Look left, look right, look in front, and look behind. You are not alone. You are a member of the Ryū, a timeless, spaceless, entity that extends forever. You are raw potential and the Ryū is the hammer forging you.

It is very easy to think of different martial arts as being different only in technique—“In karatedo they hit and kick, but in aikido they throw and pin”— and assume that this is the end of it. There are, however, some profound fundamental differences between the major martial arts groups and until you come to understand these differences and their philosophical implications, even if you study for a hundred years, you will never master the art.

The journey is a long one, from basic jūjutsu to the ethereal realm of pure aiki, yet it is a road oft traveled. Some people never make it past the primitive stage of a thump on the head, while others take a few faltering steps and lose their way. But the magic remains. A magic that, once experienced even for a fleeting moment, traps an individual in a silken web.