Originally uploaded by markdeso I started the book “A Life in Aikido: The Biography of Founder Morihei Ueshiba” by O’ Sensei’s son and the second doshu of the art, Kisshomaru Ueshiba . I only got through the preface and the first couple of pages. What was overwhelming for me was how much love and admiration…
Author: markdeso
Road to 1st Kyu – Week 1 Day 1 – one more thing
Originally uploaded by markdeso A coworker of mine is an exceptional classical guitar player. I asked him one day how he goes about learning new things. He tells me that before he starts to practice the piece he usually listens to a couple of pieces of the composers work, and tries to learn something about…
Road to 1st Kyu – Week 1 Day 1
Originally uploaded by markdeso A few months ago I wrote a series of blogs to get me back into the gym and be consistant. That seemed to work well for me. Subsequently, stopping that process has allowed other things in my life to come before my time in the gym, so I’m starting up again….
Does output always have to equal input?
At that moment I was enlightened: the source of budo is God’s love – the spirit of loving protection for all beings… Budo is not the felling of an opponent by force; nor is it a tool to lead the world to destruction with arms. – Morihei Ueshiba I’ve been thinking a bit about the…
On Gratitude – 2009
I have had much to be grateful for this year. I am blessed with good friends, a smart, healthy son, some great guidance by an amazing teacher, and I was able to buy my condo this year. I am grateful for the gifts that I receive in the form of family, friendships, advice, all the…
Aikido, conflict and the basics of Tai no Henko
One of the things that attracted me to the art of Aikido early on was the metaphor it used to conflict resolution. In aiki terms we talk about getting off the line of an attack, this was expressed with the example of someone on a train track. While it would be foolish to either run…
Week 7 day 1 – back to the regularly scheduled program
I’m at week 7 of my routine. Circuit exercises for 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week at the local gym. I’ve seen a slow but steady increase in strength and endurance. Around week 3 I started going back to Aikido again, 3 days a week. I used some social networking tools like twitter…
Week 6 is done
I’m trying to catch my breath. I’ve been quite busy, but did want to jot down a quick post to note that I’ve finished Week 6. I didn’t post on Wednesday or Friday. However, I think it’s more important to actually do the task at hand rather than lament over why I didn’t blog it….
Week 6 day 1
OK, I made it. I think I’m coming down with a cold but I made it to the gym. After the first couple exercises I felt warmed up and was able to work at an almost normal pace. Last night I attempted some jumping jacks to start my calisthenics a few times a week and…
Reflecting on the Esoteric Teachings of Professor Okazaki
After our Aikido class yesterday I had lunch with one of my Friends, Jim. We talked a bit about how we started in martial arts. I told him that my fist exposure was not in Aikido, but was in fact in Ju Jitsu when I was a kid, around the same age that my son…
Mark's Meanderings 