Author Archives → jb

watershed

After simultaneously training in two different affiliations for the past two and a half years, I finally made the leap. Now I’ve gone from a guest in Birankai to becoming a visitor at the Iwama dojo that’s been my home for a decade. It was extremely difficult, and the discussion with Sensei was spiked with… Continue reading →

friendship

There are different flavors of aikido, usually representative of O-Sensei’s teaching at the time the branch fiirst sprouted from the tree. The early forms, such as Yoshinkai and Shodokan, and some of the later forms like Ki Aikido, have their own separate organizations. Yet even the main branch, the Aikikai Foundation (Aikido World Headquarters), has… Continue reading →

robots

The newest kid on the block, and the avatar of every previous age (roughly sixty and counting), is Robot. He’s currently spraying perfume on his tonsils and chirping “me-me-me!” But soon, my fiends, very soon, you will become uncomfortably acquainted with his cornered sidekick broom. Join the adventure!

chivalry

Sean’s become more and more interested in fencing ever since he took a few classes with Piedmont Park and Rec last summer. He’s now an enthusiastic student of Maestro Harold Hayes at the Pacific Fencing Club in Alameda. I enjoy going after work to admire Maestro Hayes’ teaching style, imagining how it might translate to… Continue reading →