Aikido as a way of life.

 Our Aikido practice looks a little different these days. This winter has been a beast, and honestly, we’re at the age where scraping ice off the cars every morning just isn't worth it. So, the cars are in the garage (our usual dojo), and we’ve moved training into the dining room. No falling or rolling lately—just staying on our feet! Class is definitely smaller since COVID, but we’re still at it twice a week, plus Ki exercises almost every night. I’ll be honest, it takes some work to stay upbeat. Writing this, I get a bit choked up. So many people have drifted away or passed on. I’m just really grateful for the handful of folks who still show up, and especially for having Ron by my side through it all.

Just when you think the dojo can't get slammed again, Ron and I have come down with the flu. It is going on 2 weeks now. Our dojo has been effected by Covid, an aging student base, dropouts, winter and now the flu. It is a good thing we have been doing this for so long. Our plan is to keep training so we will be here for the Aikido renaissance. There is sure to be one. Recently,  we started doing a short work out everyday. First we do 40 techniques and then we do ki excercises. We invite our students to join us on zoom. Participation  has been good. We still have 2 classes a week. Hopefully  some students will be coming back to class when the weather inproves and flu season abates. Hope to see you on the mat soon.             

  The idea of defeating the mind of contention that we harbor within is taking on new meaning to me. It could be a practice of acceptance and compassion rather than a battle of wills. What if I embrace all the parts of me and you…the anger, fear, and frustration as well as the joy, patience and tenderness? What if I am flawed and perfect just like you? Are we separate?  Or are we all joined in synchronicity and energy…moving, whirling, sometimes in unison, sometimes in disarray,  heading in the direction of peacefulness? 

 On Tuesday January 2, 2024, we will usher in the new year with a 108 meditation. Each student picks one technique that they will do their whole turn. The number of throws will be determined by the total number of people in class. We will practice in silence except for the chimes of the bowl.  Our intention is for a healthy, happy new year with plenty of robust, lively training. 

  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,...

 Fall is such a great name for a beautiful season. We fell a lot in class today. I had an interesting experience. Ron had us do many movements without falling. He then had us just blend with yokemens. His idea was to move and flow. When I did an abrupt entering movement, he said “No, do more blending. Less confrontation.”   I kept moving but noticed that I started to feel queasy and tired. Then I noticed that I was near tears. He then told us to get bokkens. I had to sit and rest for a minute. When Ron asked what the matter was, I told him I was feeling queasy and tired. That helped me feel a little better. I got up and practiced the short bokken kata he demonstrated. After class I still felt a little queasy. I told Ron and Dora that I thought I was doing the technique correctly and when I found out that I was not, I was very hard on myself. Ron assured me that I was doing fine but he wanted me to flow more. I told him I understood but that sometimes my hearer is broken. ...