The Founder of Aikido was really enthusiastic about farming, would make extra heavy tools for himself, and of course get his uchi-deshi (live in students) to work hard in the fields. Some students of Aikido have taken to heart this ideal of farming and Aikido, and actually created Aiki-En’s or farms, for example in Germany. Bill Witt Shihan makes an interesting observation that this ideal of farming and Aikido can be put into a more personal, modern context. So, Aikido and dentistry, or Aikido and plumbing, the important point being to balance Aikido with any profession, that the principles of Aikido are not just for inside the dojo, but are to be taken out into one’s everyday life.

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