Lisa writes, Aikido is changing my life, and it can change yours too.
It began one night when my husband was out of town. At two in the morning, I heard footsteps outside the bedroom window. I jumped from bed, my heart racing. I pulled the curtains aside, and thought I saw a shadow move near the fence. My heart was beating so hard it felt like it was squeezed into my throat. As I stood there shaking, I wondered what I would do if someone were to attack me in my home, on the street, at work?  Fear gripped me, and I couldn’t sleep all night. I knew I couldn’t live like this.
So the next day, I called New School Aikido. I wanted to learn self-defense.
I am not very athletic, so I was very intimidated when I first walked into the dojo. But right away, I was made to feel at home as people of all abilities and skill levels are welcome. Within weeks, I learned while Aikido does teach techniques for self-defense, it also teaches something much greater: how to access the power of chi, the great energy force that can change one’s life. I didn’t have to be an athlete to master these techniques. Aikido does not rely on brute strength, but on the most important muscle of all: the loving heart.
Before taking these classes, I thought that the way to protect myself was to act strong and defensive, to get tense, fight back at all costs. This stance affected every aspect of my life. I lost patience easily with my daughter and found myself reacting with anger many times when she disagreed with me. At work, in difficult situations, I tended to get defensive when my co-workers were critical or even when they teased with me. I was afraid a lot, even in my own home, especially when my husband was out of town. Some days I found myself walking around with jaws clenched in fear and anger. I was defending myself in all areas of myself, but I did not feel any safer. John Smartt teaches that, in truth, the only real defense in life is an open heart. "What," you ask? That sounds like a contradiction, but not at all! Aikido, as John teaches, is a form of self-defense that awakens the chi, the soft, flowing and yet powerful force that keeps us truly safe and happy. Since I have learned to access chi, I have notice these marvelous changes in my life: *I interact more, react less. Before Aikido, I reacted to everything. For example, the moment my daughter disagreed with me, I would react by yelling or getting defensive. Aikido taught me that true interaction is a key to safety and happiness in all we do. When my daughter upsets me, I am able to slow down, take a breath, go into my heart, and then reach out to her and listen. I set my limits, but I don’t need to fight for them. I listen to her point of view and can interact in a way that leads to the best outcome for both of us. *I am more responsive, less defensive. In Aikido, we learn to respond, not defend. This is a great approach to all of life. Rather than get defensive when people at work make comments, I find that I can listen to what people say and respond calmly, kindly, sometimes with humor. It’s a great relief to not have to defend myself all the time. I can simply respond with awareness and clarity as I am taught to do in the practice of Aikido. *I am more faithful, less fearful. At home and on the street, I have much less fear, knowing that I have techniques and a way of living that guarantees safety. *I am joyful more, less jittery. Aikido leads to increased energy and physical vitality. I have learned techniques for relaxing my mind and body. Learning to access chi gives me more energy, a clearer mind, and a relaxed state of being. I came to New School Aikido because I was afraid, and I am staying because I am inspired. Aikido offers more than just self-defense, it offers a way of living that changes how we live in the world. John and Elaine Smartt teach with sensitivity and wisdom, and the dojo community is a supportive and loving group. Come see for yourself. I would recommend this training for anyone who wants a better life. I hope you’ll come and check out New School Aikido—and please say hi to me! Best regards, Lisa Derr Please take a moment to consider a new, easy and completely violence-FREE way to remove yourself and your loved ones from the list of possible victims. TOKYO 1974 — It’s as dark as night gets in a major city. I’m coming down the stone steps into the local shrine grounds. It’s especially late for me this evening.
Who’s yelling? In the shrine? Trouble? I’m stunned. During my 7 years in Tokyo I’ve seen no violence or crime of any kind. I come around the big ginko tree just off the path and see two large young men shoving and hitting a third.
