Aikido is a defensive martial art that uses throws and joint locks. Tomiki Kenji, the founder of Shodokan Aikido, introduced randori, or freestyle format, into Aikido practice. This book sets out to explain the need for and scope of randori in Aikido practice. It explains the historical and philosophical principles behind randori, and the physiological principles of Aikido; ilustrates fundamental training and practice methods; describes the role of kata and randori in Aikido practice; and guides the player through the shodokan system and the grading syllabus. With over 300 illustrations, it is an essential learning aid for all Aikido students.
A fascinating account of Russia's famous dissident and the politics he embodies. Who is Alexei Navalny? Poisoned in August 2020 and transported to Germany for treatment, the politician returned to Russia in January 2021 in the full glare of the world media. His immediate detention at passport control set the stage for an explosive showdown with Vladimir Putin. But Navalny means very different things to different people. To some, he is a democratic hero. To others, he is betraying the Motherland. To others still, he is a dangerous nationalist. This book explores the many dimensions of Navalny's political life, from his pioneering anti-corruption investigations to his ideas and leadership of a political movement. It also looks at how his activities and the Kremlin's strategies have shaped one another. Navalny makes sense of this divisive character, revealing the contradictions of a man who is the second most important political figure in Russia--even when behind bars. In order to understand modern Russia, you need to understand Alexei Navalny.
Battle for survival in against the goblin-men of frozen Hyperborea. Bring law and order to the crime-ridden streets of New Amsterdam. Stand fast against the grim darkness of alien scavengers and soulless machines on the far flung planet of Rodinia. Compete for eternal glory and honor on the interdimensional nexus world of Olympus, where the games are the only thing that matter. Lose yourself in the glitz and glamour of Neo-Vegas, where con artists and thieves rule the night and every battle of wits is played for the highest stakes. It takes money to make magick. On the campus of Arkane University everyone competes for the scarcest resource of all ... grant money. Inside this book you will find: 40 new mobs. 55 new nameless NPCs. 36 named characters include either a description or a bit of flash fiction. For a total of 89 new Stunts and 290 unique Aspects, ready to be milled, adapted, or lifted directly for immediate use in your fantasy, modern, or sci-fi setting. Customize the details for your needs, or use them as they are and build a unique world from the flavor text. 9 Conflict Structures and Stress Tracks detail new action zones and ways to take out your opponents. Stress Tracks Will - a measure of physical, mental, and spiritual fortitude Health - for close and ranged combat Pursuit - racing, chasing, and hot pursuit Score - when it's a game within the game Structure - pick locks, crack safes, and hotwire vehicles Stake - gamble, bribe, and negotiate the winning edge Conviction - win over your opponent by appealing to reason and emotion Composure - wear down your opponent to control their reactions Support - keep your friends and enemies close, whether they like it or not Conflict Structures Close Combat, Ranged Combat, Chase, Sports, Gadgetry, Gambling, Negotiation, Empathy, Politics 108 new conflict mauevers describe new ways to use the core Fate skills. 50 pages describing the math that drives the Fate System along with detailed tips on scaling the power level of opponents to create dramatic and meaningful conflict no matter your chosen arena.
Good and Evil pervade the whole universe of matter. Everything is polarised: magnetism is positive and negative, male and female. Night rests humanity from the day’s activity, and restores the equilibrium of human as well as of cosmic nature. Daemon est Deus inversus, Devil is God upside-down. Good and D’Evil, Agathodaimon and Kakodaimon, are convertible. Heat and Electricity, two out of three Mothers of Hermes, are also convertible. Pneuma and Anemos, Spiritus and Ventus are convertible. And so is Purusha and Prakriti, Spirit and Matter, Deity and Nature, Force and Matter. And Cain and Abel, Osiris and Typhon, Jacob and Esau. Even Activity and Passivity are readily convertible to each other. The former is the essential condition with which the student has to commence. Rishis and Patriarchs, too, are convertible in their numbers. Last but not least, Spiritualism and Animalism are convertible. But there can be no intercourse or relations between clean and unclean souls — whether embodied or disembodied. Neither can evil ever be uprooted but must linger in the whole expanse of the Kosmos.
"Opposing Forces" presents itself as an alternative to overcoming the great duality that exists in each one of us. How many times in life are we faced with situations in which both alternatives have favorable and unfavorable circumstances and the act of choosing one of them becomes true martyrdom. We must learn to reflect and think carefully about which the true path to be followed is and the consequences of that choice. Finally, we need to assemble the "opposing forces" of our lives and make them bear fruit. Thus, we can achieve a much-desired happiness. As for the aspect of the book, we can say that it came from a cry that I heard in the cave of despair. This cry was the cause of all the adventures told in the book. Mission accomplished; I hope I have reached my goal which is to make just one person dream. This is what I propose even more now since we live in a world full of violence, cruelty, and injustice. The "opposing forces" never again will be the same after its publication and I cannot wait to start a new adventure together with readers who also intend to do so.
