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Instructor,TED GOODMAN
"Down these mean streets must walk someone who is not himself mean." (Raymond Chandler)
This was the spirit that drew me to the ethics of aikido. Any martial art
will teach you how to defend yourself, but only aikido will teach you how to do so without punches,
kicks or attacks. Attracted by its uniquely non-aggressive nature, the beauty of its movements and
the power of its flow, I've never looked back nor harbored any doubts.
Everyone knows the feeling of reaching to push a door just as someone opens it from the other side. Pure aikido! - in essence.
(If you push, I pull. If you pull, I push.) Aikido orchestrates the flow of balance, as opposing
forces blend to become one. Helping others learn how to fine-tune this "agreement" in movement is a
beloved challenge, and one of the many rewards that keeps me on the mats.
Just as a successful portrait captures something much deeper than simply the form
of a subject, aikido offers rewards far
greater than merely the mastery of movement. Founded on the belief that conflict can be resolved, and
harmony maintained, without the need for aggression, aikido is highly regarded as a physical metaphor
for coping with the stress and strain of daily life in the office, behind the wheel and at home. "Psychological aikido"
has proven to be an invaluable shield in so many ways. As for the flexibility gained from relaxed
warm-up stretches and the energy flow of those beautifully circular movements, this continues to be
my favorite long-term health care plan.
Traditionally, martial arts dojos (schools) were entities unto themselves, having little or no interaction with their surrounding communities.
It seems that not much has changed. But thanks to BA&CE, and its amazing array of interests,
I'm grateful for being the guy who's helped introduce aikido to the community for so many years.
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