“Onegai shimasu” doesn’t have a straightforward one-to-one translation to English. “Onegai” comes from “negau” which literally means pray/wish for something. The “O” at the beginning is the honorific that makes the expression respectful. Of course, we would never say it without it, but that is what it represents. (Do not mistake the honorific “O” with … More The Meaning of Onegai Shimasu
Urban literacy promotes the ability to read, interpret, design and shape urban spaces. An essential skill in today’s world. Watch this space can be an interesting starter kit for those who are willing to explore more about all this. It’s a Little book published in 2010, written by Hadley Dyer and illustrated by Marc Ngui. Yes, it’s … More Watch this Space
As a child, Tim Gill’s daughter – one of the UK’s biggest voices when it comes to childhood – enjoyed spending some time at the nursery backyard where a few trees quickly became a “forest” in that little girl’s eyes. The example serves to illustrate an idea that Gill strongly advocates: bringing children closer to … More Children in public spaces activate communities
Think about a black belt, as something you lose, not something you win. Sawaki Kodo, a Zen master, often said, “Winning is suffering, losing is enlightenment.” If one asks the difference between today’s and past practitioners, I would answer that past practitioners saw training as “loss.” They abandoned everything for their art and practice, families, … More Becoming a Black Belt
From the beginning of the Circle Dance Facilitator’s Training, I could see how Aikido and Circle Dances align. From the initial dances and exercises, we had a moment to reflect on the awareness and intentionality of the movements and the perception of unity. And, of course, the fundamental aspect they have in common is circularity. … More The Connection between Aikido and Circle Dance
Shoshin is a word from Zen Buddhism meaning “beginner’s mind.” It refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject, even when studying at an advanced level, just as a beginner would. – Wikipedia In general, the Shoshin spirit is associated with an attitude that favors the acquisition … More Shoshin & Empathy
Each and every person needs to play an active role in his own development. Paulo Freire used to say that: No one teaches another, nor is anyone self-taught. Men teach each other, mediated by the world. Although this may seem an inviting idea, in practice the teacher still is widely perceived as someone who retains … More Teaching as a Travel Agent
Non-Violent Communication (NVC) is a four-step method that enable us to empathize with another human being, whoever that person might be. We achieve that by connecting with their needs and feelings without judgment or assigning blame. This is fully aligned with the Aikido principles. Aikido is not a method to fight and defeat the enemies, … More The protective use of force
Our bodies need movement and effort. To keep it in good shape we need to use it constantly. However, our current lifestyle increasingly deprives us from physical and outdoor activities. We have come to the point of having to pay for exercising and sweating. Sometimes I try to imagine the reaction of one of our … More Falling to Forge Your Spirit
