Keeping on

[purpletigron]

With two bone fide beginners, our Thursday aikido classes are 'back to basics'. My brain and my body are somewhat out-of-phase, with my body remembering the techniques whilst my brain is confused :-) We practiced aiyumiashi, tsukiyashi, ikkyo, nikyo, sumiotoshi in body art with 'little Sensei' S, and the first seven of Chiba Sensei's bokken exercises in 'weapons' with Big Sensei, on Thursday. On Friday, there were only 4 students, and it was C's birthday. C chose to do suwariwaza practice, so I got an intensive hour of tuition with S - who also has knee problems. We focused on my foot-work, and S said I should work most on keeping relaxed during training - for example, I was still tensing my wrist during kotegaeshi :-(

I was told I'd 'done good' all through: making progress, consolidating my knowledge, working hard ...

Comments

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

You've been doing aikido for a long old time. Don't you get frustrated with keeping on going back to basics? I know, there is always more to be learnt from repeated studying, but I got fed up never getting to the end of the Form in Tai Chi.

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

Although I originally started aikido in ... 1999? ... I've had three long breaks due to health problems. So I suppose I'm where I would have been after 18 months with no interruptions :-)

Aikido has only 10 techniques. You keep studying them at least until your nidan or second-level black belt :-) OK, so there are numerous variations, depending upon how your partner attacks, and how you finish off to control them. But it's all about going back to basics in every lesson.

What keeps me from getting bored? I'm trying to completely disengage my mind, so that my body instinctively takes over. I'm trying to improve my fitness. I'm trying to get the details right, not 'faking it'. Every training partner is different. But perhaps the key is knowing that you might need use what you're learning to defend yourself or a loved one in real life? Big Sensei successfully fended off a group of four muggers, I'm told.