Essays

Here are essays of mine that I (John Wilkins) wrote for my shodan (1st degree black belt) test. For the most part, I left these essays as they were presented at the date of my test. These ideas are my opinion and are not necessarily updated to reflect what I feel now. If you have any comments or questions about these articles then feel free to Email me at johnwilk@juno.com. I read my Email frequently and will get back to you as soon as possible.

These articles are about the martial art of Aikido and what it has done for me. They are What is Aikido? and What is Shugyo?. The topic of the Aikido essay is fairly clear. It explains how Aikido is made up and the advantages of the style. Shugyo is the Japanese word for an "intense training of the mind and body to better oneself." This does not explain the actual art of Aikido; instead, it explains what one can learn from training in Aikido and how that information can apply to everyday life.

I hope that you enjoy reading these two articles. If you would like any more information or would like to contact me, feel free to Email me at my email address above.

Essays

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