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 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...