Carolina van Haperen - integrale Aikido Amsterdam

03/04/2026

Becoming Shodan, is really quite an achievement. The earnest commitment, the discipline to show up, the focused attention required is no easy thing.
We can all acknowledge the hard work.

Still, we may have heard the humbling belief that becoming a ‘black belt’ is actually when we become ‘a serious student’.
In the west we have been insidiously taught to believe that ‘black belt’ means ‘expert’, and because we have achieved this we have essentially “reached the goal”.
Some quit - satisfied or not, some venture forward to practice and achieve success in other martial disciplines, while some might actually choose to stay with their present practice -thinking that the next tier is to teach.

Teaching will, however, reveal gaps in our learning. Students question the how and the why and at times our answers may not satisfy. The ease of technique in one student may not manifest in the less ‘ideal’ uke. Those who stay discover that there are many layers to learning. An open mind glimpses the vast richness of learning achieved by implementing rigorous, knowledge-rich curriculum with a multi-modal approach. We use various visual/kinetic methods to reinforce our understanding, while actively practicing out of our comfort zone for the body experience.

Some of us might actually lean into this discomfort.

We learn, unlearn, and then relearn.
We refine, whittling down technique from occasionally ‘forcing’ to more frequently controlling. We pare down our movement -giving attention to detail. We create sharp lines/edges purposefully or beautifully round circular flow to add a clarity. We manage a deeper kind of blending, harmonizing with the ‘grain’ of our uke, reading and sensing body inclination.
And then we ‘Polish’ the mirror of Self, understanding the body, mind, and spirit.

So for some of us, becoming Shodan revealed yet another immense horizon.
Learning becomes quite infinite.
It becomes embodied into our Being, overflowing into our daily life, presenting itself as more of a lifestyle - if we so choose.

G. Breeland, 6th dan

27/03/2026

“…the non-violence in Aikido does not lie in the fact that the techniques are not capable of causing damage, or in the fact that we don’t apply force to uke, or even in the fact that the force isn’t for the purpose of damaging uke.
The non-violence in Aikido lies in the fact that it offers a way of transforming the urge to hurt into the remembrance of empathy and the desire to heal…

The public hears that Aikido practice is cooperative and its techniques non-injurious. That is true up to a certain point and is certainly an appropriate level of practice for beginners. For beginners, responding to a mock attack with a meditative, dance-like movement is a way of disengaging from fear and anger and practicing loving an enemy.

But for advanced practitioners, the attack and the defense must have sharper edges.”

Fr. “The Non-violence in Aikido” by Paul Linden, 5th dan, Aikido Italian Network, 2021

Full Article here: https://www.facebook.com/100063663757500/posts/1519880116810766/?mibextid=wwXIfr

13/03/2026

13/03/2026

The “Center” holds our power, our balance
and our serenity.
Before we come forward to express any
kind of power, take a moment to feel
and acknowledge the center.
Before taking balance from anyone
make sure to know that we do indeed,
have own inner balance.
Before correcting others, we must first
correct and reorganize our Self.
Before engaging in the practice of any
technique, we ready and stabilize our
center.
Engage in this preparation…no one
needs to know what we are doing.
Do it for the Self.
Engage in this private “quiet readiness”.

As said, “center first” starts with the Self.
We transfer it into uke just before technique begins. Acknowledge uke’s center before acknowledging the movement and move from a strong, grounded, ready center.

“Center first” acknowledges the fundamental concept to address both physical and mental states.
We move from the center, integrated and unified, allowing the center to lead technique.
Keep heavy and low for a strong and balanced foundation.

A strong center gifts us with calm and resilience. We respond, not react. We remain conscious with intent. We do not ‘force’ an action, we ‘allow’.
Once finished, hold Zanshin, linger as we return back to that strong center, reorganizing.
Remain alert as we requite back to where we first began.
We shift back into that resting power.
Balanced and composed.

Before technique, in the midst of, and in the lingering there after, make a conscious intention to refer back into that constant, the quiet, ready, and resilient center.

G. Breeland, 6th dan

14/02/2026

The kumi tachi partner practices with the Aiki Ken teaches us to claim and defend the centerline.
We refrain from the fearful reflexive reaction of laterally pushing or hitting the attacking bokken out of the way.
In time, as our mindset changes, we learn to trust the centerline, its structure and its geometry.

