How to Practice Aikido Alone — Training Methods That Actually Work

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 projector screen, and a whole lot of curiosity.

To my surprise, solo training didn’t stall my progress — it accelerated certain aspects of it. Footwork became clearer. Posture became sharper. And through constant movement, the right neural pathways began to fire in a way simple “watching” never could.

In this week’s video, I share:

• What I discovered training alone during lockdown
• Why small movements — even while seated — activate the correct neural patterns
• Three pillars of effective solo training: body awareness, footwork, and Zanshin
• Practical solo drills: horse stance, footwork grid, shadow Aikido, and shoto-as-arm practice
• What not to do when training alone
• A full 10-minute routine you can start today

Solo practice will never replace partner training, but it can absolutely enhance it.