Aikido of Alamo

Each morning that we get to train, I am always grateful for the community, and the beauty of O'Sage park in which we get to practice.

Practicing and enjoying sunrise at O'Sage park

This is really good worth reading, thanks Jason Yim for finding it.

Training in O'Sage Park 7am, so beautiful. It is amazing when there is frost on the ground the face mask keeps us warm.

Practicing 7 suburi in beautiful O'Sage Park with Michael

Aikido of Alamo is practicing at O'Sage Park which is just beautiful as witness by these photos. We have adjusted what we are working on in a fairly dramatic fashion to acknowledge what is happening with Covid-19.

That was 8 years ago

Not remembering this video, it really showed what I hoped

It is easy to decide on what is wrong to wear to a party, such as deep-sea diving equipment or a pair of large pillows, but deciding what is right is much trickier. Lemony Snicket, The Slippery Slope Nobody practices Aikido to be wrong. Yet I am pretty sure that I have not yet had a class were I have done something absolutely right. It is important and helpful to have the student or sensei occasionally wear deep-sea diving equipment to class. Wrong is easier to see and useful. "Right" is virtually invisible, I have experienced good even very good but I have not experienced absolute "right".

https://aikidoofalamo.com/category/blog/

I can watch this and see how much more obvious I am to Guru Jeff then he is to me.

Mensaje del Doshu de gratitud a la vida y las cosas simples. Escrito el 16 de septiembre 2020. Japan is primarily a peaceful and amiable country. However, the... fight against the invisible corona virus continues. Not just Japan, but around the world the requests to Please cooperate in not doing ~, and Please do ~, make it feel as though various freedoms were being stolen from us. On the other hand, many things that I took for granted in the previous lifestyle were brought to my attention. For example, knowing that I am alive, and the patterns of my daily life, as well as being able to go where I wanted when I wanted, all of these things that used to be commonplace are now special, and it is hard to come to accept these changes. It is said that there is a high risk to people who have reached advanced ages, but I have not paid much attention to my age until now. Under these circumstances, how do we live life with the same relaxed feeling, how do we follow the directives for business and social life, how do we continue to safely hold Aikido practice? These questions fill my mind. But listing out things we cannot do, over and over again, does nothing. We must give our best efforts towards what can be done now in these circumstances to move forward. When I think about the two-month period the dojo was required to be closed because of the Emergency Declaration, the current situation feels like a dream. Without comparing it to the regular times, when I compare it to the worst times my heart becomes light. With sufficient protections against the spread of infection and while wearing masks, the Aikido Hombu Dojo reopened for practice on June 1st. At first, the notouch only practice consisting of taisabaki and other solo exercises felt stiff and constrained, and there was a fearful atmosphere. Even so, I found meaning in that type of practice, and as the situation changed while watching it closely, we have been able to slowly return to a more regular practice style. From July 27th through August 7th we held shochugeiko, midsummer intensive training, in which 77 people participated in one practice every day. (2019: 110 people). The joy that comes from being able to practice is a great, precious gift. Originally the 13th International Aikido Summit (General Assembly Sept 25 28th, Seminars and embukai Sept 29 Oct 4th) was to be held for 10 days. This year, all the events planned to be held in Japan were suspended, and in the July issue of the Aikido Newspaper reports of the situations in various countries by the Japanese teachers who live there were included. It can be clearly seen that not just in Japan, but all around the world people are wishing for a situation where they can freely practice. Even without being able to put on the International Aikido Summit, and although many people around the world are still unable to resume practices, I can feel the connections that tie together Aikido practitioners from around the world. Just from watching the videos Dojo-cho made, I can feel that connection. While fervently hoping for the creation of a vaccine and medical treatment to become available, there is no way of knowing when it will happen. Even with that though, with our hearts as one in the intention to beat the corona virus, and doing what we can now, I plan to live each day with gratitude in my heart. I am thankful that in these times you also have not forgotten Aikido. Aikido Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba See more

Harry Concepcion shared this photo, so cool. The front five that are wearing hakama's from left to right Peter Ralls Sensei, Jack Wada Sensei, Steven Seagal Sensei, Bob Frager Sensei, Jim Alvarez,and I am the back right corner with a full head of hair.

I found this when Kosuke Yoshimoto was a white belt training in Danville with me. Now I get to see him on zoom and he lives in Panama City, Panama and is a Ni or San Dan.

