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Last night I trained for the usual triple-play Tuesday classes of three hours. One intro, one mixed, and one weapons class. Erickson Sensei taught in Parks-Casey Sensei's stead for the day, but at the beginning of the mixed class, Toyoda Sensei asked me if I'd be interested in assisting with Erickson Sensei's Thursday classes.
Assisting? Me? I'm only going to take my 7th kyuu test this Sunday.
They assured me that the beginners class would be a perfect place for me to start, as I can take, more or less, all the ukemi the 6-week beginners need to learn. They also said it would be a great way for me to smooth out my ukemi and work on training while helping the new folks out. Naturally I answered with a resounding "Hai, onegaishimasu!"
I'm proud. I'm proud they asked me, and I'm proud I said yes.
This journey in Aikido I'm taking, this learning by falling, only a few months old now, has changed my life in such a short time, I'm wondering what the next year will hold.
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My 7th kyuu test is this Sunday, only four days away. Two instructors have given me pre-tests and they are very confident about my testing. It's up to me to polish my movements even more on Thursday and Saturday. The test will be held at Soshinkan dojo in Burbank, IL. I've never been there, but I'm looking forward to seeing the dojo.
ganbarimasu!
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I keep dreaming about Aikido. I woke up last night in the middle of a dream where I was wearing a green hakama that had a gold spiral print. I was stretching on the mats and realized I was wearing a hakama, and I woke up. It was all very odd.
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Two nights ago I watched a video of Toyoda Shihan teaching in Japan. He was actually teaching in Japanese. When he began to speak about the reality and the truth of Aikido, and how the art isn't just physical, I became both inspired and sad. His Japanese flowed so purely and so effortlessly, I can almost imagine how fantastic it would have been to speak with him.
Such a powerful man. Thankfully his legacy still lives on.
10-12-2005 01:54 PM 