Aikido (Shinjitai 合気道, Kyūjitai 合氣道, aikidō) is a modern Japanese martial art that is split into many different styles including Aikikai, Shodokan Aikido, Yoshinkan, Renshinkai, Iwama Ryu, Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shuren Kai, and Ki Aikido.
Aikido is now practiced in 140 countries [1]. It was originally developed by Master Morihei Ueshibaas a synthesis of his martial studies, Eastern philosophy, and Shintoist religious beliefs.
AikidoFounder Morihei Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to defend themselves against attacks, while also protecting the attackers from injury [2, 3].
Aikido is often translated as "the way of unifying (with) life energy" [4] or as "the way of harmonious spirit" [5]. According to the founder's philosophy, the primary goal in the practice of aikido is to overcome oneself instead of cultivating violence or aggressiveness [6].
Aikido's founder used the phrase masakatsu agatsu katsuhayabi (正勝吾勝勝速日, "true victory, final victory over oneself, here and now") to refer to this principle [7].
Aikido's fundamental principles include: irimi [8] ("entering"), atemi ("strikes") [9, 10], kokyu-ho ("breathing control"), sankaku-ho ("triangular principle"), and tenkan ("turning") movements that redirect the opponent's own attack momentum.
Aikido's curriculum is comprised of various techniques, primarily throws and joint locks [11]. It includes a weapons system encompassing the bokken, tantō, and jō.
Aikido derives mainly from the martial art of Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu (a form of jujitsu) but began to diverge from it in the late 1920s, partly due to Ueshiba's involvement with the new Shinto-based Ōmoto-kyō religion (Oomoto). Ueshiba's early students' documents bear the term aiki-jūjutsu [12].
You too can learn to fight (UK)
Aikido as practiced by Ueshiba's senior students take different approaches to the art, depending partly on when they studied with the master.
Aikido today is found all over the world in a number of styles, with broad ranges of interpretation and emphasis. However, they all share techniques formulated by Ueshiba and most have concern for the well-being of the attacker. More
Jesse Enkamp(video); Editors, Wisdom Quarterly Wiki edit
There is this beautiful inspirational saying in Christianity that goes, "Ever saint has a past, every sinner a future." 😇👹
Angulimala Discourse (MN 86)
Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Buddha was living in Sāvatthi at Jeta’s Grove in the millionaire’s park.
On that occasion there was a serial killer in the King Pasenadi's kingdom of Kosala by the name of Aṅgulimāla (“Finger-garland”). He was a murderer, bloodyhanded, given to beatings and violence, without mercy for living beings.
Villages, towns, and whole districts were being laid waste by him. He was constantly murdering people, and he wore their fingers (aṅguli) like a garland string (māla) [as a gruesome trophy].
Then, when it was morning, the Blessed One dressed and, taking his bowl and outer robe, went into Sāvatthi for alms. When he had wandered for alms and had returned after his meal, he set his resting place in order. Then taking his bowl and robe, he set out on foot to Aṅgulimāla's location.
Cowherds, shepherds, and ploughmen passing by saw the Buddha taking the road to Aṅgulimāla. Seeing him, they shouted, “Do not take that road, wandering ascetic!
"On that road is the serial killer Aṅgulimāla, who's a murderer, bloodyhanded, given to beatings and violence, without mercy for living beings.
"Villages and towns and districts are being laid waste by him. He is constantly murdering people, and he wears their fingers as a garland. Men have come along this road in groups of 10, 20, 30 and, even 40 from time to time, but they have all fallen into Aṅgulimāla’s bloody hands!”
When this was said, the Blessed One continued on in silence. More
The story of Aṅgulimāla is most well known in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition [5]. Two texts in the early sutras of the Pāli language canon are concerned with Aṅgulimāla's initial encounter with the Buddha and his conversion to nonviolence (ahimsa), which are believed to present the oldest version of the story [6, 7, Note 1].
The first is the Psalms of the Brethren (Theragāthā), probably the oldest of the two,[5] and the second is the Aṅgulimāla Sutta in the Middle Length Discourses (Majjhima Nikāya) [9]. Both offer a short description of Aṅgulimāla's encounter with the Buddha without mentioning much of the background information, which of course is the work of Indian commentaries to provide).
Returning to monastery bleeding from attack
Later details were incorporated into the story, such as Aṅgulimāla being placed under an oath by a jealous teacher [10, 5].
Apart from the Pāli texts, Tibetan and Chinese texts that originate in Sanskrit also describe the life of Aṅgulimāla [10, 7].
A text translated in Chinese from the Sanskrit Ekottara Agāma by the Mahā-Saṃghika school is also known. Furthermore, three other Chinese texts dealing with Aṅgulimāla have also been found, of unknown origin but different from the first three Chinese texts [13].
Apart from these early texts, there are also later renderings that appear in the commentary to the Middle Length Discourses attributed to Buddhaghosa (5th century CE) and the commentary to the Theragāthā attributed to Dhammapāla (6th century CE) [10].