In Aiki weapons, we observe the centerline between ourself and our partner.
Eventually we demarcate a realized central plane. Claiming the centerline will result in the uchitachi ending up off to the side (without being laterally ‘pushed’).
The centerline offers the shortest, most direct path to defend as well as attack.
We can simultaneously block (defend) and strike (attack) while claiming the centerline.
We can also disrupt ukes distance, balance and structure, both clearly and subtlety.

The centerline is not fixed, it changes as we move. We fluidly adjust. We sense the centerline on the surface externally as an extension, held relationally to the solidity established within our own internal central axis.
Training aiki weapons allows a more tangible study to assess this structure and positional geometry.
We identify our own centerline, ukes centerline and the centerline between the two of us.

When we control the centerline we essentially control the origin of all movement.
Come to know and become familiar with the centerline. Know it intuitively and find its importance in both weapons and empty handed technique.

G. Breeland, 6th dan

14/02/2026

When striking the Aiki Ken, exhale and strike to the horizontal.
Then pause in this position and assess.

The body is centered and grounded. The tip extending out. The hilt finishes in front of the center as the hips settle at the base of the bokken. Observe the centerline and drop the weight into the ground connection.
Sense the structural alignment from the tip of the bokken to the anchored back foot.
Notice postural energy extending up from the crown of the head and down past the soles of the feet.
And then feel the expansion from right to left.

Mindfully organize the body, develop the awareness in the pause to notice.

G. Breeland, 6th dan

17/01/2026

16/01/2026

Some days we might not ‘feel’ like going to practice. Though at times we may truly be unable to - if we are sick, injured, or have family responsibilities- don’t misinterpret, these are all legit.
However, if we simply don’t ‘feel’ like it,
- go anyway.
Some days are just about showing up.
The practice may be far from perfect, just do the best and move carefully in the moment.
There is always something to learn even if we do not ‘get it right’.
Or…sometimes we may actually discover something, epiphanies surprise us - they often come unannounced.

Discipline, consistency, showing up when we do not want to is part of committing.
Make this a foundational habit.
When motivation is low, foster the mindset of consistent action. Practice it as a discipline, use it as a steady force.
Your teacher will quietly notice your consistency.
Your commitment, acknowledged.
Showing up and being present is what underlies all significant improvement.
Become inspired by the capacity.

Remember that for long term success, it is consistency - the steady, regular effort over time that is more effective than short bursts of extreme effort and intensity.

Sometimes the best advice is simple:
Have Discipline.
Be Patient.
Just show up.

G. Breeland, 6th dan

02/01/2026

02/01/2026

Happy new year! Let 2026 be a year to mindfully improve and refine. We renew our commitment, our dedication with gratitude.

My teacher, Hans Goto Shihan, would instruct strong techniques such as Nikkyo and say, “notice how much arm strength you are using (if any) so that when you practice it again you can use even less strength…the technique comes from the center, not the shoulders”.
It was said simply, so simply that it was often ‘overlooked’. After all, uke still hit the ground - providing the positive feedback that keeps us doing what ‘we do’.

For some of us who are smaller, weaker, older, or restricted due to injury, strength is not an option. We may, however, still try to resort to it anyway (to no avail).
In the Iwama system, nage is strongly held (in what Saito Shihan described as “training to the hilt”). Here the ‘limited’ person is forced to learn ‘the skill’. And to persevere, one must have a change of perspective.
In this sense, what can we actually control?
We control our posture, extension, alignment, hanmi, distance, and whole body coordination.
Biomechanically, these absolutely matter to the weaker, the older, the compromised.
And it has to be excellent. The use of levers, angles, timing and maai becomes a ‘no option’ kind of training. It can be frustrating and arduous, filled with rampant thoughts of quitting, yet the horizon into ‘rewarding and insightful’ remains within reach.. .
Those in this subset can become quite
nerd -ish in regard to precision.

And the wonder continues.

When external parts become consistently correct, the next obvious place of study is the dynamics within.
We open doors to yet another mountain of information. We refine into maintaining /creating only essential tension (by emptying, opening, dropping energy, relaxing… all inappropriate description).
My teacher, Goto Shihan, also revealed that as we advance, the study is “much less physical and more mental”.
Intention and imaging have a place.
We resource conscious awareness, mindfully noticing, and laser sharp focus/sensitivity.

This Shugyo practice requires a sincerity and humility as we continue to move past our comfort zones.
Learning is life long, stimulating and infinite.
Remain inspired and curious.

G. Breeland, 6th dan