I react before I can think. I’m moving rapidly toward them with focus and calm. In my best version of authoritative Japanese, I order the two bullies out of the shrine. Tokyo is probably the safest city in the world. But for the bloody young man in the shrine that night, Tokyo was a violent and horrible place. Unfortunately, statistics never tell you whether or not you are safe in any city. Violence is a reality. But for me, and for the thousands of people I’ve trained, the pricelessness of being safe is always with us—in New York City, in Moscow or in Tokyo. And not because we have become more violent or more harsh. After twenty-five years of teaching and enjoying my work and my personal contribution to that work, I discovered the World Wide Web. Wow! Here is the way to have this new and wonderful system reach thousands of people who I may never contact personally. What a treat! Does the world need a good dose of peace and harmony? Always! Am I ecstatic at the possibility of having a serious impact on peace and safety in our world? Absolutely! I think you will be, too. I developed this exciting aspect of Aikido in response to the needs of Americans. In Japan, where I lived and studied from 1969-1975, almost nobody fights. You can walk any street at any hour in complete safety. Street crime just isn’t there. Self defense is not necessary. People who study the various martial arts are more involved in technical intricacies or how one art compares to another art. Here in America your chances of being attacked are very high. Self defense is for real. And on top of this unpleasant situation, we’ve all been taught that fighting is the way to protect ourselves. Wrong! Aikido will show you how to stay safe by going beyond attack and defense. You don’t need size or ability. Your instincts and natural responses are enough. "On the street, John Smartt’s Aikido is simply the best." – Charles Goodman, Police Sgt. This proven method brings the high ideals and beautiful, fluid movements of Aikido right down to street level effectiveness. This alternative to fighting is truly violence free, fear free, meanness free, tough guy free and abuse free. Take fear, threat and intimidation out of your life for good. This is easy to do. People of all ages, all shapes and sizes and with all types of belief systems and opinions have mastered this easy way to step beyond "the fight". And they’ve all gained a significant measure of health, pride, grace and confidence along the way. The movements of Aikido correspond to your most natural and fundamental motor responses. As you study at New School Aikido you will not be learning something new. You will be unlearning what is artificial. You will be re-discovering your inherent grace and power. Because this training will re-educate you in the dynamics of survival, you do not need to practice in an adversarial way. If you are attacked, adrenaline enters your system. Because you have practiced moving in accord with your instincts and in accord with the physiology of your practice partner(s), the adrenaline will activate those pathways of least resistance (instinct) and greatest efficiency (in accord with physiology). You will triple or even quadruple your normal power. You will do awesome Aikido techniques. Be more than prepared. Let the flow and creative inspiration of Aikido make every aspect of your life more confident and fun. Call us at (209) 951-8085. Ask for your free introductory Private Lessons. As you study the art of Aikido you will be amazed by the incredible effectiveness of going beyond violence. You’ll realize that Aikido delivers safety regardless of size or power. As you practice the technique you’ll gain the profound secret and incredible power of "not fighting". You’ll also see how the Aikido technical strategies support your everyday life and lead you in the direction of health, fitness and positive, creative relationships. It’s an exciting art. You won’t be disappointed. Did I mention super relationships? Your lessons at New School Aikido will assist you in all manner of personal relationships. No other "budo" (protective way) can make this claim, and here's why: All other methods of "budo" require you to make the attacker your enemy. Granted, this is just for the sake of protecting yourself. But . . . Keith, from Australia, studied Aikido in Japan. He lived across the garden in the same apartment complex that I lived in. We often attended classes together. It seems that Keith had about 3 years of some form of karate training in Australia. One morning while making eggs for breakfast, his mother tapped him on the shoulder to say good morning. Keith reacted as he had been trained to react. He spun around and knocked his attacker unconscious. Unfortunately, his attacker on this day was his mother. Mom forgave Keith. But for Keith violence was no longer an option. He began Aikido the next day. By learning Aikido you will train yourself to resolve situations peacefully. Only Aikido unifies how you play and how you