The two commentaries do not appear to be independent of one another: It appears that Dhammapāla copied or closely paraphrased Buddhaghosa, adding explanation to some of the inconsistencies [6, 7], which is of course the job of the sub-commentaries.
The earliest accounts of Aṅgulimāla's life emphasize his fearless violence and, by contrast, the peacefulness of the Buddha. More
What is Ape Initiative? Ape Initiative (apeinitiative.org) is the only research center in the world dedicated to the study and conservation of the species most closely related to humans, the endangered bonobo.
Ape Initiative is a federally-recognized non-profit organization.
With a focus on science, education, and outreach, AI's programs enrich the lives of seven bonobos born in captivity and foster a deeper connection between people and the natural world.
Bonobos are an endangered species of African Great Ape with as few as 15,000-20,000 individuals alive in the wild.
Understanding bonobo behavior, and how they interact with one another, is critical if we are going to save them.
Who's smarter, bonobos, chimps, or humans?
That’s why AI developed a scientifically grounded conservation education program for students of all ages. The goal is to inspire the next generation of scientists and educators by promoting scientific literacy and environmental stewardship.
Koko the Gorilla's best moments: from Sign Language to meeting Mister Rogers
Dr. Jane Goodall Barbie with friend
(Inside Edition) Koko, the adored gorilla known for her sign language skills, has died at the age of 46. Koko rose to fame in the 1970s when an animal psychologist named Francine "Penny" Patterson taught her to communicate with humans using sign language. She graced the cover of National Geographic twice and understood about 2,000 words of spoken English. The late Robin Williams once called his interaction with Koko "a mind-altering experience." Inside Edition's Keleigh Nealon has more on this story. #InsideEdition (June 21, 2018).
Great ape personhood is a movement to extend "personhood" and some legal protections to the non-human members of the great ape family: bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans [1, 2, 3].
Studies by Dr. Goodall revealed that the social and family life of chimps are similar to those of human beings. She describes them as individuals and claims they relate to her as an individual member of the clan.
Laboratory studies of ape language ability revealed other human traits, as did genetics, and eventually three of the great apes were reclassified as hominids. More
(Xiaomanyc 小马在纽约) I (Ari) spent weeks secretly studying ape communication, and then I convinced these bonobo apes into thinking I was one of them.
Bonobos are the closest living relatives of human beings, and while attempts have been made to teach them to use human language, it is very rare for human beings to try to communicate with bonobos on their terms using bonobo vocalizations and gestures.
So when I attempted to do this as an innocent visitor to this bonobo research center, the bonobos were genuinely shocked (freaked out), and we bonded pretty hard.
FUNDRAISER: I’m running this video as a fundraiser for Ape Initiative, a federally-recognized non-profit that is the world’s only bonobo research center. Bonobos are an endangered species, and Ape Initiative works with scientists and educators to help understand bonobo behavior with an aim towards ensuring their preservation in the wild. Consider donating to the fundraiser if or visit apeinitiative.org
Thanks to MyHeritage for sponsoring this video. I found out that I'm an Ashkenazi Jew. Go to bit.ly/XIAO_MH to use coupon code XIAO for free shipping on any order.
Help preserve the Jewish-Zionist genocide: The Nakba, Part II: Gaza
(Secular Talk) Israeli Crime Minister Bibi's Israel panics as an archive of Israel's genocidethrough a website is established to document all of homicidal ZionistAshkenazi Israel's atrocities, extermination campaigns, media blackouts, murdering of journalists, war crimes, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, and confirmed genocide | The Kyle Kulinski Show
It's you guys who'll kill me, right? - No, no, Iran
Crime Minister Netanyahu and Israel commit blood libel, telling Pres. Trump "Iran is plotting to assassinate you," implying he must reenter their war and illegally attack modern Persia again. Is this said publicly to provide cover for Trump, who is actually reentering Israel's war to prevent Israel from releasing the Epstein Files it has on him? Is he only succumbing to blackmail, like a guilty pedophile caught in a honeytrap by top spies for Israel Epstein and Maxwell?
Did Israel dream up deliver Iran banner?
(NY Post) How far will hasbara (Jewish Zionist Israeli propaganda) go?
TOP STORY: (Garza Podcast) Rap feuds? Who needs 'em? Old and new Cannibal Corpse singers feud but OG Chris Barnes tries to make peace with newbie George Corpsegrinder | SIX FEET UNDER
What is the difference between anger and hate? These are passionate times, and we might find many emotions flowing through us. Every emotion is a part of us, calling to be felt and seen.
When we choose to feel our emotions fully, when we choose to lean into our emotions with self-witnessing, self-kindness, self-gentleness, and self-love, while wrapping the deeper self, the inner self, the childlike self with our compassion, we complete the experience of that emotion and return to a zero point.
We can, at that zero point, consciously choose our actions. If we want, we can choose actions that build a peaceful world.
