On Self-Defense
It’s very simple: The tactical priority in self-defense is the preservation of self. Out of all the possible threats to the self, the...
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Budo is a matter of intense physical training coupled with deep contemplation and introspection. These writings are here shared to assist the reader in their own necessary reflections and to provide further insight in our dojo for the potential student.
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David M. Valadez
- Jan 9
What is "Aiki"?
The defining of “Aiki” is a very difficult thing to do. This is because the concept defies the dualistic and dichotomous nature of...
David M. Valadez
- Nov 25, 2022
The Two Minds
Budo’s spiritual path, being but another expression of the perennial philosophy, is centered upon a reconciliation between the Ego...
David M. Valadez
- Nov 6, 2022
Four Symptoms of a Martial Aikido: Part II
In writing Part I of this blog, I suggested that a crowded mat was a symptom of a martial Aikido being transmitted. Some did not...
David M. Valadez
- Nov 3, 2022
Define "Warrior"
What is a “warrior”? Today, in answering this question, it is common to go to the root word, “war,” and say, “A warrior is someone that...
David M. Valadez
- Oct 30, 2022
Define "Spiritual" and "Religion"
“Spirit” is the experienced aspect of the not-self and of the world through the not-self mind. Spiritual practices are those...
David M. Valadez
- Oct 30, 2022
The Bodhisattva Sweet Spot
As Aikido became westernized, as it moved away from the spiritual religiosity of the Founder, as it became open to and and structured...
David M. Valadez
- Oct 27, 2022
Hippie Jesus
Different from the Founder’s spirituality, which fully participated in pre-modern religiosity and the “perennial philosophy,”...
David M. Valadez
- Jul 17, 2022
The Seven Demon Sisters
Traditions of the past, including those Osensei brought into the modern era, always made ontological use of sinister beings. These...
David M. Valadez
- Apr 30, 2022
Four Symptoms of a Martial Aikido
There is undoubtedly a crisis in Aikido when the art is taken as a whole. This crisis functions at both the level of spiritual validity...
David M. Valadez
- Apr 17, 2022
A More Accurate Understanding of Shu-Ha-Ri Part II
This is officially a Part II to the original blog entry titled, “A More Accurate Understanding of Shu-Ha-Ri.” I will therefore continue...
David M. Valadez
- Apr 9, 2022
The Tattooed Soul
Of course, not among the moderns that devoutly practice the religion of secular-materialism, but amongst the moderns that have come to...
David M. Valadez
- Apr 3, 2022
A More Accurate Understanding of Shu-Ha-Ri
I have written many times on the concept of Shu-Ha-Ri, and I have done several podcasts on the concept as well. Here, I would like to...
David M. Valadez
- Mar 27, 2022
Stylized Movement in Aikido
Aikido is plagued by stylized movement. What do I mean? When I refer to stylized movement, I am wishing to draw a distinction between...
David M. Valadez
- Mar 25, 2022
Get the Point?
The “sewing machine jail shanking” is something way more popular in Aikido circles than in professional ends such as Law Enforcement or...
David M. Valadez
- Mar 25, 2022
Grab My Wrist
In my opinion, it is a total mistake to understand Aikido from the modern perspective commonly held in the self-defense commercial...
David M. Valadez
- Mar 20, 2022
Confused About Mushin
We cannot stop our thoughts: We do not stop thoughts in Budo - this is not the aim. Concentrically, in Aikido, we do not seek to stop...
David M. Valadez
- Mar 17, 2022
Kihon Waza: A Ritual of Transubstantiation
In Aikido, one can say that the ultimate aim is to bring potency to the ritual of Kihon Waza. Such a position would be consistent with...
David M. Valadez
- Mar 5, 2022
Reflections, 2019 Part II
Reflections, 2019 Part II: July - December July, 2019 When training to shoot, the goal is not to hit the target. The goal is to hit the...
David M. Valadez
- Mar 5, 2022
Reflections, 2019 Part I
Reflections, 2019 Part I: January - June January, 2019 The mystic is primarily concerned with a kind of mechanistic utility when it comes...
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