Keeping the Fire Burning After Black Belt

December 30, 2024 Aaron Cass 2

In my 30 years of training and 15 of running an aikido dojo, I’ve noticed some tendencies in the way people progress through their practice—or not. I have personally lost my way and found it again many times, and after years of practice I’ve found that the answer often lies [Read More]

Making Sense of Violence

November 23, 2024 Aaron Cass 5

Rough Night The night before my last day at the coffee shop, my coworkers and I headed out to celebrate. Soon I’d be leaving for Japan, and this would be my last hurrah. We ate and drank our way through the night, eventually ending up at the far end of [Read More]

Rediscovering my Practice

October 20, 2024 Aaron Cass 3

Moving On By the time I arrived in Japan, I had quit aikido. Back in the U.S. I was training nearly every day, but in the time it had taken me to secure a job and get on a plane I was disillusioned with the art. I had been training [Read More]