Aikido as a way of life.

  I have been training with weapons more of late. Using one Escrima stick while I walk in the morning helps me stretch and strike.   My walk is enhanced by upper body movement. After the walk I feel enlivened and happy. When I first started using weapons in my Aikido training, I felt awkward. I was used to baseball bats and brooms.   As I trained, I learned set katas which helped me become more comfortable. I practiced diligently and learned all the katas on both sides so I could do them easily and teach them to others. When Ron switched his training up and started teaching spontaneous short katas I was confused and frustrated. His idea was that students would be more relaxed if we weren’t trying to do a kata perfectly. He was bored with set routines. It took me quite a while to let go of my attachment to the katas I had worked so hard to learn and perfect. I felt angry and discouraged. It seemed to me like I had been wasting my time. As I reflect on this journey, I see that no