Doshu's addendum to the rules of aikido practice

• Proper aikido can never be mastered unless one strictly follows the instructor's teaching.
• Aikido as a martial art is perfected by being alert to everything going on around us and leaving no vulnerable opening (suki).
• Practice becomes joyful and pleasant once one has trained enough not to be bothered by pain.
• Do not be satisfied by what is taught at the dojo. One must constantly digest, experiment, and develop what one has learned.
• One should never force things unnaturally or unreasonably in practice. One should undertake training suited to one's body, physical condition and age.
• The aim of aikido is to develop the truly human self. It should not be used to display ego.

Kisshomoru Ueshiba (ca.1935)

OGI Aikido | Philosophy | © SAP 12 Dec 1996