Did the unthinkable (my Aikido journey)

TDWoj

Administrator
Staff member
Well, I'm still around and still practicing.

I was practicing in the advanced class on Sunday and we were doing lines; I was nage. I'm not quite sure what happened, but the next two guys in the line - a ni-dan and a san-dan came at me full speed, and I did THIS, and then I did THAT, in quick succession, sent them both flying and earned a "nice!" from both of them.

Ha!

I use what I have. Heh.

This month's personal goal was to take more ukemi, which I have been. The ni-dan (he was from another dojo - our advanced class is open to students from other dojos, sort of like a mini seminar held every week) commented on how nice and soft my ukemi has become, which is quite an accolade coming from him because he has just about the best ukemi I've ever seen.

I mentioned to the advanced class instructor about my goal to take as much ukemi as a I can stand (and then a little more) and he said, grinning, that there comes a time in one's practice when you hit the 'suicide' point - where you just do it, no matter what. I think I've reached that point.

Well see what happens in 15 months, when I've acquired the requisite practice days for 1st kyu.
 

TDWoj

Administrator
Staff member
Just a quick update: got some positive feedback from an instructor, who said I was practicing at a pre-shodan level rather than pre 1st kyu. Nifty!

I am hoping to continue practicing at least five classes per week until my test. If work doesn't get in the way, that is!

Speaking of which... :rolleyes:
 

Sue

c/o naughty corner
This is great to hear. I do like reading about your progress, any time there is a set back you carry on and here it shows it gets better and better. One question though do you enjoy the practice too or is it all the satisfaction of the challenge of learning and getting better?
 

TDWoj

Administrator
Staff member
Sue;196348 said:
This is great to hear. I do like reading about your progress, any time there is a set back you carry on and here it shows it gets better and better. One question though do you enjoy the practice too or is it all the satisfaction of the challenge of learning and getting better?

Some of both, I think. I had a lot of trouble in the early days of my practice because I'd get frustrated if I didn't 'get' something right away, so it was more the challenge of learning at that time. I kept wanting to quit; but I kept coming back because the benefits overall far outweighed the frustration. And the frustration itself also became part of the learning; learning to let go of it and stop giving myself a hard time because I didn't catch on to something as quickly as the others or do as well as others... which was another issue with me. Not exactly being competitive but comparing what I could do with what other people could do and I couldn't.

Not everyone has the same kind of practice; everyone has their own particular strengths and weaknesses. It's learning how to use them to make your own best practice that is part of the journey. For me, it's my low centre of gravity and my ki that works to my advantage. For others, it's their athleticism, or their physical strength, or their height (we've got some seriously tall people in our class, and my challenge right now is one guy who's about 6' 4" and I'm working out how to do shihonage in a way that brings him down to my level. Thank goodness he's just a beginner and hasn't figured out yet that he can wriggle out of shihonage when I'm his partner because I'm so much shorter than he is.).

There have been physical setbacks: a torn muscle in the first couple of months of my practice; the herniated disk and subsequent sciatica (and then finding out the second round of sciatica was from a different medical problem, one with long term implications); bursitis in my right knee; chronic tendonitis in both wrists and ankles; left knee injured in a fall unrelated to aikido; the bone spurs on all my joints that hinder flexibility; getting a concussion.

Then there have been the spiritual setbacks. That's been the hardest to overcome, and I'm still struggling with that one.

One of the things I'm working on now is figuring out how to work with ukes who are my level and above who don't participate in the 'harmony' part of aikido; for example, being grabbed and held by someone much stronger physically and who is using strength and tension instead of relaxation and blending. I still find myself getting frustrated that I'm unable to adjust, so that's something I need to work on.

Overall, at this stage, I'm enjoying the practice for what it is. I'm working on things to make aikido easier for me to practice and I am having fun doing it. Aikido is a challenge for me because of my physical shortcomings, for sure. But I've been laughing a lot from sheer joy in recent classes, and I think that's where I'm at right now.
 

Sue

c/o naughty corner
Thanks that was really interesting to read and it sounds like you are in an excellent place with it now. If it brings joy like that it's got to be the right place to be at!
:)
 

ORANGATUANG

Wildfire
Is it safe to say that TD will be able to give Steven an good going over ..i dont know but i would love to see an girl give him an good going over ..Good on you TD...ohh wise one..
 
