The Way of Aikido By Todd Paul Reprinted from the Chronogram magazine, with permission by Jason Stern.
Students kneel in silence along the walls of a quiet room.
In the center, the sensei, or teacher, demonstrates a simple technique. Again and again his partner attacks and is thrown or pinned. The technique is demonstrated slowly, quickly, from various angles. Often, class is conducted in near total silence. Learning comes through the body, through practice.