In this video presented by Aikido Samsungdang, we explain four fundamental Aikido jo kata—Roku no Jo, Hachi no Jo, Ju-san no Jo, and Sanju-ichi no Jo—along with the use of the lower body in jo practice. Ju-san no Jo and Sanju-ichi no Jo are kata organized by the late Morihiro Saito Sensei based on the jo techniques of O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba. One of their defining features is that each movement corresponds clearly to a specific count. Roku no Jo consists of movements 12 thro

Does the word “technique” in Aikido really refer to only one thing? After the previous Q&A video, I received several questions in the comments about Aikido techniques and the way we train. This video is one answer to those questions. It explains what people often group together under the word “technique” by separating it into four perspectives: kata, technique, skill, and waza. Kata is the framework of practice. Technique is the concrete method used within that framework. Ski

In this video, I answer some of the questions people often ask about Aikido, including questions that can sometimes feel rather off the mark from the perspective of an actual practitioner. This video was planned and produced by Ansan Dojo. I was not told the questions in advance. During the shoot, I was asked to answer every question on the spot, quickly and briefly, in a single sentence. For that reason, the format is closer to a speed quiz than a conventional interview. The