Say goodbye to “just relax”

by | Feb 28, 2024 | articles and writings

  By Ania Small Ph.D. Chance are, that somewhere along your Aikido journey, you were told to “just relax”. If you are anything like me, hearing it made you instinctively tighten up. Relaxing on demand is not easy, especially when you are newer to the art.   Pointing...

Empathy, Sympathy and Compassion in Aikido

by | Feb 1, 2022 | articles and writings

 By Ania Small PhD. Working with a partner and the practice of connection push us to understand others better. But what form does it take and how does it manifest in Aikido training? Empathy, sympathy and compassion share some similarities, but describe slightly...

CAN WE GET THERE FASTER?

by | May 26, 2021 | articles and writings

BECOMING BETTER STUDENTS OF AIKIDO By Ania Small Ph.D. Could we streamline our progress in Aikido? We all learn differently and simply sitting and watching a teacher silently demonstrate does not address individual differences. How would our trajectory be different,...

AIKIDO IN THE TIME OF CORONA

by | Jul 18, 2020 | articles and writings

The ups and downs of adjusting to a new kind of practice. by: Ania Small Ph.D. Between practice, teaching, traveling to seminars and seeing friends Aikido has been a way of life for me for a long time. Here is the account of the experience of adapting my practice due...

Training with Confidence and Humility

by | Jul 31, 2018 | articles and writings

by Ania Small Ph.D. Looking for the right balance in Aikido practice   Being confident enough to embody Aikido principles while staying open to new information is a balancing act.  Finding the right mix of these attitudes creates a winning combination for...