A Lesson Learned

Aikido Suenaka-Ha Ashland for the most part is a dojo full of adults.  However, every so often there is a kid or two training with us.  Kids are invited to train with us on a case by case basis.  First off when a parent calls and ask if we have a kids program, I immediately tell them no but children under a certain age is welcomed on the mat with a practicing parent.  If the child is a tween the child size and maturity level is taken into consideration.  Older kids can practice with us with parental consent.   

One day I was pulled aside and told by another student that he was concerned about being on the mat with children.  He was concerned for their safety.  I explained that kids are great training partners.  First off you have to be aware that kids are on the mat and if it takes kids being on the mat to heighten your awareness than that is a good thing, Awareness after all is a major tenet of Aikido  Secondly, you have to dial down your waza.  Often we push and pull are way through technique and call it Aikido.  Well the energy and effort that you use to move all 240# of me is not the same energy and effort you are going to use to move 80# of energy.   Practicing technique on with a child partner can teach how Aikido can be scalable.   Kids are fearless.  Instructors do not have to overcome a kid’s fear factor of rolling.  All the instructor has to do is say let’s practice ukemi, show how it is done by doing it one time and look behind you and watch the rest of the children rolling down the mat.   Kids make a game out of Aikido, while we adults struggle to understand the theory and practical application of how to apply the principles of Aikido in our daily lives.  So the next time you are on the mat trying playing Aikido instead of practicing it.

 

Beginner’s Mind

Often in martial arts we talk about the beginners mind.   The beginners mind is where everything is new and you are open to the possibilities of becoming or transforming from a novice to an expert.  As we get to a certain level of knowing, the beginner’s mind seems to dissipate and when we recognize that we are losing the ability of operating from the beginner’s mind we work hard at holding on.  Well let it go.  By holding on to what once served you well, will impede you future growth and development.  At some point in your training you have to own up to the fact that you are an expert.   I think that Dan Fogelberg’s lyrics best explains how the beginner’s mind works:

The higher you climb, The more that you see.  The more that you see, The less that you know.
The less that you know, The more that you yearn.  The more that you yearn, The higher you climb.

On another note the second verse is a great illustration of the sharing the Aiki spirit:

The farther you reach, The more that you touch.  The more that you touch, The fuller you feel.
The fuller you feel, The less that you need.  The less that you need, The farther you reach.

Shutup and Practice

As an Aikidoka I am sure that you have spent time surfing the net looking for Aikido related post, products and people.  Well during my search I came across a bumper sticker or maybe it was a tee-shirt that said, “Shut-up and Practice.”   I chuckled at this sort of rude phrase which actually sounds nicer in Japanese; dematte renshu.  As I thought about this phrase I realized what an important principle of practicing Aikido.   It was interesting to me that the statement even exists but the more I thought about it, the more I realized the value of the phrase.  I am so in love with this statement I would like to have the kanji on our dojo wall.   I also begin to think about scenarios where this statement would work and work well.

You walk into the dojo and you realize that there the A.C. unit is on the blink.  You announce to the class, “Wow it is hot in here!”  During round robin practice you remind each of your partners that the dojo is hot because the A.C. is not working. What can you do about it except Shut-up and Practice.

The instructor wants to explain the principles and theory of the first technique of the evening to infinity.  You appreciate the thoroughness of your instructor but really don’t you wish that the instructor would stop already and Shut-up and Practice.

Oh good grief your partner is the student who loves to point out why your technique is not working and he has the solutions that will fix your technique and will the next 20 minutes talking about your technique.  You are sure you would learn more by working out with this student if he/she would just Shut-up and Practice.

Your instructor just corrected your movement and you explained to the instructor that you are doing the movement that was suggested to you.  The suggestion by the instructor sort of created a smidgen of frustration for you.  You realize that you instructor has been practicing for about twenty years and must know something and in order to benefit you have to Shut-up and Practice.

As the instructor you come to realize that you are not getting the type of workouts that you did before you started teaching.  You feel that it is important to spend time watching your students perform in order to insure their growth and development.  Well to enhance your students’ growth and develop as well as your own then you need to Shut-up and Practice.

You think that it is necessary to tell your instructor at every class you attend about your physical or comprehensive limitations.  Well if your instructor is worth the weight of his/her hakama, they have figured this out the first day you stepped on the mat.  Trust and believe that a good instructor recognizes what is in your way and is constantly thinking of ways to support you in becoming a proficient Aikidoka.  So trust your instructor and Shut-up and Practice.

As dojo cho you visited another dojo which is your dream dojo.  Well it is okay to dream as long as you put energy into turning the dream into a reality.  But until that dream becomes a reality Shut-up and Practice.

Now as dojo cho of Aikido Suenaka-Ha I love chatter on the mat.  It is a very important learning tool but we should not let the chatter get in the way of doing what we came to the dojo to do.  The more I think about it to shut-up and practice it the Do in Aikido.

Sock & Blanket Drive

My My My how time slips by.  It seems like only a week ago that we were complaining about 107 degree weather.  Now the fall chill is in the air only to inform us that colder days are headed our way and we will start to put extra blankets on our beds and trade in flip flops for boots. 

Here we are in the middle of October and again for the 5th year in a row Aikido Suenaka-Ha Ashland is in the middle of it’s sock and blanket drive for the homeless.  The way this became a project for our dojo was that a coworker said that she wanted to do something special for people who are living on the streets.  So she decided to give out blankets.  Well I had always knew that if I ever had a dojo that it would walk the Aiki walk by being in service to the community.  Well I told her that she could count on us and that we would provide socks.  I took this project back to the dojo and they thought that it was a great idea to help out.  Which is why as the chief instructor I am really happy with our continued commitment to our community. 

