Did the unthinkable (my Aikido journey)

Sue

c/o naughty corner
You are dedicated doing all that training especially when it can leave you aching for so long after it. I'm glad you have found your own techniques for minimising this. More respect to you!

I don't know aikido so I do not understand most of what I read so I'll just say I hope your toes stay warm and your movements are smooth.

Good luck with it!
 

Sue

c/o naughty corner
WELL DONE!

That is great to hear and we'll be partying for days on this news!

:) :D :)
 

Clark

Clark
My left foot's achille's tendon has a knot in it

Any relaxing exercises anybody can recommend?

Already i've used shiatsu, stretching, and positive visualization

I'm on my feet for four hours a day and it almost feels as if it could snap at any moment
 

TDWoj

Administrator
Staff member
Ice, compression, elevation when you get home from work. At work, take one of those snap cold packs with you and put it on your ankle, five-10 minutes per side (not directly on your skin, though - just on your sock should be fine) or if it's big enough, around your ankle, during your break. This helps enormously.

Also, if you're standing in one spot on concrete or other hard surface, you should look into special mats (I forget what they're called). I've heard from folks who use them that they are beneficial for feet and back if one is required to stand more or less in one spot for long periods of time.

If you're walking around a lot, make sure you have good arch supports inside your shoes, and that, if you have the same problem I do (that is, a tendency to walk on the outside of your foot) that wears down the outside heel of your shoe, BUY NEW SHOES or get them repaired if they are reparable. Mine usually last for about 3 months before I have to get another pair (I walk just about everywhere); using them any longer results in nasty tendonitis (as I've been having lately, for just that reason as well as weight issues).
 

TDWoj

Administrator
Staff member
Thank you Anneliese, Sue and Mystery Mom for your support!

I'm still not believing I passed.

The test was recorded so I'm hoping I can arrange to have it uploaded to YouTube at some point. I know I made a lot of errors, but overall, I think I did pretty well. However, I MUST learn how to breathe properly! For some reason, every time I enter a technique I stop breathing; if I do techniques continuously, I just don't breathe at all. Some kind of stress-induced apnea, maybe? I've been aware of it for a while, and I've been working on it, but I guess in the heat of the moment it just wasn't automatic enough to kick in during the test.

The jo san ju ichi kata went without a hitch; I'm so glad I didn't have to do it twice!

I wasn't asked to do any han mi han dachi (which was kind of too bad because I was really practicing hard despite my arthritic toes).

I did do the ushiro kubeshimi koshinage. Ouch! But I did it.

The only comment about my performance was that I didn't have my hands curled around far enough when doing a kokyu throw.

My goals for the next two years (which will be about how long when/if I take the 1st kyu test) will be :

1. Breathing
2. Slowing down (i.e. if uke comes in fast, it doesn't necessarily follow that I must also be fast in my response)
3. Continue working on precision footwork
4. Posture and centering
5. Discipline and strengthening of the spirit as well as the body

(I mention that last because it's something I could use more of outside of aikido as well as within it. I've had two hurtful things happen in as many weeks and with my birthday/Christmas coming up and this being the first year without my father, it's tough enough as it is without being told a) by one of my employers I'm not attractive enough to work for them and b) by my writers group that I am no longer welcome there. So discipline and stronger spiritual work is required.)

Again, thank you all for your support! If I can get any of my tests posted on YouTube, I will let you know!
 

Mystery Mom

Queen of the Mist
TDWoj;193996 said:
(I mention that last because it's something I could use more of outside of aikido as well as within it. I've had two hurtful things happen in as many weeks and with my birthday/Christmas coming up and this being the first year without my father, it's tough enough as it is without being told a) by one of my employers I'm not attractive enough to work for them and b) by my writers group that I am no longer welcome there. So discipline and stronger spiritual work is required.)

Again, thank you all for your support! If I can get any of my tests posted on YouTube, I will let you know!

We, as a group, are delighted to see that you have held yourself up enough to reach this difficult goal.

First, my condolences on the loss of your Father. You never really recover from these losses, but you learn to cope/live with them.

Second, I am appalled/shocked/horrified that an employer would tell an employee that "I'm not attractive enough to work for them". You are in Canada, however, here in the U.S. that opens the door to mega discrimination lawsuits, never mind the ego issues such a statement entails (face it, we all have egos and they damage quite easily). As for the rejection by your writer's group- since you did not include details I am going to take the high road here and tell you that you have probably learned all you can from them and perhaps it is time to move on to the next step. You have an option to form your own group or find another group if you think you need that support. After all is not the new buzzword in the world today "Change"? So, you are being nudged into great changes in your life. Stop staring at the closed door and turn around and look for the open one.....

Overall, hold your head high and reach for your new goals - I think most of us could adopt a few of them ourselves......

Well done and keep moving forward...

Myst
 

Sue

c/o naughty corner
Good luck with all those goals!

I echo Myst's thoughts on the appalling people. It often seems sh*t happens together and these employers and writers group people are very sad people. It's not easy to embrace change with a happy smile when it hasn't been your choice to move on but that's the way to make the best of it. Things sometimes happen for a reason, other times we have just got to make the best of them to keep our lives right.

I'm still excited that you passed and keep breathing!
:)
 

Anneliese

Happy go Lucky
I can't believe what I am reading TD about one of your employers or your writing group.

Think of it this way....... it's their loss and not yours.!!:)

Don't ever give up trying!!:)
 

Clark

Clark
The knot is gone and my achille's tendon has unloosened and returned to normal
Thanks for the relaxing tips everyone
 

TDWoj

Administrator
Staff member
Anneliese;194060 said:
I can't believe what I am reading TD about one of your employers or your writing group.

Think of it this way....... it's their loss and not yours.!!:)

Don't ever give up trying!!:)

Oh, I won't. I'm just gutted that these people in my writers workshop that I've known for 20 years have decided that my contributions were worth so little I wasn't worth fighting for against those who are new to the group.
 

tigerfeet

Tigerfeet
I suck at break falls too. Instructors often have little patience with that, and it's true that you have to be able to do them. But you don't have to be an acrobat, in my opinion.
Enough is as good as a feast!
Keep your chin up TD. Trust in the ultimate goodness of the universe to help you find your way.
 

tigerfeet

Tigerfeet
It is strong KI than makes your aiKIdo more real than those who think it is all about power, youth and athleticism.
:)
 

Mystery Mom

Queen of the Mist
You did the best you could while in the situation, with the best intentions and the best tools you had available. Hindsight, while seemingly very clarifying, does nothing more than trap us in the past. Lift up your head, straighten your shoulders and move on, cast the issues aside and let go of them. Practice what you have learned.....
 
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