Hi TDJow!

Hi TDJow! You sound just like me, in many ways! Read what I wrote about learning challenges, under the Spiritual section of the forum.... then you will understand why I say this....What you say, shows that your are a determined persistant person, with a worrier spirit! Keep up the good work, being persistant and you will overcome those challenges you face! It being tough at times, will only make you stronger and build character in you.... Thanks for being an encouraging example!!!

Love Always Your Sister,
Stacey :yin:
 

TDWoj

Administrator
Staff member
Just a little update. The pain in my wrists turned out to be tendonitis; chronic tendonitis, as it happens. Of course, I need physiotherapy. Of course, I can't afford it. When the pain gets really bad I wrap my wrists in stiff tape to keep them from bending. Lately it hasn't been too bad, although now the joints in my fingers are starting to hurt.

I've been taking a product called Nutriflex which seems to have done wonders for my knees (I was hoping the toes would improve, and they have, but only very slightly). I find it easier to bend my knees and also to get up from the mat after a tumble. I'm surprised the pain in the joints in my fingers are getting worse rather than better while I'm taking this stuff, but it could just be soft tissue issues rather than bone issues.

There was a seminar going on this weekend with Endo Shihan from Honbu Dojo. Couldn't afford to go and didn't go and watch like I usually do. I'm feeling a bit depressed but I think that's more about my financial situation than about aikido, though it does tend to spill over (the financial situation, that is) into other aspects of my life. I'm working long hours for little pay and the wear and tear on my well-being is getting me down.

I'm faced with a dilemma in regard to my practice: I have no idea what to practice for my test. Up until recently, we've been using the USAF guidelines for kyu and dan requirements, but it seems that the CAF technical director is moving everyone towards using the CAF guidelines. There are some things that are on both lists, but the CAF one is more specific in terms of technical requirements. And there are things on the CAF list that I'm fairly certain I've never seen done in any of the classes I've attended.

My focus is all over the place; we're learning a different way to execute the basics and it's confusing the hell out of me, and trying to learn the new way on top of learning techniques I've never seen demonstrated has me up against a brick wall in terms of learning anything at all. I can't get a senior student to partner with me for free practice so I'm really stuck in quicksand, or, at least, that's what it feels like.

It's one of those bumpy times on my road - I hope I can conquer the pot holes and keep moving along!
 

tenshinaikidoka

Martial Art Student
So TD, let me ask you, how do you feel today about Aikido and your Aikido training, and are these feelings different today then they were when you started? I only ask because I find interest in hearing from people thier take on thier journey. From all I have read it sounds like you have done great advancing in technique and spirit!!! I hope you continue your journey for a very long time!!!!!!
 

TDWoj

Administrator
Staff member
tenshinaikidoka;197210 said:
So TD, let me ask you, how do you feel today about Aikido and your Aikido training, and are these feelings different today then they were when you started? I only ask because I find interest in hearing from people their take on their journey. From all I have read it sounds like you have done great advancing in technique and spirit!!! I hope you continue your journey for a very long time!!!!!!

Thank you, tenshinaikidoka! I'm moving along, slowly.

Aikido, for me, has turned out to be something of a gift. In Christian terms, I'd call it touched by grace. It is something which the more I give to it, the more it gives back, and I hope that I will be able to continue to practice for many years to come. I am still dealing with a lot of spiritual issues: I still have difficulties with Whiz Kid, am still upset that I will never be allowed to teach, but every day I work on letting these issue slide past me.

On the physical side, some days/weeks are better than others. I had a few good weeks; now I'm having a few bad weeks, but I hope they'll soon pass. My ukemi continues to improve; this week I was pleased to finally achieve doing a back roll over my right shoulder. Actually, I'd achieved it a couple of years ago but then I injured my knee and had to start all over again, culminating in success at last this past week. So that's a big deal for me. Now I'm hoping as the back roll over the right shoulder gets stronger, it will help the forward roll over the right shoulder.

Altogether, Aikido has been very good for me, as well as good to me. I hope that I will find some way of giving back (since teaching is closed to me), perhaps in encouraging other people to take aikido who may not think they have enough athleticism to try it.
 

TDWoj

Administrator
Staff member
Just a quick little update...