stand up for yourself. This works in two ways. On the safety side, the technique you learn will not hurt anyone. But it will excellently restore safety. Even when you are surprised, afraid or angry you can "turn your full energy loose" and not hurt a single person. It’s a great feeling to know that your full expression of energy and strength will move in positive and life giving ways. Unlike Keith, who reacted to specific physical triggers, you’ll have developed an ability to discern mood and intention. You’ll safely handle your over aggressive suitor or your slightly inebriated relative. They will appreciate your firmness and your compassion. On the relationships side, the technique you learn will give you insights into: * How to enter instead of reacting On top of all the benefits I’ve already mentioned, you’re going to be thrilled at how easy it is to learn. All the fighters out there that are selling self defense are really selling methods of fighting. Fighting requires mountains of practice, skill and talent in order to be effective. And worst of all you usually have to make yourself mean and insensitive to others so that you can hurt them. Aikido is not a fighting art. In Basic Aikido you will learn one technique. For 95% of all attacks, this technique will work better than any other technique, style or method. And because it does not injure, the cycle of violence is broken. It is protective only. It’s simple. It’s direct. It’s inspirational. By the way, those two Tokyo toughs probably thought that the shrine gods had descended on them that night. Imagine their surprise at seeing a blue eyed foreigner with broken Japanese bearing down on them. I never did get a chance to tell them that I knew Aikido. They just felt it, and ran like the wind. The kid they were beating was not hurt too badly. He was mostly scared. He thanked me with very formal, respectful Japanese and headed home. It really is easier than you think to go beyond defeating the bad guys. With this training you will master a philosophy and mental attitude that helps you to bring out the best in all situations. You will find that good people are drawn to you and that not so good people begin to act better when you’re around. And this won’t be because they know that you have some type of training. It will be your "centeredness", zest, and confidence that make the difference. It’s been said that 90% of personal safety is mental. But if you don’t know the physical 10%, then to an attacker the 90% looks like fear. Choose to do this training. Remove violence from your life altogether. You will quickly find yourself happier, stronger and more full of life. Aikido is an absolute revolution in safety and peace of mind . "When I do Aikido regularly, all my work gets done easily." —Wendi Maxwell, Administrator, State of California This is one of those amazing side benefits that come to people who practice Aikido on a regular basis. Let me explain just how you, too, can actually save time by doing our Aikido program. Because the movements are natural and rhythmic you will easily go into a meditative state. This is not true with most movement, exercise or sports programs. And when it is, it is usually achieved by going very slowly or by exhausting you first. Our Aikido program will give you deep, focused concentration at any speed and with a moderate workout. What happens in this state is remarkable. First, you temporarily forget everything else. Second, you slow down all your internal activities (heart, kidney, etc.). Third, your subconscious mind goes to work solving all your problems in ways you cannot get to while focusing on them. Fourth, when you go back to your work you are rested and energized. Fifth, you begin to get new insights and ideas about what to do and how to do it. Outcome: efficiency + new energy = time saved for you. Begin Your Adventure Today. * a world of exciting moves NOTE TO FAMILIES: here is the ultimate beauty and power of Aikido: what works for family unity and growth also works for protecting the family from harm. This is absolutely the best and possibly the only program of its kind that is perfect for you and your family. Here’s why: * No violence
Let me explain:
New School Aikido adheres to the origins of Aikido. Ueshiba Morihei Osensei, founder of Aikido, states, "The Way of Aikido is loving protection for all." Violence must include the intention to do harm. In Aikido your goal is safety, restoring the peace, loving protection. Your intention will not be injury or punishment. Is this unique? You bet it is. You and your families’ practice of Aikido will support the family values of love, partnership, community, forgiveness and trust. And at the same time you will all learn how to stay safe by replacing all attack and defense strategies with Aikido.
If you are a tough guy, it’s okay to have a tough guy mentality. In fact, through Aikido real tough guys can realize their true potential in life—loving protection for all and an ability to lead during crisis situations.
