May 2Kickass Women Inspiration BoardThis is sent with love to all my fellow women and mothers out there. In my previous ‘Inspiration Board’ post I received some comments...
Apr 18Aikido Pain ScaleLove this quote - “Learning is a gift, even if pain is the teacher” (James Garner). This is MY personal pain scale. You might have your...
Apr 4One Sensei on the MatNo one teaches other than the teacher. If help is requested/needed keep the verbal instruction to a minimum.
Mar 7Effective PinningMy Sensei insists on tight techniques, leaving no room for wiggling and escaping, so when going for pins I try to do exactly that....
Feb 7Aikido Intro - Poster #2Poster #2 is finally ready! Some more basic terms, concepts and techniques that would have been great to have in front of me when I...
Jan 24Aikido Style S&MWith an endless list of injuries, bruises, and countless aches and pains that sadly remind me I’m getting old…er, I keep wondering why...
Jan 10Height Adjustments - Tall Uke, Short NageNot taking into account the little kiddies class I’m always the short Nage. Unless I extend/direct/lure you tall guys (actually anyone...
Jan 3Height Adjustments - Short Uke, Tall NageAlways a little amusing to train with a much taller Nage who doesn’t drop his center big time to my level, leaving me with the...
Dec 31, 2021Happy New YearWith a mild TP PTSD and a severe DL anxiety (that would be toilet paper and distance learning), wishing us all that 2022 will NOT be 2020...
Dec 20, 2021Big WristsThose big, huge, thick, log-like wrists I can barely grab with both hands…. Of course, I need to grow bigger hands, or adjust my...
Dec 13, 2021All Big Tall Giant Dudes...WTH! I’m pretty sure we had some short/petite people in the dojo before COVID started!!!
Dec 6, 2021Dojo Improvements… It used to be just me (I think), gasping for air, on the verge of fainting 5 minutes into class. Now it seems the whole puffing and...
Nov 22, 2021Randori / Jiyu wazaAfter the long Covid break I still need more time to get back whatever muscle memory I had. Right now when it comes to randori or Jiyu...
Nov 12, 2021Happy Birthday Mel!Born November 12, 2018, Mel is three years old today! I first created Mel as an outlet for my frustrations and sarcasm, as neither had...
Nov 8, 2021Injuries HappenDrew this one quite a while back but never posted it, and then last Monday it happened to a guy in our dojo. He tore his toenail when it...
Nov 1, 2021My Ura ExperienceSure!… No brute force used… And No, you haven’t noticed your uke is half your size.... Be mindful of the different people you train with,...
Oct 11, 2021Inspiration BoardWas there a particular actor or movie that got you started with martial arts? Here are some that came to mind, in no particular order or...
Oct 4, 2021Dojo Rule #35 - When Class EndsAt the end of class, after bowing out, students should remain in seiza until Sensei has left the mat. Well…. ‘Should’ if that’s part of...
Sep 20, 2021Aikido vs Ameri-Do-TeI’m a big fan of Master Ken, the creator of the martial art Ameri-Do-Te. I admire the no BS, uncomplicated, straightforward approach....