Have you ever tried to fix a technique by moving faster — only to make things worse?
In Aikido, the secret isn’t speed. It’s timing.
When you focus on timing, you stop fighting your partner’s rhythm and start harmonizing with it.
Fast movement often creates tension — but good timing dissolves it.
In this week’s video, I share how my teachers Yamaguchi and Takeda Sensei taught me to move mindfully, not quickly — and why real control means being effective even at a slow pace.
You’ll also learn the difference between moving quickly and moving suddenly, how to match your partner’s natural speed (whether they’re 22 or 60), and how to use awareness instead of muscle to create flow.
It’s a simple shift that changes everything — and once you feel it, you’ll never equate “fast” with “better” again.
Let’s check it out
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🎥 WATCH: ⏱ Timing vs Speed — Why Fast Isn’t Always Better
🌿 Your Practice Prompt
During your next class…
⏱ Notice when you start to rush.
💭 Ask yourself — am I moving because it’s the right moment, or because I’m afraid of being late?
🕊 Try pausing for just half a beat before you move — feel your partner’s rhythm first.
🤝 Then enter smoothly, without hurrying or forcing.
💬 What did you notice about timing and connection when you slowed your mind but stayed ready?
Share your experience—I read every reply.
P.S. This video also is part of a new playlist: Aikido Insights with Lia Suzuki — a series of short, concept-driven talks exploring the philosophy, mindset, and “why” behind Aikido.
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Lia Suzuki
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• The Teacher
• Mastering The Shoto
Director: Aikido Kenkyukai International USA
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