Ban Sen Juku, Masakatsu Dojo Aikido

In Aikido we investigate the traditional path of “BUDO”, Japanese Martial Arts. All Martial Arts, Aikido included, are essentially dangerous. In the original characters of BU-DO however, lies the meaning of ‘stop the spear’. In other words, “how can we neutralise a fight”. In this context one speaks of the ‘life-giving sword’ as opposed to the ‘life-taking sword’. This pacifist aspect is embraced in the Budo tradition that aikido is.

In Aikido practice your partner ‘Uke’ acts as attacker in the most possible realistic way, allowing you ‘Nage’ to learn and understand the essence of the practiced forms.

Every practice one enters the Dojo as a white sheet of paper, allowing new impressions and understandings to emerge. The path of understanding Martial Arts can not only happen on an intellectual level but goes by physical and psychological experience. Retaining a ‘calm mind’ in pratice as in real life is a conditio sine qua non to see the things as they really are.

In practice however all aspects of martial arts are explored: controling the attacker(s), escaping from submission or ‘worst case scenarios’, handling weaponed attacks, controling the situation, rescuing oneself through ukemi (falling exercises), controling ones own mind in difficult circumstances,… in brief: how to stay in balance while the other loses balance.