Aikido is a Japanese martial art based on the idea of mutual preservation: that when you choose to end a conflict peacefully, you not only preserve the life/health of the instigator, but you also preserve your condition of not being a person who harms others. It is purely a defensive art, and is not practiced in competition.

I have been practicing Aikido off and on since mid-2021, and I do other martial arts to bolster my Aikido practice. I am currently ranked as a 3rd kyu white belt (3 ranks away from black belt.)

I practiced Krav Maga for about 6 months in 2023-2024. I appreciated how these classes were taught, with a lot of room for improvisation, a range of acceptable techniques, and stress drills to counteract the natural response to freeze. The attacks we practiced defending against were also more practical for modern-day America than the samurai attacks around which Aikido is based. I preferred to employ Aikido defenses against Krav attacks wherever possible.

I picked up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu shortly after Krav Maga in 2023, and still practice. I like the strategy element of BJJ — how moves are taught as a series of steps, like a chess tactic, and you can counter individual steps along the way — and I also appreciate the class format: learning 2-3 tactics and then practicing them with some resistance and creativity in situational sparring.

I have also practiced boxing and Muay Thai for several months.

I see my martial arts practice as not just a sport but also a way to live life in my body and in the world. As such, any mindfulness that I practice, the way I move about the world and engage with people, the way I handle any conflict (even just verbal), and of course other physical activities I perform are all wrapped up with my Aikido practice.

Outside of the dojo, I like to lift weights, run, dance, bike, kayak, disc golf, climb, paddleboard, rollerblade, surf; you name it, I will probably do it.