Comments Off

By admin, January 8, 2012 1:26 pm

Happy New Year! It’s always fun and relaxing to take a break from the regular routine, but it’s always exciting for me to see everyone back on the mat after a break. I hope you enjoyed yourselves over the holidays and I wish you all the best in 2012!

This is a good time to remind everyone to put forth your best effort in all that you do. Remember that whatever you do on a consistent basis is what you are going to do when it counts. I’d like you to change the phrase “practice makes perfect” to “practice makes permanent”. This phrase can be applied to everything you do from sports, music, handwriting, to how you treat others, or what kind of friend you are.

Think about consistency as you begin this new year and resolve to put forth your best effort all the time. Make the most of your time with whatever it is you’re doing (Aikido, music, sports, homework, etc.) and you’ll make progress because you are focused and determined.

I hope 2012 is a wonderful year for you and if you give your best effort you can be assured that it really will be!

Teresa Mastison Sensei

Comments Off

By admin, January 8, 2012 1:24 pm

I wish you all the very best in 2012 and hope you have joy in abundance.

Some things to remember:

• If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it.
• If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.
• If you don’t step forward, you’ll always be in the same place.

Happy New Year!

Teresa Mastison Sensei

Comments Off

By admin, December 8, 2011 1:21 pm

I’d like to take the idea of being aware a little further for this holiday season. Being aware is a cornerstone of your Aikido training, but it can mean even more during the holiday months. Being aware of your surroundings is important in order to keep yourself safe, but being aware of others can mean a lot to those you help. You have to extend your awareness to beyond yourself and that can lead to some wonderful feelings both for you and the one you help.

During this holiday season look for ways you can help others. You can help by doing something nice or helpful; being extra courteous by letting others go first or ahead of you; sharing what you have with others or letting someone have something of yours; buying a gift for a charity drive; giving food to a food bank. The list is endless. Be creative. Brainstorm with your family to come up with some unique ways to help others this holiday season. When we help others we often times realize just how fortunate and blessed we are ourselves.

I wish you each a very special time with family and friends this holiday season. I’ll see you in 2012 for another great year of training!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Teresa Mastison Sensei

Comments Off

By admin, December 8, 2011 1:20 pm

As with everything in life you have to have a strong foundation if you expect what you build upon it to be strong and stable. Your Aikido training is no different. Attention to details, moving slowly, learning the aiki taiso and their applications, doing techniques over and over, making connections between aiki taiso and technique or this technique with that technique are all things you must do in order to create a solid foundation. Without taking the time to do these things you will hinder your progress and understanding.

Aikido training is really just conditioning your body and mind to react to various stimuli. If you do anything long enough it becomes a habit. When you train you’re teaching yourself how to move, blend and redirect energy. The importance of good, solid kihon (basic) technique and aiki taiso (exercises you do by yourself) becomes obvious when the speed of attack increases or during a randori (multiple attackers at the same time). When you don’t have time to think you rely on your body to react instinctively and that’s when you find out how solid your fundamental motions are.

Patience is paramount in Aikido training. You just can’t create lifelong habits quickly. Even after studying for years you’ll find a new connection or make a discovery that is new to you. Your training has so many layers of understanding and levels of proficiency it really is a lifelong journey. Just when you think you have a technique down and understand it something happens that makes it ineffective and you have to “go back to the basics” in order to figure it out.

I bring these ideas up to encourage you to practice the aiki taiso you are familiar with during our break. You can also use the Student Manual as a reference for the ones with which you’re not as familiar. You can also walk through techniques focusing on your motions and extending ki throughout your body. It is this kind of training that helps you create habits that will help your learning. Give yourself the advantage of knowing how to move by practicing the aiki taiso or reviewing techniques done in class even if it’s only in your mind.

It’s been another wonderful year for Aikido of Phoenix and I thank you all for your hard work and dedication. Count your blessings this holiday seasons and know that I count each of you among my mine. I look forward to training with you in 2012 and hope you all have a safe and happy holiday!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Teresa Mastison Sensei

Comments Off

By admin, November 8, 2011 1:15 pm

For the month of November I want you to practice being aware of the people around you. I don’t mean just know if there’s a person next to you, but really pay attention to them. Be sure to look at them in the eyes, greet them, smile at them or otherwise show that you know they’re there. Once you have acknowledged the person try to get a sense of how they are feeling. When you greet them or smile at them that will give you some idea of their state. The reason I think this is a good idea to practice is because once you have an idea of how a person is feeling you can either foster the positive energy you feel from them or if they aren’t so positive you can share the good ki you have with them. This can help them feel better. Either way, you end up feeling good inside and hopefully they will too.

During this time of thanksgiving count your blessings and be willing to share with others, even if it’s just a smile or a friendly conversation. Sometimes people lack more than food. A friendly gesture can go a long way in making someone feel special or at least noticed. If you’re able then maybe you can buy a little extra at the grocery store and then give it to a food bank or shelter, but it doesn’t have to be food when you think of helping others. Look for ways you can be kind or helpful. Go out of your way to be a friend or to smile at someone.

