This week’s video dives into a topic that many Aikido students have heard of — but few truly understand: zanshin. Most people think zanshin is a dramatic pose at the end of a technique.But real zanshin is sustained mindfulness — the awareness you carry before, during, and after movement. In this...

We’ve all met that Aikido student who tries to collect techniques like they’re checking items off a list. More waza. More variations. More cool moves. But during my years in Japan, I discovered something very different:Learning many techniques doesn’t lead to high skill.Depth does. Sometimes we’...

Have you ever tried to fix a technique by moving faster — only to make things worse? In Aikido, the secret isn’t speed. It’s timing. When you focus on timing, you stop fighting your partner’s rhythm and start harmonizing with it. Fast movement often creates tension — but good timing dissolves it...

Have you ever been told to “relax” in Aikido? Yep, me too — but in Japan, my teachers never said “relax.” They said “chikara wo nuide.” It doesn’t mean to chill out or go limp. It means remove strength — release unnecessary tension so your power can move freely through your body. In this week’s ...

This week’s video is a little different — no action footage, no throws, no ukemi. Just me sharing one of the most important lessons from nearly a decade training in Japan. If your Aikido progress feels stuck, the solution might not be more reps or strength or learning some "cool moves." It’s abo...