ACE Aikido Dojo, Santa Monica, CA.
www.aceaikido.com

Aikido is not about Doing something To someone, but Being With them and allowing the process to unfold naturally. Attachment to throwing leads to blocked energy and negativity. Allowing the Release of the need for Ego Fulfillment leads to an "Aiki experience" with one's partner/attacker.

We work with ACE: the Awareness of being Centeredly Extended (Ki), and Kinesthetic Invisibility, originated by my teacher, Don O'Bell (deceased), so Uke does not feel anything out of harmony that they need to react to or can counter. This leads to what I now call the Aikido Process:

Connect - Blend - Track - Lead - Resolve

through:

-Musubi (connection with oneself, one's partner, and Universal Energy)
-Tsukuri (positioning/tracking)
-Kuzushi (allowing the loss of balance)
-Release of the energy and the transformaton of negativity into an outcome as positive and generative as possible.