This Sunday, June 28! Join the "Conversation on the Aikido Path", with Jan Nevelius Sensei (Stockholm, Sweden) and Linda Holiday (Santa Cruz, California). 10:30-11:30 am, California time. Go to www.aikidosantacruz.org to get your FREE link, and join in the Conversation!

Nobody practices Aikido to be wrong, yet when we practice we mostly are. Most practice is based on normative assumptions, or simply habit. How do I as an Aikidoist validate what I am practicing. It has been my experience that practice is generally created through emulation of sensei who mimicked his or her sensei. Usually I validate my practice by how much I look like my sensei or even better yet my sensei's sensei. This basically is a logical fallacy called An Appeal to Auth...ority. This is not to say that I should not defer to authority, if I am training with Frager Shihan and he says "Scott extend more" I am certainly going to try to extend more. I just cannot validate what I am doing or teaching based on his authority. (Even if he gives me a thumbs up) Being wrong needs to be welcomed not feared, because what we are practicing is at some level wrong. Right is just a concept we are aspiring towards. Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it. Leo Tolstoy, A Confession Failure is the key to success: each mistake teaches us something. Morihei Ueshiba I love the Aikido of both people in this photo, it is posted here because I like the photo, not as an example of wrong.

Aikido is what struggle looks like with only one person participating in the struggle.

Binary Assumptions There are a lot of senseis who I respect and whose Aikido I really enjoy. I however, go crazy when I hear them describe dojo Aikido versus street Aikido. As if somehow I am going to change what I have been training to do for the last 40 years when put into a violent situation. There is an axiom that I have trained with and believe, "we become what we train. " Why this idea drives me crazy is that they are missing the magic of Aikido. Aikido gives us an oppo...rtunity to exist in the world without binary opposition. In everyday life I judge myself by what I have that someone else doesn't have, or what I don't have that someone else has. Even in martial arts, where I am the most mindful of avoiding this mindset (of binary opposition),I do the same thing. Someone pushes me, I need to push harder, I pull someone and they pull me harder. Changing this inherent human behavior is why I do Aikido. Aikido being a "Do" art means the time I spend training in the dojo is me practicing my better self. I actively engage my uke in a way that avoids binary opposition. Uke grabs me, I engage with uke's grab as a request, and am quiet enough in my thoughts that I do not respond to uke as though he is doing something to me. Aikido teaches us that instead of binary opposition, which in martial arts terms is the conflict i.e. the punch or grab. There might be another way to interact with the antagonist the punch or grab are perceived as request not attacks. The judgement is left out. The ability to leave oneself out of the judgement is the magic of Aikido.

There is no envy, jealousy, or hatred between the different colors of the rainbow. And no fear either. Because each one exists to make the others’ love more beautiful. Aberjhani, And those who were seen dancing, were thought to be crazy, by those who could not hear the music. ... Friedrich Nietzsche

I started reading a book by Jay Michaelson "All is G-D". The book has me thinking of the genius of O'Sensei and the beautiful art he created. Specifically this quote "In the Jewish tradition, secret traditions are not secret because they are rarely disclosed. They are secret because they are experiential, and thus cannot be disclosed at all." O'Sensei gave us a way to have an experiential practice. He realized that there was no way to intellectualize Aiki. I have heard the story of O'Sensei coming into the dojo and looking at everyone and saying I lead and no one follows. I believe this is what he meant, Aikido techniques were not created so that we keep making our techniques better. They were created so that we can grow in our practice, we are able to have an experiential moment of non duality.

How cool just did zoom class with Kosuke Yoshimoto and open fb and shows me 10 year old memory with him.

"There is a difference between a tribe and a community. A tribe does not understand its place in the whole of humanity and may believe the whole is the tribe. A community sees itself as an integral part of an integrated universal humanism.... We should strive to test our tribal beliefs against the rigors of a strong community. " Brandon Monk https://youtu.be/efLyVg9ZeQ0

Terry Dobson Terry Dobson at the old Skid Row Dojo. I am hoping this starts a little Terry Dobson revival. Terry was very important to Aikido. I feel lucky to have trained with him and grateful to Jimmy Friedman for having Terry come and teach us. with Scott Berg at skid row dojo.

Hi Guys Frager Shihan is going to do this Zoom

This is the 13 jo kata that Bob Cornman Sensei showed Tuesday on zoom. To lazy to try to edit the zoom and found someone else to demonstrate it.

