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Chapter 61: The Spirit of Aikido
Published on 2012-04-29 06:37:00
A strange title to a blog post I think you'll agree, but its something that I've come to reflect on in recent weeks.I am not sure if its my recent injury that kept me away from training, or if it is a natural process of the mind wandering because I could not train, but I found myself thinking about the spiritual side of this martial art. What makes Aikido, Aikido? What compels us to return to the dojo each week regardless of what chaos and mayhem is part of our everyday lives? Why do we train an [..] > read more
Chapter 60: The recovery begins....well sort of anyway
Published on 2012-03-31 08:37:00
Well, it turns out I have had hip Bursitis. I guess that explains all the pain then. Its been quite a long recovery process. In some ways, its very frustrating that the only thing I could do to help myself has been to rest. I don't do resting!So.... I am on the mend. Although I couldn't weight bear on my hip, I took myself off to the swimming pool on my good days which has maintained my stamina and flexiability.I 'survived' my first round robin of randori bouts for about half an hour last ti [..] > read more
Chapter 59: Does anyone else suffer from mat withdrawl or is it just me I wonder............
Published on 2012-03-07 15:58:00
Right that's it, I've had enough, I have to go back!In case you're wondering what this is all about, I have had a hip injury which has laid me up for the last three weeks and subsequently, this means no Aikido.Due to the nature of the injury, recovery has been slow but is progressing. But I want to go back to the Dojo NOW, darn it! Like this week, not next week or the week after. Now.I honestly thought that with having done Aikido now for more than 5 years I would be better at managing injury, i [..] > read more
Chapter 58: I think I have had an epiphany moment about my training....
Published on 2012-02-12 14:35:00
I have finally come to a decision- I have decided to finally try for my 1st Kyu (brown belt).About a year ago, I really wasn't sure if I was any where near ready to even think about trying for my next grade. But now, I feel I am. Certainly its been a gradual realisation- For the last two years, I have felt that I had almost platoed in my training. Its been three years since I last graded after all.I believe that both blue and brown belts in most martial arts with a similar grading system to Aiki [..] > read more
Chapter 57: How long should you wait to grade? Are you ever truly 'ready'?
Published on 2011-04-06 15:04:00
I found myself asking this question a few weeks ago when re-newing my PI (Personal Insurance) for the coming year. On the application, it asked me to fill in what grade I was currently at, where and when I graded. I got a bit of a shock when I realis > read more
Chapter 56: In which the fighting spirit is renewed...
Published on 2010-09-12 08:43:00
A strange title for a blog post it seems, but here goes. The last few months have been quite full of both good and sad news in a way. The good news is that I'm now married but the sad news is shortly after I returned from honeymoon, I learned that ou > read more
Chapter 55: Being a good Tanto player- Is it something that is innate inside or can be taught?
Published on 2010-05-02 14:51:00
This is something I've being wondering about since taking part in my first competition about two years ago. Watching the good tanto players, (the ones who win the gold) it seems that a small part of the battle of being good at tanto is having a good > read more
Chapter 54: Do people really understand the way Martial Arts touch us?
Published on 2010-03-19 15:19:00
A slightly strange blog title I'll admit, and not necessarily about Aikido but here goes....Have you ever had anyone ask you what your hobbies are and you tell them that you do Aikido, Jodo, Karate etc only to be met either with a sarcastic comment o > read more
Chapter 53: New Year, New Job, New Dojo...Don't make life easy for myself do I?
Published on 2010-02-21 12:26:00
Yes thats right, New year, New Job, New Dojo. I recently changed jobs to specialise further in my field (the other side of the country to be exact), so naturally I needed to keep up with the Aikido- especially if I want to get to brown.However, there > read more
Chapter 52: Mental condtioning: Strength from within...the reason I keep going
Published on 2009-12-11 15:38:00
During the past three and a half years of practising Aikido, I have learned alot in terms of the technical elements of Aikido, shed blood, sweat and occasionally tears- not all at the same time, and the tears definitely not on the mat. Have I noticed > read more
Chapter 51: As grading time comes around again...I ponder whether I should try for my ShoKyu
Published on 2009-11-17 14:37:00
Hmmm...again I come to the same question I asked myself about a year ago. Do I grade or not and if so for what reason? This time, its for my brown belt- a bit of a jump from blue. Normally, I would be stuck whether I should grade or not. But this tim > read more
Chapter 49: Why oh why is it you pick up injuries when you have an important event coming up?
Published on 2009-09-22 13:50:00
The most recent development in my Aikido training is learning when to quit. I say this as I currently have two injuries- both large toes in fact. What is even more annoying is that only one of these inuries is Aikido related.The first injury occured > read more
Chapter 48: What does your Aikido mean to you?
Published on 2009-08-16 12:51:00
So, what does your Aikido or if you participate in another martial art mean to you?I ask this question as I've recently attended a weekend course and had a chance to attempt another grading. It was very tempting, for quite a few reasons, and I have t > read more
Chapter 47: Why do people think female martial artists are violent and can't call themselves a lady?
Published on 2009-06-07 12:26:00
Well, where to start? First of all,an awful lot of stuff has happened since my last post.Firstly I got engaged at Easter and secondly the Doctor has finally sorted my IBS with the right medication which means for the first time in a good six months I > read more
Chapter 46: Why is it no matter how hard you train, something always gets the better of you?
Published on 2009-03-25 14:32:00
Well, thats it- I've done something I've never done... I had to ask to be excused during a training session. There was a good reason (honest).The fact is, my Irritable Bowel (IBS) is getting the better of me during training. Its flared up again, whic > read more