This is how you achieve ignition.
Social Fuel + Inner Fire = AIKIBLAZE
AIKIBLAZE was born in 2021 - the second year into the Covid pandemic. Canadians who had been practicing aikido were eager to return to the dojo, but adult classes were impossible in most provinces because of the “close contact” nature of this martial art.
It required a lot of inner fire to continue practicing on one’s own, despite the unanswered questions of “when” and even “if” a return to normal practice would be possible. We missed our training partners and the energy that is created during practice. What was needed was social fuel, to get our martial spirits burning once again.
Collectively, we persevered. And now we find ourselves on the other side of that difficult time, wondering: is a return to “normal” practice really what we want? What would our IDEAL practice look like? Would it be more Inclusive? More Diverse? More Equitable? More Accessible? Can we turn IDEA into that IDEAL by adding a little more Love to the Way of Harmony?
Let’s find out.
VALKYRIES
The Valkyries are an intergenerational and 2SLGBTQ+ friendly group working to support the retention of Canadian women in aikido across all aikido organizations, to encourage new female members of all ages, to provide ongoing development and mentorship for female instructors and yudansha, and to use aikido as a tool for empowerment.
Currently, they are meeting online to discuss IDEA (Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility).
After all, to transform IDEA into IDEAL, you just need a little Love.
