Aikido

Aikido Advice for Women…and a Few Men
The Way of Harmony, Peace & Power

I’m Susan Harrow, a newbie Aikidoka who just passed my 4th Kyu (the second level of Aikido). Aikido is a peaceful martial art and we’d love to have more women training with us in California and throughout the world. I knew Aikido was for me the second I saw a Shodan (first black belt) test. But it was the actual experience of training that made me know for sure, in my body, that I was on the right road for me at this time in my life, age 52. 

The training is rigorous, challenging and confronting not just for the body, but for the mind and spirit. It is also invigorating, enlivening, and absorbing. It’s a practice that gives us the opportunity to recognize patterns, habits, and tendencies that both strengthen and weaken us – to shift what isn’t working and to deepen what does.  It is a profound path on many levels and I wanted to share some of Ginny’s Breeland’s wisdom with you because all of it is transferable to life, to our position as women in the world.  

Every week I’ll be interviewing Ginny Breeland, 5th Dan (Godan) who has been training for over 30 years. Each interview we’ll focus on some aspect of Aikido training for those who want to deepen their Aikido practice. Ginny teaches and trains in Aikido at Bay Marin Aikido and in at the Cotati Rec Center. 

Even if you never step into a martial arts dojo I invite you to engage with Ginny and I here and take what you will from our sessions. 

Aikido: Weapons as Meditation

 

Aikido: Unbalancing Your Uke

 

Aikido: Blending With Your Uke

 

Aikido Training Techniques: Listen to Your Uke

 

Aikido Techniques: Honest Attention

 

Ginny Breeland Aikido demo

 

Aikido Demonstration: Being one with your sword

 

Aikido Demonstration Suwari Waza

Aikido demo Riai: sword and empty hands

 

Aikido demonstration holding sword space

 

Aikido demonstration 1000 sword strikes

 

Aikido demonstration jo and empty handed techniques

 

Aikido martial arts hasso gaeshi

 

Aikido martial arts Do: The Way

 

Aikido martial arts posture

 

Aikido martial arts kihon waza ikkyo

 

Aikido martial arts Shihonage connect to center

 

 Aikido martial arts Nikkyo Ginny Breeland

Aikido martial arts Kaiten Nage Ginny Breeland

Aikido martial arts Sankyo Ginny Breeland

Aikido martial arts Tai No Henko Ginny Breeland

Aikido martial arts Morote dori Kokyu Ho

Aikido martial arts Tsuki Ikkyo Ginny Breeland

Aikido martial arts Hasso Gaeshi Riai Ginny Breeland

Aikido martial arts Katadori Yonkyo Ginny Breeland

Aikido martial arts Tai No Henko Kokyu Variations Ginny Breeland

Aikido martial arts Kotegaeshi with Multiple Attackers Ginny Breeland 

Aikido Martial Arts Iriminage Ginny Breeland

Aikido Girl Against 3 Guys Randori Ginny Breeland

Aikido Martial Arts Tachidori Weapons Ginny Breeland

Aikido Martial Arts Suwari Waza Ikkyo Yonkyo Ginny Breeland

Aikido Martial Arts Bowing Ginny Breeland

20 Jo Suburi Aikido Martial Arts Hasso Gaeshi No Bu Ginny Breeland

Aikido Training 20 Jo Suburi Katate No Bu Ginny Breeland

20 Jo Suburi Aikido Training Shomenuchi No Bu Ginny Breeland

20 Jo Suburi Aikido Training Tsuki No Bu Ginny Breeland

Excellent Aikido Demonstration Tegatana Ginny Breeland

Real Aikido Techniques Nagare Gaeshi No Bu Ginny Breeland

Real Aikido Techniques Diamond Willow Water Ginny Breeland

 Real Aikido Techniques Morote Dori Kokyu Ho Variations Ginny Breeland

Aikido Girl Handles Weapons Tanto Ginny Breeland

Girl demonstrates Ikkyo With Big Man Ginny Breeland

Katate Dori Shihonage Real Aikido Techniques Ginny Breeland

Kumitachi Aikido Techniques Ginny Breeland

Aikido Technique 31 Jo Kata Ginny Breeland

Aikido Technique Riai Bokken Jo Ginny Breeland

Aikido Technique 13 Jo Kata Ginny Breeland

Aikido Technique Movement From Static Ginny Breeland

Aikido Training Urawaza Pulling Ginny Breeland

Aikido Training Kokyu Throws Pushing Ginny Breeland

Aikido Training Weapons Pushing Morotedori Ginny Breeland

Aikido Basic Techniques Kokyu Throw Ginny Breeland