John Shea

“Aikido is budo. The goal of aikido is the development of personal, social, and spiritual awareness, responsibility, and accountability through the discipline and practice of a martial art. Aikido, empty-handed and with weapons, is the training of the heart and mind for self-defense, if necessary, and for physical conditioning.”
― Phong Thong Dang, Aikido Weapons Techniques: The Wooden Sword, Stick, and Knife of Aikido