We can do this because we have held ourselves with kindness and support, and we have honored and experienced our emotions, and we have returned to our own center, healed and loved and empowered.
We build with our point of focus. We build with our beliefs. We build with our thoughts, with what we focus on. That's how we build the future.
We can experience the whole range of challenging emotions—anger, sadness, disappointment, frustration—and we can do it with profound self-love and self-kindness and self-gratitude. And when we do, we complete that experience and step into our power.
Building peace is about understanding that there is nothing more powerful than the individual because the individual builds the world by way of its point of focus. What is a powerful group but many powerful individuals all sharing focus at once?
We are more powerful than any collective force around us. The world is built by way of the individual: by us. Nothing is more powerful in our system than the focal-point of an individual. There is nothing more powerful than us. We get to choose whether we focus a more peaceful world into being.
What is the full range of emotions? We can go through challenging emotions, like anger and disappointment and frustration, and we can stay in our power by experiencing these emotions lovingly, embracing self while experiencing feelings.
We can get to a zero point, then choose consciously. The other option is to let these emotions carry us like trains that we are not consciously directing into something like hate.
Hate is not an emotion; it is an action. Hate builds a warring future. It builds powerfully, whether or not our hate was chosen consciously. It builds a violent future through us.
There is a profound difference between anger and hate. Anger is an emotion indicating that there is a part of the self calling to be felt, calling to be loved, calling to be witnessed. Therefore, anger -- like all emotions -- is holy. Anger, like all emotions, is natural. We can respond to its call for self-love by supplying it with self-love. Then that anger has done its job.
Anger is the baby of the self loudly crying out. Just like a baby cries when it needs to be fed, or have its diaper changed, or to be held, anger is the inner self calling for our own self-soothing, our own self-compassion, our own self-love.
When we feel anger, we are being asked to supply that unconditional love to the self at that moment. And when we do, we heal the self. We prove to the self that our love is there.
Just as a caring parent who responds to a crying baby proves it is there to care for that baby, we can respond to the crying baby of the self with love, and we can heal and soothe that self.
We can show the self we are loved-without-end. That is the opportunity of anger.
If we do not respond to that anger with self-love, it can become a train-car that carries us towards hate. Hatred builds future violence, and future war, when it enters the collective consciousness. If we want to build a world with more violence in it, hate is the tool to use.
But if we want to build a peaceful world and a compassionate world and a loving world, then listen to emotions. Listen to the self calling out for love, and supply that love. Be the loving parent to the holy self. Supply that love and soothe that self.
Every challenging emotion is simply an invitation for self-love. We can deliver that self-love. When we do, we complete the emotion's cycle, step into our empowerment, and then we can say, "Great, I've had that emotion, and I've responded with self-love. I've completed that cycle. Now, what do I want to build with my power?"
If we want to build a peaceful world, compassion-for-all-beings will get us there. Love-for-all-beings will get us there. A peaceful mind, an empty mind, an open mind, a silent mind will get us there. Love of nature will get us there.
Hate unites us (with other haters)
Remember, hate is an action, not an emotion, and it builds something. It builds future violence. Carrying hate is a choice. Harsh judgment of others is a choice.
If we engage hate, let's be aware of what we are building. If we engage in cruel judgments of others, let's know what we're building. If we know our tools and choose consciously what we want, that's what we are working to build consciously. (Otherwise, we're building something quite unconsciously).
We are here to exercise freewill. And we are observed by way of the universe with compassion and love and non-judgment. We are safe to choose, and we are free to choose. We can build a compassionate world by carrying compassion, and we can build a peaceful world by carrying peace. We can build a compassionate world by ogling the ocean, by looking at the soil, by witnessing a stand of trees. Just gazing at a forest with love builds a loving future.
If today is a hard day, sit under a tree and let that tree offer its support. Mother Nature is love-without-end. We are so loved in all our emotions. Emotions are natural.
It is natural that there is a part of us that is calling for love, and it is natural that there are parts of our neighbors that are calling for love. If we answer this moment with compassion-for-all-beings, we build a compassionate world.
A moment of division is the most potent and possible time for peacebuilding because it allows the largest opportunity for change.
If we are interested in building a peaceful future, consider planting compassion-for-all-beings into this moment of division. Consider carrying compassion-for-all-beings within, even as many around us carry something quite different.
The Buddha taught peace? - Yes!
The Buddha often gave his closest disciples (nuns and monks) a reflection: We will be love in a world of hate, we will be honest in a world of lies (dishonesty), we will be gathered and still in a world of scattering and distraction. He used nicer words, but this is the gist of it.
This historic moment is fertile soil for worldbuilding, for peacebuilding, for compassion-building, for loving change.
Even in challenging times, we can hold the self in love, and we can hold our neighbors in compassion. When we do that consciously, we choose our future consciously. And we do it with our full power.
Peace Class, which normally meets Wednesdays at 6:00 pm (Pacific) is now on summer break until September. To join us, click on Zoom link when we return. Until then, be in peace.
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