Tips in Finding Ikebana Vase

Vase for Ikebana is one of the important part for the arrangement. For the intended flowers we can use items that could be found around the house which might be appropriate for the display area.

Use your imagination, you can have baskets, glasses, everyday kitchenware, watering can and many other things because all can be used and has great effect for the arrangement. Even though there are also varieties types of vases which are designed special for Ikebana flower arranging.

To be matched with the intended floral materials, don’t forget to consider the color, shape, size and texture. Another thing that you should pay attention on is the display situation whenever you select the ikebana vase so that’s mean not only the flower that you should focus on.

A larger and substantial vase is suitable for a dramatic seasonal arrangement in an entry hall. For other example if you want to put it at a bedside table you can use a small, less obvious vase and arrangement as it is more suitable.

For more various shapes  such as oval , round, rectangular or triangular we can use traditional vase called Suiban (flat bottom, shallow container).

You can use a low arrangement for dining room table so people can see over, for this type of arrangement is normally recommended with diameter of 30 cm and 4-5 cm type of container. A cylinder or prism-type style has about 30-40cm high, this is a tall vase type.

For more modern arrangement or when a certain height is required then you can use a compote shaped. A heavy and stable with a small opening vase like Pot is a very suitable container.

We could also use a natural material vase for a nice Ikebana arrangement,  such  as Bamboo baskets. Bamboo baskets are suitable for wild flowers or any flowers that comes from your garden. We could also use glass containers in many type of shapes. However if you use glass container make sure you pay attention on the water because the color changing as the result of immersed stem can be a distracting view.

The Aikido

Aikido martial arts is not about fighting, nor an offensive martial art. AI means “ Harmony” KI means “Spritual or life energy” DO means “way of path”, if we put it together will be “ Way of harmonizing the spiritual energy”. Aikido is a way to harmonize your body, spirit, and mind in order to find peaceful ways of living with our challenges of life. It is to be applied for everyday living.

Aikido is not learning about striking for its philosophical teachings. Aikido use the energy of our opponent to against themselves. We learn how to harmonize our opponent flowing energy and use it to control them. In Aikido we also learn how to harmonize our own energy to control our life. The method itself emphasizes the correct reaction against movements and dynamics of motion.

Aikido techniques are developed from Kenjutso and Jujitsu, those were used by the Samurai to encompass weaponless combat. These techniques were designed to attack an enemy joints and balance to negate their armor, relying upon circular flowing movements combined with joint locks and pressure points to effect control. A Japanese man Morehei Ueshiba combined them with the philosophies of Buddhism and Bushido (The way of the Samurai) to create a peaceful, benevolent art. People in his area usually call him O-Sensei, means the Great Teacher.

HERE ARE 10 TECHNIQUES IN AIKIDO: 

IKKYO, a technique by gripping your opponent’s elbow and gripping his wrist with the other hand 

NIKKYO, this technique brings muscles together by locking the opponent wrist








SANKYO, a technique by turning the opponent wrist, the motion advanced all through the elbow, arm and shoulder

YONKYO, It has almost the same technique with Ikkyo, it is a shoulder control, only that the forearm on the opposite side should be grip with both of your hands

GOKYO, It’s a variation of Ikkyo. The hand that grips your opponent’s wrist is reversed. Shoulder and arm are rotated with a downward pressure which is applied to the elbow

KOTEGAESHI, It is a throwing technique which involve wrist locks and throw that  stretches the extensor digitorum

IRIMINAGE, It’s a throw techniques which entering the body by moving into the  space that occupied of your opponent

KOSHINAGEe, a throwing technique using your hip, put your hip position lower  than your opponent’s hip and flip your opponent with a pivoting action

TENCHINAGE, the heaven and earth throw technique. Move forward and at the  same time sweep your one hand higher which represent heaven while other hand lower which represent the earth.Your opponent will topple over because losing  their balance

KAITENNAGE. A rotation throw technique. Move your opponent’s arm  backwards until you lock his shoulder’s joints. To apply more pressure keep  maintain the hold.