'Sensei
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2 Comments
True Emptiness
“If you have not Linked yourself To true emptiness, You will never understand The Art of Peace.” ~O’Sensei, The Art of Peace I’ve been contemplating what the phrase “linked yourself to true emptiness” means in this poem, at least in … Continue reading →
Posted in Aikido, life
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Tagged Aikido, Kim Barton, Kimberly S Barton, martial arts, Morihei Ueshiba, O'Sensei, The Art of Peace
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4 Comments
Ukemi, Posture, and Life
Posture…something I’ve been thinking about again. This week during Aikido class, I watched people do ukemi. Ukemi (oo-KEH-mee) is what we’re doing when we fall or roll or get taken down into a pin. It is also the initial attack … Continue reading →
Posted in Aikido
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Tagged Aikido, Kim Barton, Kimberly S Barton, martial arts, posture, ukemi
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8 Comments
The Practice of Peace
**Today my dojo is participating in our town’s annual Peace Fair. I decided to repost this blog about the practice of peace in honor of the event and in the ideal of peace.** “The choice between love and fear is … Continue reading →
Posted in Aikido, life
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Tagged Aikido, Kim Barton, Kimberly S Barton, martial arts, Morihei Ueshiba, O'Sensei, peace
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2 Comments
When the Song Fits the Mood
Every time I tested for a dan rank, I listened to one particular song or one particular band every time I drove to the dojo. This went on for the three months or so that I prepared for my test. … Continue reading →
Posted in Aikido, Heavy Metal, Music
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Tagged Aikido, Apocalyptica, Depeche Mode, Earth, heavy metal, Kim Barton, Kimberly S Barton, Lacuna Coil, martial arts, music, Wind
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1 Comment
Responsibility, Teaching, Training
**This is the latest of the essays I wrote before a black belt test. I wrote it April of 2014.** Lining up to bow in to class one afternoon, the teacher (a fellow yudansha) said, “Look to your left.” We … Continue reading →
Posted in Aikido
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Tagged Aikido, Kim Barton, Kimberly S Barton, martial arts, Morihei Ueshiba, O'Sensei, Teaching
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1 Comment
Aikido and Dance
**I wrote this in 2011 when I was preparing for my second degree (nidan) black belt test. If you’d like to read the essay for my shodan test, it’s here.** “Move like a beam of light; Fly like lightning, Strike … Continue reading →
Posted in Aikido, Dance, life
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Tagged Aikido, Dance, Kim Barton, Kimberly S Barton, martial arts, Morihei Ueshiba, O'Sensei
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2 Comments