Fast attacks can trigger tension and panic in Aikido. In this video, Lia Suzuki explains why calm must be trained under pressure and how staying calm widens perception and improves timing.

A clear explanation of Aikido stance, why over-fixating on foot placement creates rigidity, and how adaptability, soft knees, and center awareness support real stability and readiness.

If your Aikido feels stiff or disconnected, the issue may not be technique. In this post, Lia Suzuki explains how micro-pauses, dropped awareness, and missed transitions interrupt flow — and how to restore smooth movement.

Many students believe they’re practicing Aikido basics—but unknowingly reinforce habits that limit progress. Learn three common mistakes involving maai, strength, and technique-collecting, and how to train more effectively.

Can you really improve Aikido without a training partner? For most of my life, I assumed the answer was “not really.” Then the pandemic happened. My dojo in Los Angeles shut down for 15 months, and like many of you, I found myself training in my living room with nothing but a camera, a project...

A deep exploration of zanshin — what it means, why it matters, and how to cultivate sustained mindfulness throughout your Aikido training. Includes practical tips, daily assignments, and examples from classical instruction.

Most Aikido students think that learning more techniques will make them better. But after nearly a decade training in Japan, I learned that real Aikido skill comes from going deeper into a few essential movements — not collecting more waza. In this post, I share stories from my training with T...

Learning to move from your center is one of the most important skills in Aikido — but also one of the most misunderstood. In this week’s video, we look at why techniques often feel shaky, weak, or disconnected, especially under pressure, and how arm-driven movement creates tension long before ...

Many Aikido students think faster movement means better technique. But real skill lies in timing — not speed. In this week’s video, Lia Suzuki Sensei explains how awareness, rhythm, and relaxation create effortless effectiveness on the mat.

Many Aikido students misunderstand what Japanese teachers mean when they say “chikara wo nuide.” It doesn’t mean to “relax,” but rather to remove unnecessary strength so that movement becomes alive, connected, and powerful.

In this post, Lia Suzuki Shihan explains how to train looseness t...

Most students think Aikido progress comes from training harder, getting stronger, or memorizing more techniques.
But what if the real key isn’t physical at all?

In this week’s video, Lia Suzuki Shihan (7th dan Aikikai) explains how developing your ability to observe changes everything — from how y...

Ever been locked down in Morotedori (Ryote Mochi) — when both of uke’s hands clamp one wrist? It can feel like your movement is gone.
In this week’s lesson, Lia Suzuki Sensei demonstrates how to absorb that pressure into your Hara, deflect it upward, and lift your partner’s center so the flow...