Be like the pebble that gets dropped in the pond, the ripples continue going out from the center for a long time. Your kindness and extension of good energy may make someone’s day and that is something for which to be truly grateful.

Teresa Mastison Sensei

Comments Off

By admin, November 8, 2011 1:14 pm

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and with that come thoughts of gratitude. I’m so grateful for what Aikido has done for me personally but even more grateful for all the wonderful friendships and memories that have been created over the years. Thank you, students, for having the courage to get on the mat, for the many hours, months, years of hard work and dedication, for growing with us and helping each other along the way. We built our dojo on the principles that O’Sensei emphasized; extend positive ki in all that you do, build a sense of community by helping and supporting each other, learn from everything in your life and be willing to share it with others. I’m proud of Aikido of Phoenix and hope you are all proud to be a part of it as well.

We have several opportunities to further the feeling of camaraderie within Aikido of Phoenix coming up. During November and then in January we have several high ranking tests happening and you are all welcome to attend any and all of them. In fact, I highly encourage you to make an effort to watch others test whenever possible. Watching fellow students test not only shows your support but you can also learn a great deal. If you’ve tested before you can appreciate the effort and hard work that goes into preparing for it. You can also get in some extra “practice” by watching the techniques being executed. Your mind doesn’t know the difference between what’s really happening and what’s happening in your mind so take advantage of the opportunity to learn by watching others. Watching other students test is not reserved just for high ranking tests. You can learn from watching any test.

The students who will be testing soon for brown belt or above are:

• Amanda Redington-Nikyu (1st brown) at the S. Chandler dojo on Sat., Nov. 12. Class begins at 10am.
• Daniel Horn-Nidan (2nd degree black) at the Chandler dojo on Wed., Nov. 30. Class begins at 7pm.
• Clement Singarajah-Nikyu (1st brown) at the Chandler dojo in Jan. after he’s healed from an injury.

I am inviting every Aikido of Phoenix student (this includes kids as well) to attend these tests. These students have worked hard to get where they are. It’s a great show of support and helps to develop our sense of community when we come together to watch each other make progress.

Another opportunity for us to gather together as a dojo will be on Sat., Nov. 19 for the Shodo Workshop. Come join us as we learn the art of Japanese calligraphy with Yuko Halada Sensei. She teaches Shodo as a “martial arts with a brush”. Come experience how she incorporates ki into the calligraphy. This will really help expand your martial arts horizons and understanding.

Finally, we end the year with our Christmas party and awards ceremony which is meant to bring all three of our dojos together to honor each other as well as to socialize and have some fun. This year it will be on Wed., Dec. 21 from 6-8pm at the Chandler dojo. You’ll find complete details later on in the newsletter. Sign up sheets will be at each dojo and I hope to see you all there. It’s always a fun and relaxing time to visit with each other and our families.

I hope you take advantage of all the opportunities available to gather with students from each of our dojos. I know our schedules don’t always allow for you to visit one of the other dojos, but hopefully you’ll be able to attend some of the events that have been planned. When you go outside your usual realm of comfort you can really grow and you might just make some friends along the way.

From my family to yours, thank you for being a part of Aikido of Phoenix. Without you all we wouldn’t exist. Thank you for your support over the years and I look forward to many years ahead. May you have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Teresa Mastison Sensei

Comments Off

By admin, October 8, 2011 1:11 pm

Did you know your Aikido training would be able to help you have a safe and happy Halloween? Well it can and if you think about it long enough I’m sure you can figure out how.

Aikido is all about being aware of what’s going on around you and blending with whatever comes your way. That’s exactly what you need to do when you are out and about on Halloween night. I’m sure your parents will review all the basic safety concerns for trick-or-treating but it won’t hurt to mention some of them again:

• Please make sure you’re able to see without anything blocking your view
• Don’t go by yourself or go wondering off on your own
• Wait until you get home and your candy is checked before eating any of it
• Carry a flashlight to light up any areas that are especially dark
• Keep your eyes open and be aware of who is out and about Watch out for traffic as you go back and forth across the streets

So, pay attention to your surroundings and the people you meet. Keep your head up and look people in the eyes even if you’re just passing them by. Let everyone know your paying attention and you know who and what’s around you.

I hope you have a wonderful time out with your friends and family.

Teresa Mastison Sensei

Comments Off

By admin, October 8, 2011 1:07 pm

As the years go by and I continue to train in Aikido I have come to realize that I am on a path that never ends. Deep down I guess I know that, but usually I find myself thinking I need to have all the answers; that I should know how to do every technique really well; that somehow I am the one who should know it all. Well…how arrogant is that? When I get stumped by a tough question or stumble over a technique I struggle between feeling bad and taking advantage of the situation and learning from it. At times I feel incompetent and not worthy to be an instructor. It’s very humbling to be constantly reminded that I don’t know everything and that achieving a certain rank does not make you anything special. When I get down on myself I read a little of O’Sensei’s teachings and I’m reminded that:

“ Life is growth. If we stop growing, technically and spiritually, we are as good as dead.”