The other day I posted a quote from Marshal Rosenberg "If you want to confuse any issue, I can tell you how to do it: Mix together what I do with how I react to it." Today while walking Rudy (who did not want his picture taken today) I was taking pictures with a bigger lens than I have been the last few weeks. The lens had me see the walk differently, I think that is what we are working on in Aikido being aware of what lens we are looking through.

Message from Doshu COVID-19 is spreading all around the world. I pray for the prompt recovery of all those who have been affected by it, and I would also like to express my sincere condolences to the families of all who have passed away. In these times when COVID-19 is spreading around the world, as a measure to avoid infection various things and events are being reduced or cancelled, and our society feels as though dark clouds are hanging over us.... Regarding Aikido, events are being cancelled in all the regions, and most people cannot even keep practicing because of the closing of their training places. Although unavoidable, it is incredibly unfortunate. The circular movement embodies Aikido’s spirit, the spirit of harmony. I believe this thought is the most important for us as humans. Right now, especially at this time, we must value the spirit of harmony and not lose our moral sense to fear of the virus. Preventing the spread of infection and self-protection is important. At the same time, are people not becoming exhausted from the fear the current situation is causing? Are we not losing our human thoughtfulness, our kindness? It feels like our state of mind is being tested by this virus. We must fight this fear without losing our sense of morality and committing any kind of discrimination towards others, being calm and affable. Until the time that this infection ends, and we can go back to our daily Aikido practice, I pray for all of us not to forget the spirit of harmony, and to keep walking the same path together. 2020/4/1 Aikido Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba

Marshal Rosenthal wrote in one of his NVC books"If you want to confuse any issue, I can tell you how to do it: Mix together what I do with how I react to it." I think in terms of Aikido it would go something like this I confuse what uke is doing with my interpretation of what uke is doing. Or in my jargon I write myself into the story.

Just a reminder Zoom classes are currently Tuesday @ 5:30pm https://zoom.us/j/921993261 Saturday @ 9:30am https://zoom.us/j/583564763

I think I am going to start offering an online class, looking for recommendations and interest. Thanks, Scott

Master Lerma doing a lovely job making the best of the situation

My old Aikido of Alamo shirt, I miss it.

As anyone who has trained with me knows I truly appreciate and admire Jack Sensei. I’m going after our Saturday class.

Thursday morning gave Sadhana Jain her nidan certificate. I started training with her when her boys and my son would come and train with us I believe in 2007 or earlier. She had come to Aikido of Alamo after getting her shodan from Chiba Sensei. A very cool aside Lizzy Lynn Sensei believes she processed her shodan. It truly has been great for me and the dojo to have Sadhana train with us.

It was a lovely event, (I took this lovely picture) I was unable to train because I got there very late. However, I wanted to be there to acknowledge Linda Holiday because I think she had been such an important person to bay area Aikido and for that I truly am grateful to her.

Last night I was very happy to give out three black belt certificates to Michael, Jon, and Ted. Tonight hopefully a nidan certificate too Sadhana. On Saturday I was fortunate enough to see Linda Holiday receive her 7'th dan. Upon receiving it she recalled a memory of one of her teachers saying that dan ranking was permission to grow into the rank you were granted. It was really inspiring to hear a 7'th dan talk about growing into her rank. And really exciting to see my guys actualizing that.