So feel free to stop by the dojo and drop of a new pair of socks or skull cap or scarf or blanket and stay and try out a class.

Annual Sock and Blanket Drive

Each year during the month of October, Aikido Suenaka-Ha Ashland collect new socks, gloves, scarves, skull caps and blankets to be distributed to the homeless.  This event is one of the projects that allow us to follow O’Sensei’s goal of reconciling the ills of the world through Aikido.   This event allows our dojo to practice the  concept of kaizen which means to make better.  Our goal is to beat last years collection total.  Wish us luck, better yet if you are in our area stop by the dojo during our regular Friday or Sunday class and leave a new pair of socks.

Katas = Proficient Waza

As an Aikido instructor I am a fanatic about kata practice.  In some classes we may go over each kata once while in other classes  we will spend  a lot of time practicing the katas, but nevertheless we practice the katas in every class at Aikido Suenaka-Ha Ashland.  For those who are unfamiliar with  katas, they are a  series of sequential and stylized movements with a weapon or empty hands.   There are four bokken and four jo katas in Suenaka-Ha Tetsugaku Ho Aikido. The reasons why kata practice is such an integral part of our workout is because students are tested on the katas and practicing katas  help to enhance a student’s understanding and ability to perform Aikido techniques.    

Practicing kata movements can create a greater degree of fluidity, control and balance as one performs Aikido techniques.  I have noticed that students who do not practice kata will usually try to succeed by powering through their techniques.   If a student understands the purpose of hands, hips and feet movement in the katas that knowledge will show up in the execution of techniques.  

The reason why I like to practice and become proficient in their katas because I consider Aikido as it pertains to the martial aspect of the art to be empty-handed swordsmanship.  As corny as it sounds I always tell students to pretend that you are a samurai in battle without our sword.   The principles you use to wield a bokken or jo are the same principles you apply to your techniques.  I am speaking of the physical principles such as learning to maintain balance as a person shift their body position and/or weight.   The cuts and thrust in our katas help us to   understand how to apply a cut when executing a throw.  Practicing katas also teaches us to get offline while maintaining the proper distance in order to effectively take and maintain control of uke’s balance when executing a technique.  The principles in which you use to hold your jo or bokken as you cut, block and/or thrust are the same principle used to capture and hold your uke.  In essence, uke’s arm once capture by you becomes your sword that you will use to apply cutting  techniques when throwing or pinning uke.   When practicing the katas, we learn to practice with a correct posture which helps to demonstrate exact and efficient cuts.  The posture we use in our katas decreases the distance between ourselves and that which we are cutting.  An example of someone not practicing katas is when they are in the process of applying a cutting motion to their partner, the person doing the cutting sort of become round-shouldered and hunches their back.  Poor posture creates unnecessary distance which is actually a void in the execution of the technique and can render the person doing the throw temporarily vulnerable.   Kata practice also teaches the principles of hip movement; such as moving from the hips, when cutting allow the power to come from the hips and not to move the feet until the hip movement causes the feet to move.

The ultimate goal when practicing katas is to be able to practice with mind of no mind.  Practicing at this level  can be done by beginners as well as long time practitioners.  When one is practicing the katas at this level, the movements of the kata have become second nature.   The kata flow effortless from the performer.  All movements are with intent and purpose.  If you are watching a person performing at this level you also can visualize the imaginary opponent that the performer is working with.  You the viewer will wonder how the performer is doing what he is doing.    Witnessing this type of performance one will see that the weapon and the performer are truly one.

So if you are looking for a training tool that will enhance you Aikido techniques, try practicing you katas with some frequency.  Use your kata practice to ask yourself questions about your performance as it pertains to your Aikido techniques.   Also use your katas as a means to check your body movement.  Kata practice will also help your mental focus.  From kata practice I have developed a  greater sense of awareness when working with my partner.  The really nice thing about practicing your is that in most cases you do not need a partner.   So here’s to happy kata practicing.  And at somepoint if you have noticed by practicing your katas have help out, please by all means drop me a comment.

26 Tips for A Better Life

This is an email that someone sent to me years ago and I liked it so much that I have it framed and placed on my desk at home so that I can see it daily.   Although this is on my desk there are some days that I don’t even notice it and then there are other days that I read it over and over.  These 26 tips I like to think support me with a road map for living aiki.  I think that if you asked any Aikidoka they would tell you that they could use some help with their efforts to be more aiki. So this is why I am sharing this with my readers.  Have fun. 

1)  When you wake up in the morning, always start your day with a prayer/vision.

2)  And then, complete the following statement, “My purpose is to ____________today.

3) Take a 10 to 30 minute walk every day and while you walk, smile.  It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

4) Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.  Buy a lock if you have to.

5) Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and less food that is manufactured in plants.

6) Drink plenty of water and fresh juices.

7) Make at least three people smile each day.

8) Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control.  Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

9) Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

10) Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good, so cherish it.

11) Life is too short to waste time hating anyone, so give the best of your kindness.

12) Don’t take yourself too seriously.

13) You don’t have to win every arguement.  Agree to disagree.

14)  Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.

15)  Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

16) No one is in charge of your happiness except you.  So, be happy. 

17)  Frame every so-called disaster with these words:  “In five years, will it matter?”

18)  Forgive everyone for everything.

19)  What other people think of you is none of your business.

20) God has everything you’ll ever need so hook up with him.

21) However, good or bad a situation is, it will change.

22)  Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will.  Stay in touch.

23) Envy is a waste of time.

24) Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: ” I am thankful for ____________  Today I accomplished_________

25)Remember that you are too blessed to be streesed.

26)  Forward this to everyone.