“The Art of Peace is not easy. It is a fight to the finish, the slaying of evil desires and all falsehood within. On occasion the Voice of Peace resounds like thunder, jolting human beings out of their stupor.”

“To practice properly the Art of Peace, you must: Calm the spirit and return to the source. Cleanse the body and spirit by removing all malice, selfishness, and desire. Be ever-grateful for the gifts received from the universe, your family, Mother Nature, and your fellow human beings.”

“,,,The only desire that should remain is the thirst for more and more training in the Way.”

Sensei means teacher, but more literally it means “one who has gone before”. I definitely don’t have all the answers and I’m becoming more comfortable with that, but I do have 23 years of experience and I can share what I’ve learned with those who are willing to listen and train.

So, thank you for being such great students and helping me continue to grow and learn. I hope that my personal insights can help you get the most out of your training as well as realize how useful your Aikido training can be for all areas of your life. Take the lessons you learn on the mat and think about how they can help you at home, work, social situations etc.

But remember you are always learning so don’t beat yourself up if you stumble once in awhile. Take it from me it’s better if you recognize it and then try to learn from it.

Good luck in your training. I hope you get what you need from it.

Teresa Mastison Sensei

Comments Off

By admin, September 8, 2011 12:58 pm

I would like to extend a warm welcome to all our new students at all three of our locations (Chandler, South Chandler, Mesa). It’s a pleasure to have you all join us on the mat and I hope you enjoy yourselves as you learn about Aikido. Questions are encouraged, so if you ever want to know something all you have to do is ask.

There is a lot to Aikido and you’re not expected to remember everything we talk about or do, but by paying attention and being an active participant in class you’ll get the most out of the time you spend on the mat.

Lately we’ve been discussing some of Aikido’s major principles or ideas that help define what Aikido is. I will list them here briefly but we will also continue discussing them in class. These principles are fundamental ideas that O’Sensei thought would help bring peace to our world. Imagine if each person would work on these principles in their own lives what a difference it could make. Everyone just trying to improve themselves. Training is an ongoing process and one that really never stops. Review of these principles as well as renewed efforts to work on them is one way to constantly improve. Take one idea and focus on it for awhile, then work on another, then another… It’s a great way to break down the big picture of Aikido into more managable parts.

Some of the major principles of Aikido:

• Aikido – the way of blending with energy
• Ki – energy that flows through all things
• Shodo-o-seisu – control the first move, paying attention Dochu-no-sei – calmness in action
• Masakatsu Agatsu – true victory is victory over oneself Chudo – the middle path, not too much, not too little Shugyo – improvement through hard work and sweat Zanshin – focused attention
• Irimi – enter without fear, just do it

Remember to always give your best effort. We don’t have much time on the mat so make it worth your effort! Here’s to another great month of training!

Teresa Mastison Sensei

Comments Off

By admin, September 8, 2011 12:56 pm

One of the things that is fundamental about Aikido is that it is more than a martial art useful in defending yourself. It provides great exercise, a chance to make friends, a way to deal with stressful situations possibly without physical contact, a way to help yourself be a better person, and a lifelong course of study.

As you progress through the ranks your breadth of understanding expands. Each time we revisit a technique or discuss a principle your understanding of it changes, rises to a new level. You then apply your new understanding to a familiar technique or principle and you learn something new or have a better understanding of it.

That’s why I encourage you to come to each class with an “empty cup”. Whatever is being taught there is something to be learned. When you say to yourself, “I’ve seen this before or I know what this is about” your mind is closed and very little will be gained. But, if you open your mind and allow yourself to “see” the technique as if for the first time then you have opened your mind to the possibility of growth and a new understanding. It’s hard to do and in the beginning it has to be a conscious effort, but the reward is a greater understanding.

This same “empty cup” approach can be applied to your training partner. Every partner has something to offer you as you practice a technique. That is why it is vital to train with as many different people as possible. There was a time early on in my training when I preferred to work with only a handful of other students. They were “easier” to work with, were good ukemists and everything seemed to go smoother when I partnered with them. However, I did myself a great disservice by gravitating towards those people and, I believe, stunted my growth because I avoided working with the others. When a technique is difficult or you get frustrated because it’s not working as well with this partner than it did with another that is a time when learning has the greatest opportunity of happening. You really have to think about why something isn’t happening or why your uke is reacting in a certain way. It forces you to evaluate what you are doing. Embrace those times and know that you’ll be better because of your time and effort.

Take this “empty cup” philosophy with you in all that you do. There is always something to be learned from every experience. Only when you tell yourself there isn’t will your time be wasted.

“Be grateful even for hardship, setbacks, and bad people. Dealing with such obstacles is an essential part of training in the Art of Peace.” – O’Sensei

Teresa Mastison Sensei