South Mountain Aikido Blog

Have you ever had the urge to learn something new but didn’t know where to start? The thought of picking up a new hobby, deepening your...

As we look toward 2025, many of us feel the urge to make positive changes in our lives. This could mean trying new hobbies, pursuing...

Joe DeCapua's introduction to aikido was in the mid-1970's, watching an old, black and white film of Morihei Ueshiba.

In Aikido,we say there are no winners and no losers. Many believe this is because Aikido does not have formal competitions like other...

In the beginning, most students want to pull or push their practice partner to make a technique "work." The brain assumes, after watching...

Potential students frequently want to know how long it takes to be "good" at aikido. It's not a one-size-fits-all question for the most...

Many people study martial arts when they're young. But over time, life happens. School, job or family, for example. Suddenly, it's ten,...

The abiding place. Sounds lovely, even peaceful, but it is a place of fear, hesitation and danger. It is where our chances of getting...

Ben hangs out with Joe De Capua and his students at South Mountain Aikido in Frederick, Maryland.

So much media attention these days is given to mixed martial arts. And while the men and women competing are very skilled fighters, the...

Some people, as they get older, are wary about learning a martial art. That’s often because of the image martial arts have in this...