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I've put many many hours into weight training. I'm a pretty strong guy. I can push a lot of steel off my chest. I can throw 100 rapid punches holding 20lbs in each hand. Yeah for me.
Bill is in his 70's. Weighs about a buck-forty, soaking wet, and holding a brick. He's been training in Aikido for thirty years. At first glance, one might assume that Bill is weak. One of my favorite sayings comes to mind: "Assumption is the mother of all F***-ups!"
I was Uke for Bill last night. Bill is deligently trying to help free me of my "When in doubt...resort to brute strength and ignorance" attitude. During my Nage portion of the technique, I kept trying to force the outcome. Using my arms instead of my KI. I would center and do the technique correctly once or twice, and I would feel a world of difference between the two. Eventually however I would slip back into forcing it. Bill stopped and just stared at me. "Your arms are impressive." he said as he grabed my bicep. "...But these mean nothing."
He took the Nage position and insisted I resist. "Come on...Give me some resistance." A little smile lit up Bills face. I resisted. I really did. I didn't know quite what to expect, but I sure as hell didn't expect to land on the mat as hard as I did. Bill schooled me. Yeah for Bill.
By the end of the night, just as I was starting to get some consistency with my Ki, class was over. I could have gone on for three more hours. I hoped on my chopper fired it up and shot out into the intersection. I noticed how much better I connect with my bike after class. When I got home I looked at my weights for a few minutes and thought tof Bill...Do I plan on continuing my weight training? Absolutely. Am I going to take it so seriously. Nope. Yeah for me
06-04-2004 09:57 AM 