Tag: Suwariwaza

Interview with Aikido of Kohala Founders Rikko and Kristina Varjan: Aikido, Hawaii, and Kazuo Chiba Legacy, Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Kristina Varjan found aikido after watching Koichi Tohei Sensei at a Manhattan high school while Rikko assumed the role as uke during his first-ever aikido demonstration. By the late 1980s, they found Kazuo Chiba Sensei, and enrolled in his Kenshusei teacher program. After four intensive years of aikido, iaido, and zazen, the couple emerged as … Continue reading Interview with Aikido of Kohala Founders Rikko and Kristina Varjan: Aikido, Hawaii, and Kazuo Chiba Legacy, Part II

Reflecting on Aikido Extensions with Bruce Bookman

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

The following is a reflection of Aikido Journal’s Aikido Extension course, available through their Aikido Journal Academy. Bruce Bookman’s and Aikido Journal’s Aikido Extensions demonstrates what an aikidoka looks like with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) training – a martially rounded aikido practitioner. Demonstrating a myriad of aikido and BJJ techniques using refined aiki concepts and principles, … Continue reading Reflecting on Aikido Extensions with Bruce Bookman