This is the 19th consecutive issue of In the Dojo since its revival in December 2019. Now, I’m out of ideas! I have complete and total writer’s block. So, instead of an article, I offer you some of my favorite pictures from the first half of 2021. You’ll recall, we began the year with masked, socially distanced practice. And then we got vaccinated! Let’s hope we can maintain our trend towards a better normal. In the meantime, if these pictures inspire a feeling that you missed out, it’s because you did

As we rush to reestablish routines, reopen businesses, and reunite with friends and family, it is understandably easy to forget that prepandemic normalcy was frequently a morass of mediocrity. Compared to the trauma of the last 15 months, mediocrity might be appealing. However, let’s remember that prepandemic life was often characterized by chronic work-life imbalances that interfered with, among other things, aikido, as well as ambient anxiety and stress, rushing, noise, and malaise. As we reopen, reestablish, and recommit, we have an opportunity to not merely return to normal, but to actually create something better.

In this month’s issue of In the Dojo, we pleased to feature an article about gender equality in aikido by AOSB co-founder Courtney Paul. This piece was originally submitted to the Aikido World Alliance’s Technical Committee in 2017 as part of Courtney’s nidan application. The issues and questions Courtney raises remain relevant today, especially as dojo’s reopen and there is the opportunity to do something better than merely returning to pre-pandemic normalcy.

In this issue of In the Dojo, we invited 5th kyu student Anna Gibertini to interview Josh Paul Sensei, AOSB’s cofounder and dojo-cho. For over 20 years, Paul Sensei’s aikido practice has evolved from simply a means to get some exercise, to a lifelong dedication, and finally into a family-run business. Here, Paul Sensei shares his aikido history, as well as his thoughts on how this traditional art is faring in the digital present.

In this issue, meet soon-to-be 10-year-old Henry Phillips. Henry discusses his experiences on the mat, and how aikido informs his daily life. We are also pleased to introduce Floating Bridge Communications, a new content creation project for the traditional martial arts dojo.

Meditation and aikido, as well as other martial arts, have a long, intertwined history. My first aikido teacher, Joseph Jarman sensei, was a Zen Buddhist priest, and regularly led zazen (seated meditation) and kinhin (walking meditation) sessions after class. Aikido and meditation may be practiced independently or as complements to one another. Or one can pursue aikido as a form of meditation unto itself.