Mind & Body Blog – Taikyoku Mind & Body

Review of Ellis Amdur’s Hidden in Plain Site: Tracing the Roots of Ueshiba Morihei’s Power

October 6, 2018 by taikyokumindandbody

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In writing this review, it’s only fair to discuss a little bit my experiences with Ellis (as he was kind enough to mention me in the Acknowledgements of Hidden in Plain Sight - HIPS), whom I first met 15 years ago when he was advising the independent dojo I belonged…

Ellis Amdur & Budd Yuhasz Co-Moderating Internal Strength Workshop at Aikido of Pittsburgh: April 15th 10am-1pm

April 3, 2018April 4, 2018 by taikyokumindandbody

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Ellis Amdur will be teaching Taikyoku Araki-ryu on Friday evening, April 13th, then aikido taijutsu and jo on Saturday, April 14th. The Sunday session with Ellis and Budd will focus on basic principles of internal strength aligning to the Six Harmonies of classical Chinese literature - and how they can be…

On Taking Ukemi or Manifesting Receiving Body

October 16, 2017October 16, 2017 by taikyokumindandbody

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Over the years, we’ve had people come into our group from different martial backgrounds (or none at all) and one thing that always stands out to me is how different people ‘receive’ a technique when it’s applied to them, i.e. I observe their ukemi (literally, receiving body). Do they just…

Aikido, Jujutsu, & Kempo (part 1)

April 7, 2017April 7, 2017 by taikyokumindandbody

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In Taikyoku Budo, we often refer to our practice as being "aikido, jujutsu, and kempo" or, more appropriately, Taikyoku Budo can be expressed as aikido, jujutsu, and kempo. We must make it clear, however, that we are not talking about Aikido, Jujutsu, and Kempo as the martial arts most people…

Who We Are & Why We Do What We Do

April 2, 2017April 8, 2017 by taikyokumindandbody

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Taikyoku Mind & Body: Who We Are & Why We Do What We Do Aside from the history sections and some of the various checkpoints and milestones along the way that led to the formation of this collective, I think it’s important that those looking at our group understand some…

The Birth of Taikyoku – Ellis Amdur

March 17, 2017March 18, 2017 by taikyokumindandbody

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Some martial arts are manifest – you take one look at them and you know what they are trying to accomplish. I do not mean that they are either simple to learn or simplistic in concept, but what you see is what you get. Others are more difficult to understand.…

Ukemi: It’s not just about falling down

March 9, 2017March 17, 2017 by taikyokumindandbody

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When I first began learning aikido, a modern Japanese martial art, many Japanese words were used to express various training concepts. One word I heard used regularly was the word “ukemi.” According to martial artist and author Dave Lowry, “In grappling bugei, the methods of falling safely are collectively called…

A Brief History of Taikyoku Mind & Body

November 8, 2016October 16, 2017 by taikyokumindandbody

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Originally conceived as Taikyoku Aikido in early 2003 by Ellis Amdur for a training group he was consulting at an aikido dojo in Central Pennsylvania, the Taikyoku (great themes) framework is based on Amdur's observation that all classical aikido techniques conform to one of five themes of movement, five force…