Trust is the glue that holds most things together. Trust is the distinction between what is perceived to be real and what's not. The idea of “being real” often invokes a mental and emotional picture or feeling that defines our state of belief; making things authentic and logical, and therefore trustworthy. In any relationship, trust … Continue reading Building Trust on the Mat by Michael Aloia
INTRODUCTION I would like to share my findings regarding the 3 KATA of the Bubishi. In this explanation, I will detail a Kata that contains all 48 illustrations from the Bubishi combative Kata. The Kata is known with provenance and also from a set of three, which is just the first coincidence. All the Illustrations … Continue reading Three Kata of the Bubishi by Simon Varnals
Over the years, I have heard many an instructor say to leave your worldly thoughts and concerns at the door of the dojo before entering. I even worked with a fellow instructor who placed a trashcan at the entrance of the training area to tangibly remind practitioners to dump their "baggage" or "personal trash" before … Continue reading Building On the Mat Spirituality by Michael Aloia
Perception is a unique, individual characteristic shared by each of us. How we perceive will often determine how we respond. Similar or even the exact situation shared or experienced by two or more individuals may have a completely different end result simply because interpretations are different. Many factors play a role as we discern circumstance: … Continue reading That Thing You Do by Michael Aloia
So many of us want to be where the action is, we want to be the one who saves the day. We want to be the hero. There is a certain rush in knowing who played a hand in something out of the ordinary and that who was me. It is commendable, it is admirable, … Continue reading When Does the Training End and The Reality Begin? By Michael Aloia
What is leadership and how does it benefit those whom we lead? The essence of real leadership is the ability to inspire others to achieve greatness. Greatness, being a relative term, is the best that anyone can be and often great leaders, by example, have the capability to release that power in those they serve. … Continue reading True Leadership by Michael Aloia
Those who have the greatest impact on our lives sometimes do so in the smallest or most subtle ways possible. These individuals may not even be aware of the effect they have had. We may not either come to realize the impact until much later on. A single word or random gesture could create the … Continue reading Life’s Little Impacts – My Moment with Yamada Sensei
The jo; the short staff; a long stick. Not sharp but blunt. It can’t cut a limb off, but it can bludgeon and injure one, rendering the limb useless. However, several direct blows to the head could have a grave outcome as well. The jo is a weapon wielded in aikido training. But what do … Continue reading The Jo and Aikido by Antonio Aloia and Michael Aloia
Traditionally, within the context of modern times, martial arts have served as a way for the everyday person to participate in what's considered an ethnically and culture-based – even stylized – form or system of self-empowerment. The benefits have always included a level of better fitness, health, and well-being to physically and mentally live fuller … Continue reading The Misrepresentation of Martial Arts by Michael Aloia
Skill is a combination of time, technique, and training of the basics. Most things we do in life are a series of procedures or methods. Even the simplest of tasks involves a procedure to activate an additional series of actions and achieve an end result. Those tasks that are involuntary or natural and those that … Continue reading Essentially the Basics by Michael Aloia
Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 