For example, you could practice Aikido with your family for the purpose of safety and good relationships. Within that purpose you could create competitive games. They would all be based on challenging each other to improve. If the game’s purpose becomes winning, it is time for a reevaluation. Many people confuse fighting arts with self defense. And many more confuse self defense with Aikido. Too many believe that fighting is the only way to stay safe. WRONG! Fighting arts describe the methods used by one fighter against another fighter. This is very similar to military arts. Self defense refers to the way a person protects him or herself from harm. The attacker in self defense is predatory. In self defense you are not preparing to attack. You are not attempting to control the other person. Fighting arts and military arts are based on having enemies and trying to defeat them. Self defense arts are based on responding to attacks. Because of this you cannot generalize their techniques and lessons into positive family strategies. Your family deserves the best! And this is the absolutely the best and the only training that delivers safety by going beyond attacking and defending. Aikido is perfect for you and your family. Here’s why: * Love Aikido does not teach you to be neutral. Your whole family will learn the how-to of a positive, planned outcome—i.e. safety. Safety in your technical practice will translate into a habit of positive expectations in all situations. Love is the natural evolution of this practice. Whatever your response — fear, anger, pain — you will still be able to do this art. In fact, Aikido requires that you express yourself honestly so that you can get to your natural rhythm and strength. Your spontaneous expression of emotion releases the energy you need to handle situations. The "hard look" or "I'm bad" posture actually slows you down and makes you ineffective. Your spontaneous response leads to powerful action. All the movements your family will practice conform to simple and natural body movements. All the motions are mid-range. Speed is canceled out by rhythm. Strength is canceled out by gravity/body weight. Flexibility is canceled out by balance. Your Basic Aikido technique functions on gross motor skills. These are the ones that don’t fade as you get tired. These are the ones that continue to work even when you can’t think straight. Fine and normal motor skills and analytical thinking fade away as you get tired. This technique is based on natural gross motor skills. You can throw away all those clever, complicated or skill oriented fighting or self defense methods. Aikido takes you directly to what works. Cooperation characterizes one of the best and most successful dynamics in all human interactions. How can you say you are co-operating with an attacker? Won’t that get you hurt? No, not when you use Aikido. In this practice you are learning how to co-operate with human physiology. You are learning to focus on how bodies work and that when you move with the laws of physiology you assure everyone’s safety. You are applying the "golden rule". Working with the body is one of the major differences between Aikido and all methods of fighting or self defense. Aikido gives you a blueprint, a physical text book on the philosophy of security, community and positive outcomes. Because you do each technique with a partner, you will get a chance to master the art of leading and the art of following. Here is the ultimate beauty and power of Aikido: what works for family unity and growth also works for protecting the family from harm. Sincerely, John Smartt, Founder New School Aikido DISCLAIMER (why Aikido might not be for you): |
No, it is because we know the alternative to violence. You, too, can join this group . . . people and families who feel and live safe, have lots of fun and enjoy great health.
Don't wait for the unexpected. In America three out of four women and three out of five men will be victimized during their lifetime. If you are attacked on the street or in your home, it is a frightening and sometimes life-threatening experience. If a loved one or family member is attacked, it is even worse. In most cases the police cannot help you. Unless you are fully trained, weapons do more harm than good. Attempting self defense is too difficult for many, and emotionally unsuited for many others.
The man who founded Aikido was a tough guy. For everyone else, don’t pretend to be something you are not. When it comes to survival we are all equal. All personalities are equal. All sizes and shapes are equal. We all have the same size balance-point. We all have the same instincts.
If you have a special skill, you can share your abundance with your family. But for learning this program, all you need is willingness. Speed, strength and flexibility are optional. Patience, repetition and frequently reevaluating your progress and your goals are not optional for the success of each member in your family.
Competition rightly understood is exciting and valuable. But it is only worthwhile when it is in the service of a higher ideal.