Aikido as a way of life.

My mother used to say “his bark is worse than his bite” I never got that. So was he not responsible for his bark? Anger dealt at others can be hurtful. I am responsible for the energy I put out into the world. My bark, as well as my bite.

Classes, hot and sweaty, Gis stick, Hakamas clench at ankles, Ukemi feels relaxed, Joints are lubricated, After 22 years at 52… it’s summer still. Aikido takes life and makes it livable. It’s summer still.

is my goal. My mind, when fresh and open, learns. Kai learning how to do back falls yesterday was a wonderful example of taking encouragement and practicing a skill again and again.

Me: How can I make my experience with nage different? Ron Sensei : Connect more, follow more. Me : But, but, but…aren’t I responsible only for myself? For following where nage leads? Ron Sensei: Yes. Me : Then how come I have to do more? Ron Sensei: Do you want to connect more or be right? Me : Both, to be truthful…and by taking your suggestion have changed the experience. Thank you.

through my finger tips, Stopping only when the turns stops, Directed lightly by my hips and hands and energy. What happens to my uke when handled the same way?

…two very fun, sweaty classes. Small classes but lots of Aikido experience on the mat …the same 5 people both days. Mary, Ron, Charlie, Dora and Ann…we saw from behind our eyes, with our eyes closed, we stayed on the mat and then stepped off and gave up our turn…then we attacked and defended with tanto’s…it got really unorthodox and we forgot we were hot. Such fun, on the mat, during the hottest days of the year.

This is my 13 year practising Aikido. Long enough that I cannot imagine my life w/o it. As many of you will likely affirm in yourselves, I start to get cranky when I can't go to class. My body begins to ache in ways it does not normally. Not just for the fun physical activity, but the closeness and touch that comes along with it. We practise a very intimate art, yet it feels so safe and pure in our dojo spaces that I miss it deeply when I have lengths of time off the mat.  I also see a great importance in having time off the mat, that I did not understand much until this year. It is the moment I return. that my be-ing knows I have come home. I am about to take one of my wonderful yearly excursions to the desert to play with stone and mud. The starkness and harshness and colours of the land speak to me. It is a well isolated and fairly free of human impact and noise. A true quiet space where I feel the smallness and greatness of my being and the grandness of earth. Friends and m...