Peg: Catnip, Chamomile, Rosemary teas are soothing.
Sometimes the needs of the moment require a strike rather than a parry or an evasion. Aikido is a method of fighting, and before getting too spiritual about it all,
Brucie: I agree completely. Sometimes you do not have a choice; and MUST act.
side and going for Qi Gung. A good bit of deep breathing and Qi (Chi) stengthening will help to rid you of the need to fight in the first place:-)
Dave; I wish you were correct. :-(
I have ended up embroiled in more verbal fights online than I care to remember, and I am a Zhan Zhuang Qigong master, and have received the title master in seven other disciplines. :-(
Ditto about sounding more hostile or one-sided than intended. I agree with mack - there does seem to be something about the net that can bring out the worst in people.
Daylia: It is not the net. the problem is in several areas.
1. with E-Mail there are just words. there is no inflection to pick up on if the person is joking.
2. The current generation is not as polite as earlier generations were.
3. The net is world wide, and a comment that is not offensive here; may be offensive elsewhere. Remember when President GHW Bush (if memory serves) went to Australia and as he was leaving waved two fingers (a backward peace sign), and that gesture was offensive to the Australian people.
4. You are talking to people you have never met, and likely never will meet.
and other reasons.
Aikido is a lot like jiu jitsu. Less strength, more ki (chi, qi) than in Jiu jitsu. Whatever "ki" is.
Clint: Ki is the Japanese name for universe lifeforce energy (ULE); just as qi or ch'i are the Chinese names for it. itaki is the Pueblo indian name for it, nuwati is the Cherokee name for it, and mana is the Hawai'ian name for ULE.
Daylia, myself and all energy healers use Ki for healing almost every day.
D T Suzuki published a very good book on Zen and the sword. I think it was published by Tuttle. Worth buying as the philosphy he expounded can be applied to all martial arts.
Shanghaiceltic: I have read three books on Zen by DT. Suzuki ("Zen Manual", "Introduction To Zen", and "Zen Buddhism: Selected Writings Of DT Suzuki") , and I will never waste more money on this particular author. If someone is interested in Zen; I would recommend
"Zen Keys" Thich Nhat Hanh "Three Pillars Of Zen" Phillip Kapleau and possibly "Zen Mind: Beginners Mind" Shunryu Suzuki
When I was taking martial arts in the 1960s; I spent many hours sitting seiza in Zazen meditation (Zazen is great for developing mindfulness (being present in the moment instead of living in the past or the future.)