Aikido: My Path of Self-Discovery

Fifteen years ago, Kim Barton walked into an Aikido dojo and her life was transformed. She never imagined herself doing a martial art, had never even heard of Aikido until a few months before, and yet, there she was on the mat in a dojo. Off the mat, Kim thought about Aikido and how it affected her life. How does proper posture affect our actions on and off the mat? What is ‘spiritual power?’ How does one handle the responsibility of teaching Aikido?What does it mean to be engaged with our partners? In the process of earning her third-degree black belt, Kim journaled, wrote essays and blog posts about these questions and about her personal Aikido journey. These writings have now been compiled into Aikido: My Path of Self-Discovery. Taking inspiration from O'Sensei, the wisdom of her teacher or visiting teachers, and quotes from martial artists like Bruce Lee, Kim contemplates Aikido, self-discovery, and life.