I had a very interesting conversation with a dojo cho as well as friend about how to teach aikido. She had come to a class that I had taught, in which I was using some bizarre example about how if you put a brick on your hand you will not be able to tell that a dime was added to the brick in regards to the difference in the weight. Just like if you have a lot of things going on in your head, you will not be able to distinguish what is going on with you as compared with what... is going on with uke. That the things going on in your head are comparable with the brick on your hand. So that the goal of training is to get rid of the brick, or quiet the voice in your head. Well after class as usual we went for coffee, and the discussion got around to sometimes it is better to let someone know what they are trying to do (the steps to ikkyo for example)rather than some abstraction such as trying to get rid of the brick. Well this got me thinking about the difference between convergent thinking as oppose to divergent thinking. Most students like convergent thinking as this gives them a step by step method to do the technique correctly, as oppose to divergent thinking that would have the technique be the starting point with a vast array of ending points. J.D. Salinger's short story Teddy does a great job of expressing the dangers of convergent thinking when he has Teddy describe why he would not teach a child that grass is green. "The same thing with grass, and other things. I wouldn’t even tell them grass is green. Colors are only names. I mean if you tell them the grass is green, it makes them start expecting the grass to look a certain way-your way-instead of some other way that may be just as good, and maybe much better.." Well if I teach a student that ikkyo is done in this convergent way, ikkyo will only be the way that I taught it. As the student progresses their goal would be to have their ikkyo mirror their image of the way it was taught. It will forever be the shade of green I described. So the argument to teach ikkyo in a convergent manner is almost always justified by "the student needs this when they start". I believe that if you are trying to run a commercially viable school it might be important to do this. Having a new student walk away and being able to say I understand "ikkyo" or I can do "ikkyo". Everyone wants to believe or know that there is one right answer and that they are moving towards it. It is a much harder to have a new student walk away saying I am confused, and I am studying something that might not be knowable. The best we can do is move towards the truth, although we might never get there.

Happy New Years to all. So I really love Wendy Palmer if you have a chance you should go and train with her at the New Years training. The thought of having a 2020 theme is interesting to me. As the world becomes more tribal, how do we live our lives in a way that supports a community and not a tribe. How do we use Aikido as a way to practice acceptance? I think these are the questions I will keep with me as I practice in 2020. Happy and safe New Years to all, and we have a class Monday night. No class Tuesday evening.

I am back, said goodbye to Fred the turtle, there is class tonight. No class Xmas eve, class Thursday, Friday, and Saturday morning.

I was able to go snorkeling after taking a pretty good fall leaving the hot tub during a tropical storm last night. I bring it up because I practice Aikido a martial art that involves falling, and this practice has allowed me to enjoy the rest of my vacation. So often in Facebook and other social media I read about what real martial arts are. Ground and pound, how to inflict real damage on your opponent. Well yesterday my opponent was the ground, I got to say that I did not win, but I was left being able to snorkel today and enjoy the rest of my vacation.

I was looking for dojo's to train at while in Hawaii and found this great picture of Dobson Sensei.

This is a blog by Jack Wada Sensei, talking about his first fifty years in Aikido. This is a lovely look back. https://jackwada.blogspot.com//11/my-50th-year-part-one.ht

Ted this weekend took his black belt test. This is at the end of the test when he does a lovely san ni dori (3 person attack)

This weekend we had our semi annual WAA seminar and black belt test. These are some pictures of Ted's black belt test, he really did great. First picture is the most important coffee in the morning before seminar.

Looking forwards to this weekend

This is kinda of fun, love to hear what character you think you are, and which one you think I am.

Aikido of Alamo and ABK up and going Saturday morning

We broke in the new dojo with our 7am class, found a great place for coffee afterwards. That has been my biggest concern about moving.

I found this in Palm Desert and bought it for Sensei Lerma as new dojo gift. He placed it near our shomen.

Last class at 321 Hartz Ave. A new chapter starts with a new hakama from Jen Designs new address 607 San Ramon Valley Blvd. Danville, California

Please note that as of Saturday November 2nd class after 26 years will be moving to 607 San Ramon Valley Blvd. , Danville. The new dojo is beautiful please come and celebrate first class

Haven’t thought of this forever

No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man. Heraclitus I think as we practice "Ikkyo" we should keep Heraclitus in mind.

Lovely class taught by Jan Nevelius Shihan at Aikido of Berkeley. I would recommend going to see him this week at Two Rock Aikido, Marin, or Aikido Santa Cruz.

Playing with Guru Jeffrey Finder 10 years ago

The artist must search deeply into his own soul, develop and tend it, so that his art has something to clothe, and does not remain a glove without a hand. The a...rtist must have something to say, for mastery over form is not his goal but rather the adapting of form to its inner meaning. Wassily Kandinsky See more

Today at coffee we were discussing going to different dojo's. This came to mind. Two ways to learn. Rabbi Tzvi Farber makes an interesting observation: Bees produce honey by flying many miles to collect nectar from flowers, while milk comes straight from the cow. Similarly, one learns Torah in two ways: One should gather insights from others, learning from diverse teachers;... One can also be creative and original, developing his own Torah insights. See more

I am going to try to make this, I have heard Jan Nevelius is very good, and you guys know how much I appreciate Linda Holiday.

I think I am going to go