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Be at Peace With Your Aikido Training

Author: Kevin E. A. Love
Date Posted: April 28, 2009

Aikido can confuse and frustrate the beginner. The movements challenge the body and the techniques and concepts often seem mysterious and counter-intuitive. For instance, it took me several months to realize that the hand stretches we do in warm-ups are the controls we use in our techniques!

There's a new language to learn. The teaching methods aren't the familiar linear ones we know from school and it may be weeks before a technique comes around in class again, making us feel like beginners again. Also, we have to learn how to receive techniques in our role as uke, effectively doubling the challenge level. And - well, you get the idea.

The rewards are slow in coming and it's easy to feel like giving up. Stick with it, all will become clear in time. You can see this on testing days as you witness the amount of improvement, knowledge and detail demonstrated by the successive ranks. In fact, you'll come to love the journey.

As you work towards mastery, here are a few guidelines that will make your path easier:

* Trust that you'll get what you need at every class. Surrender to the journey and you'll draw in the information that's right for you at that time.

* Accept that some days you'll do well, some days you won't. Expecting to do your best at all times is unrealistic. Be kind to yourself.

* Be detached from outcome. Miracles may occur, but not if you become focused on your frustration.

* Know that even as you advance, Aikido will sometimes seem confusing. As you gain competence and knowledge, new realms of possibility will be revealed, making you a perpetual beginner. Remember, Shodan, or black belt level is considered first (lowest) grade level.

* Talk less. Listen and observe more. Aikido is fun and social, so it's natural to want to share your discoveries with your fellow aikidoka. Feedback is helpful, but too much can distract you from the task at hand. Remember, there are other ways of learning besides discussion.

* Divide and conquer. If you find a technique particularly baffling, try doing it without using your hands until you get the footwork down, or practice it on one side only, or focus on just one step, i.e. the entry or pin.

* Trust and affirm that you are advancing. There is no timetable. Often the changes are so subtle and gradual that we don't notice them. Or we experience them as successive plateaus that seem very far apart. But you will ascend to the next one; it's inevitable.

* Come to class with great expectancy, rather than specific expectations. You may be surprised. Instead of 'nailing' a particular technique that you've been 'stalking', you may have an unexpected 'a-ha' moment while doing your breakfalls.

* Turn frustration into fascination. Transform the energy of frustration into fascination by immersing yourself in the child-like wonder of discovery.

* Pay attention when you are uke. You can learn a lot by how it feels to receive a technique. By being a better uke, you help your partner learn and perform the technique, simultaneously improving your own knowledge and effectively doubling your learning opportunities.

Some specific tips: When a technique is being demonstrated, apply a deliberate checklist that will focus your attention in a very practical way:

* Stance: What stance is shite in? Ai hanmi (same stance) or gyaku hanmi (mirror image)? This will also tell you if it is a #1 technique (shite is being 'pulled') or #2 (shite is being 'pushed')

* Attack: What strike or grasp is being used?

* Footwork: Does shite shuffle in, cross step or pivot?

* Control: How does shite use his hands and arms to apply a control? Which one? Pin or throw?

* Uke: Very important! How does uke respond to blend and protect himself? Which breakfall is utilized?

Incorporating these concepts and tips should help you let go of frustration and confusion and make more room for peace and growth. I wish you good training and an inspired journey!

About The Author

Kevin Love practices Yoshinkan Aikido at the Aiki Budo Centre in London Ontario.

Be sure to visit his web site, which explores the lighter side of Aikido, at http://www.WeLoveAikido.com to view his blog and preview his book "Aiki-Doh!-ka: An Aikido Lexicon" (co-authored with cartoonist Jon Oaker).

Article Source: JKD Street Combat - online collection of Aikido articles.

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