Saw a few interesting and insightful descriptions on what exactly Aikido could be described as, from the perspective of its practitioners.
The one that sticks in my mind is the following:
Aikido is like origami, but with people instead of paper.
Thursday 20 December 2012
Wednesday 12 December 2012
Dojo closing and re-opening times.
NOOOOOOOO...received a sms notification that - amongst other things - included the reopening day of our dojo...closes the 21st December and only re-opens 8th January 2013!
What am I going to do till then? If the Mayan's were wrong that is...
What am I going to do till then? If the Mayan's were wrong that is...
My hunt for the elusive black belt
Time for an update.
So far I am 3 kilo's down. Yay for me!
I'm really enjoying my classes and when I miss a class I really feel it in my spirit. The classes are literally recharging my batteries. My wife and I have gone down to two classes per week for a minor saving in fees, as an experiment. It doesn't make a huge difference in the overall cost at the end of the month, but I suspect that on a spiritual level as well as physical level it might make a huge difference. Sometimes work/my mind interferes and I miss out on a day of training. On a three day week you still end up training twice which is the bare minimum for myself. On a two day week if I miss a day I am left with one day of training which is detrimental to say the least. The dojo is closing down over the Xmas break for a few weeks and I am facing that time with trepidation. I am going to need my Ki Aikido fix.
We will be going back to three classes per week in the new year when the dojo reopens. One should train in Aikido every day - it's a bit harder for us in our busy high-demand Westernised lifestyles (is that an excuse?) - but realistically three times per week is quite manageable and the absolute minimum.
The first grading since I started in our dojo is to be held on the 21st of December, to coincide with the last night of training for the year. I am going to miss this grading, as I was not invited to test. Although slightly disappointing - it would have been nice to have made enough of an impression on my sensei to have been invited for grading test - it is also a relief as I honestly can't say I am ready whatsoever to test...next grading will be around April 2013 and I hope to be ready to test for 5th kyu then.
Not that I am chasing gradings and "belts".
Let me explain: since I could remember, I have had "obtain a black belt in a martial art" on my bucket list. I believe it falls in the character building category with things such as "learn to speak at least 3 languages fluently" and "learn to play a musical instrument". I believe those are things everyone should have on their bucket lists apart from the usual other trivial stuff. I've dabbled in other martial arts for a while even in other styles of Aikido, but never found my "home" until now. Even in other styles of Aikido (dabbled in Aikikai and Iwama Ryu) - though it felt like a better fit compared to harder martial arts styles, they still didn't fit completely the way Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido (Ki Aikido) does.
Ki Aikido to me feels like a good comfy pair of old jeans that fit just right and makes you look and feel great.
Obtaining a black belt is not the end all and be all of learning a martial art. In fact - it's quite the opposite. It is nothing more than a mile stone that signifies that you have learned your ABC's and are ready to start putting those letters together to form words before you can build sentences.What I am trying to achieve by not missing a grading is to waste as little time as possible in starting on the sentences.
God knows I've wasted too much of my life in worthless pursuits already.
So far I am 3 kilo's down. Yay for me!
I'm really enjoying my classes and when I miss a class I really feel it in my spirit. The classes are literally recharging my batteries. My wife and I have gone down to two classes per week for a minor saving in fees, as an experiment. It doesn't make a huge difference in the overall cost at the end of the month, but I suspect that on a spiritual level as well as physical level it might make a huge difference. Sometimes work/my mind interferes and I miss out on a day of training. On a three day week you still end up training twice which is the bare minimum for myself. On a two day week if I miss a day I am left with one day of training which is detrimental to say the least. The dojo is closing down over the Xmas break for a few weeks and I am facing that time with trepidation. I am going to need my Ki Aikido fix.
We will be going back to three classes per week in the new year when the dojo reopens. One should train in Aikido every day - it's a bit harder for us in our busy high-demand Westernised lifestyles (is that an excuse?) - but realistically three times per week is quite manageable and the absolute minimum.
The first grading since I started in our dojo is to be held on the 21st of December, to coincide with the last night of training for the year. I am going to miss this grading, as I was not invited to test. Although slightly disappointing - it would have been nice to have made enough of an impression on my sensei to have been invited for grading test - it is also a relief as I honestly can't say I am ready whatsoever to test...next grading will be around April 2013 and I hope to be ready to test for 5th kyu then.
Not that I am chasing gradings and "belts".
Let me explain: since I could remember, I have had "obtain a black belt in a martial art" on my bucket list. I believe it falls in the character building category with things such as "learn to speak at least 3 languages fluently" and "learn to play a musical instrument". I believe those are things everyone should have on their bucket lists apart from the usual other trivial stuff. I've dabbled in other martial arts for a while even in other styles of Aikido, but never found my "home" until now. Even in other styles of Aikido (dabbled in Aikikai and Iwama Ryu) - though it felt like a better fit compared to harder martial arts styles, they still didn't fit completely the way Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido (Ki Aikido) does.
Ki Aikido to me feels like a good comfy pair of old jeans that fit just right and makes you look and feel great.
Obtaining a black belt is not the end all and be all of learning a martial art. In fact - it's quite the opposite. It is nothing more than a mile stone that signifies that you have learned your ABC's and are ready to start putting those letters together to form words before you can build sentences.What I am trying to achieve by not missing a grading is to waste as little time as possible in starting on the sentences.
God knows I've wasted too much of my life in worthless pursuits already.
Wednesday 28 November 2012
Definition of Aikido...
