How to Stay Calm During Fast Attacks in Aikido

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.

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Aikido Stance Explained: Adaptable, Not Fixed

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.

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Why Your Aikido Doesn’t Feel Smooth Yet — And How to Fix It

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.

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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 project...

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Stop Chasing Techniques: Why Depth Creates Real Aikido Skill

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...

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🌀 How to Move From Your Center in Aikido (Real Balance & Power)

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 ...

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