I am still practicing, though work is getting in the way far too often these days! I am still on schedule to test next June or September for my 1st kyu (depending of course on whether my Sensei says I can and whether it will be in-house or at a seminar). I might have to squeeze in an extra practice day per week (upping it from 5 days to 6 days) for a couple of months, if I can get away from work.

I can now do a little baby breakfall on my left (strong) side. I find it actually easier and less scary than doing a forward roll - go figure!

Anyway, I am still here, though my visits have been infrequent of late due to the demands of work (much work for short pay, unfortunately it's all I can get right now). However, I hope that I can drop in more often and catch up in other topics with everyone here.

206 more practice days until my next test!
 

TDWoj

Administrator
Staff member
Another brief update.

Had a minor injury this week, but all seems to be better now, I hope. No pain, anyway, so I'm going back to class tonight. Puts me behind in days again, but hopefully next week, I can start squeezing in an extra day.
 

TDWoj

Administrator
Staff member
Hmmm....

My Sensei asked me to participate in a demo we're having at our dojo in a few weeks. This naturally is causing me some anxiety because I was not expecting to be asked. The Sunday advanced class instructor has offered to help me put together a routine featuring my best moves. Of course, I can't say no because my Sensei was the one asking, but I am still dealing with the after effects of being told by another instructor that what I do is not 'real' aikido.

I guess I'll just have to do the best I can and hope that the punters can't tell the difference.
 

TDWoj

Administrator
Staff member
Observations on a recent test

We had testing last week at my dojo. Three people didn't pass - unheard of! We've had the occasional "should do the test again", but usually only one person gets that. Three? Both of those testing for 4th kyu have to do their tests over again, and the advanced weapons prerequisite candidate also has to redo his test.

The two guys testing for 4th, I knew one of them wasn't going to pass going into the test, but the other one I wasn't sure about. Basically, neither of them had the techniques down well enough to show that they understood what they were doing. And one guy, even if he had done everything perfectly (I felt bad for him because I could see him dive into panic the further along in the test he went), would have received a fail, because during the weapons part of the test, he hit the kamiza with this bokken doing suburi techniques 4 through 7, not just once but three times! I thought my Sensei was going to pop a gasket.

I felt awful for him; I knew how hard he works at his practice. The other guy wasn't well prepared. They'll be testing again in December.

The other tests went fairly well.

I still don't know about my 1st kyu test. We're in a transition period right now - while we belong to the CAF, we've been using USAF standards for our testing requirements. One big difference is the time frame. For 1st kyu, CAF only requires a minimum of 200 days. For USAF, it's 300 days. I was going by the USAF timetable, so I hadn't expected to have my requisite number of days until March or April. Now it looks like I'll have my days by December, and I haven't even started to practice yet. (Can't get an uke more senior to practice with.) Also, the technical requirements are different, and the weapons requirements - well, I haven't been in a weapons class for three years. That's been okay up until this level - it's all been individual kata. But now I have to do disarms, and that's really hard when I haven't gone to weapons classes.

I guess I'd better crack down and get on with it!

I don't want to get a 'do over', not after I've worked so hard to get where I am.

More later.
 

lutje

Member
That is great from you td,you are strong,and i whis you much sucses and dont let
enyone kils you, you are strong a very strong man.
Lutje.
 

TDWoj

Administrator
Staff member
Had an interesting moment in class today. Got myself caught in a choke hold, and I do mean a choke hold: my partner meant business - I could feel the pressure on my carotid and the strength being exerted to hold me there. Was pleased that I was able to slip out of it into a sankyo.

On a more fun note, I also performed (threw) my first aiki otoshi. I can't take ukemi for this so I never do it in class, but it's a requirement under the CAF rules for 1st kyu, so I thought I'd better add it to my practice. I still don't know under what rules I'll be testing, or even when: under CAF rules, it's 200 days, and I'm already at 154. USAF rules (which we've been practicing under for years) says 300 days and that's mentally when I prepared myself for it, at 300+ days.

My biggest problem is weapons. I haven't taken them in a couple of years because of my back problems and then the tendonitis in my wrists last year.
 

lutje

Member
Yes TDWoj iam a women,why you say that,i find you do your best in aikido TD,
and you must now that the masters kant be very hard,when the leurn you that.
I see you works hard for luern aikido,but the wapons huert by that and that your problem.
Dont give up and the luern master gone see that you are great and good my friend.
And he acsept you .
Lutje.
 
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