Lots of times when the subject comes up during a discussion, I am asked to describe what precisely Aikido is. The first images conjured in someone's mind when they learn that you do a martial art, is one of kicking and punching and breaking things. Today in my search for Aikido reading material, I came across this synopsis of one of the books I am interested in:
"Aikido, the "gentleman's fighting art," neutralizes aggression and renders attackers harmless without injuring them. By controlling body position and understanding its simple physical premises, anyone-regardless of size, strength or weight-can fend off attacks using this sophisticated martial art."
In my mind this is but one way of summing it up nicely.
"Aikido, the "gentleman's fighting art," neutralizes aggression and renders attackers harmless without injuring them. By controlling body position and understanding its simple physical premises, anyone-regardless of size, strength or weight-can fend off attacks using this sophisticated martial art."
In my mind this is but one way of summing it up nicely.
Monday 26 November 2012
Been a while...
It's been a while since I posted. I figured instead of posting about each and every class which would be - let's face it - a bit of a task, I'll just reduce the granularity a bit and post less regularly and keep things on a higher level.
It's been nearly a month since I started on my Ki Aikido journey. Lots of little things I've noticed:
I also managed to find a dogi that fits this "unique physique" of mine. The one provided by my Sensei just didn't fit quite well (also its more suited to Karate than Aikido), so I had to hunt around a bit for a place that sold dogi's of different cuts to try on. In my hunting for a place that sells good quality gear I ended up at a place just down the road from where I live - Aussie Power. This is a business run from a house, initially I thought it was going to be a waste of time, but I am so glad I stumbled upon this little gem. The owner Abdul originally from Pakistan was extremely helpful and friendly, he presented me with two sized and I fitted one then and there and straight out of the pack it was a perfect fit! Good quality materials and fit. The whole dogi including belt was $50! I ended up buying two - one to train in, one for the washing. Check out his stock at Aussie Power - highly recommended.
It's been nearly a month since I started on my Ki Aikido journey. Lots of little things I've noticed:
- I've had less of a need to remain medicated. Yes, I've been on Lexapro for almost three years now, trying to get rid of the constant depression that has been haunting me for years. Since training for a few weeks now I've been able to start tapering off on my medication. It has all kinds of negative side effects which I could do without. The general feeling of improved spirit seems to be fighting my depression.
- My body is responding to the training physically. I can already feel slight improvements in posture, movement seems to come a bit more easily and freely.
- Weight loss. This is a biggie for me - pun intended. Ive always been stocky, even when I was far below 100k's I was still a 2XL. The last rough few years have really taken its toll on my body. Before training I was rocking a 135.7kg's. Now I've started making changes and recording my weight weekly to see if things are improving, and I am glad to say that so far my weight has gone down by 600grams. Slowly but surely. As I progress I'll surely add more activity and my weight loss will speed up.
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| Author - 6th kyu and note the brand new dogi |
Monday 5 November 2012
Impressions after introductory lesson
I am sore.
Shoulders. Lats. Forearms.
Sore.
Class started off talking about what Ki in Ki Aikido is all about. We were shown how to find your one point, how this affects your posture. We discussed balance and why having proper balance and posture is important not only in Aikido, but in general day to day life.
Sensei also demonstrated Ki breathing techniques. While at this point in time I have no idea how to really perform it, we all attempted it. It is a skill you have to grow, over time, you become more adept to it and can perform the exhalation and inhalation phases over longer periods of time, until you cover the 22 second cycle of blood circulation in the body on the inhalation phase.
While the more senior students then carried on with some techniques we beginners (there were three of us - myself, my wife and another girl) we shown more examples of Ki like unbend-able arm as further demonstrations of Ki applications.
Then we did some sword drills using Bokken, basic forward downward cuts and footwork. As a result of that and my extrememly unfit state - I am sore.
But looking forward to my Monday night class. Sensei has decided to open the dojo for Monday nights as well as a purely beginners class, so he can focus on the absolute basics without boring the more advanced students to tears.
Shoulders. Lats. Forearms.
Sore.
Class started off talking about what Ki in Ki Aikido is all about. We were shown how to find your one point, how this affects your posture. We discussed balance and why having proper balance and posture is important not only in Aikido, but in general day to day life.
Sensei also demonstrated Ki breathing techniques. While at this point in time I have no idea how to really perform it, we all attempted it. It is a skill you have to grow, over time, you become more adept to it and can perform the exhalation and inhalation phases over longer periods of time, until you cover the 22 second cycle of blood circulation in the body on the inhalation phase.
While the more senior students then carried on with some techniques we beginners (there were three of us - myself, my wife and another girl) we shown more examples of Ki like unbend-able arm as further demonstrations of Ki applications.
Then we did some sword drills using Bokken, basic forward downward cuts and footwork. As a result of that and my extrememly unfit state - I am sore.
But looking forward to my Monday night class. Sensei has decided to open the dojo for Monday nights as well as a purely beginners class, so he can focus on the absolute basics without boring the more advanced students to tears.
Friday 2 November 2012
Introductory lesson
Tonight is my first actual lesson where I step onto the mat.
For the first time in many years, I will actually be stepping into a Dojo and onto a training mat: a student.
I am beyond excited.
I know that this journey will be unending, loaded with challenges, failures, set backs. But I know the benefits and rewards reaped from a life of following the Way of Harmony will far outstrip any negatives, negatives which should not be seen as negatives really, but learning opportunities.
For the first time in many years, I will actually be stepping into a Dojo and onto a training mat: a student.
I am beyond excited.
I know that this journey will be unending, loaded with challenges, failures, set backs. But I know the benefits and rewards reaped from a life of following the Way of Harmony will far outstrip any negatives, negatives which should not be seen as negatives really, but learning opportunities.
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