General aspects that serve as guidance in the KOKORO dojo: Technical aspects:
- Search for the center of the partner,
- Search for the contact with the partner,
- Soft ukemis,
- Soft and efficient realization of techniques,
- Producing techniques with shoulder and upper body relaxed and lower body stable and strong;
- Producing techniques relying more on the weight and the hip-power than on the arms/legs power;
- Producing techniques taking into account the principles of: the unbendable arm, the stability of the lower body, the triangle, circle and square elements,
- Right posture for both Tori and Uke,
- Awareness of the importance of unbalancing “kuzushi”,
- Awareness of the surrounding space (maai),
- Awareness of the importance of good timing,
Discipline/social aspects:
- Respect to each other and respect to Uke/Tori,
- Respect to your seniors (sempais) and taking care of your students (kohais),
- Perseverance and happiness with small improvements at a time (patience),
- Awareness of the importance of the harmony in the Dojo and the harmony outside the Dojo,
Other aspects (cultural/spiritual):
- Developing stillness and quietness in your mind when practicing or when the teacher explains something,
- Honesty as Tori and as Uke: in your attack and in your defense,
- Spiritual aspects of Aikido (books of aikido),
- Cultural aspects of Aikido (Japanese culture and uses),