| Kia Ora from New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||
| Welcome to Catherine's Home page | My hobbies | ||||||||||||||||
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Tena koutou katoa (which means "Hello to everybody" in the native Maori language in New Zealand). I am a New Zealand Maori, descended from the Ngati Maniapoto and Ng� Puhi tribes in the North Island. My marae are Ngati Kaputuhi and Te Paatu. The lizard as it is my Kaitiaki (gaurdian) in my tribal mythology. This is a pic of me. |
I am interested in many things, from art to science. Traveling, tramping, Aikido, and learning about other cultures and languages always interests me. | ||||||||||||||||
| Aikido | |||||||||||||||||
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The Japanese word Aikido is written in three characters which may be translated into English as "The Way of Harmony of the Spirit" or "The Way of Unity with the Fundamental Force of the Universe". Although the idea of a martial discipline striving for peace and harmony may seem paradoxical, it is the most basic tenet of the art. Aikido is a true budo or Martial Way; evolved in the historic tradition of Japanese warrior arts. Studied in earnest, budo is more than a science of tactics and self-defense; it is a discipline for perfecting the spirit. Aikido is primarily concerned with the education and development of character, the coordination of mind and body, and fostering a positive attitude and spirit of peace through training in physical and mental discipline. With the unification of technique, body, and heart, a pure budo comes into being. The kind of budo which manifests itself does not depend upon the technique, but rather, upon the heart of the practitioner. Aikido was developed by Morihei Ueshiba, known as O Sensei (Great Teacher), and is now practiced by more than one million students throughout the world. Even as a young man, he was an extraordinary martial artist, a master of the sword, the staff, the spear, and the art of jujitsu. But O Sensei also had a strong spiritual drive, and emphasized the moral and spiritual aspects of his art ; placing great weight on the development of harmony and peace. He brooded over the futility of a path based on victory over others. Leading a life of austerity and rigorous training, he struggled with this dilemma. It was resolved in a moment of profound awakening that transformed Ueshiba's technical mastery into a martial art of refinement and astonishing power. Thus Aikido is fundamentally different from all of the other martial arts that preceded it. O Sensei maintained that budo is a work of love, a path to overcome discord in ourselves and bring peace to the world, "to make the heart of the universe one's own heart." | |||||||||||||||||
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