Ever Giggled in class?

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[John Bernhard]

Okey so after reading some of the funny threads on here, I just had to know if any of you have ever started giggling while practicing.

A few years ago, I was at a Dennis Hooker Sensei seminar down in P'cola, FL, and I was practicing the technique I think it was a tenchinage with my partner a much higher ranked Dan (4th/5th). And I remember as I attacked kind of fast he threw me and while I was flying through the air, I spontaneously giggled, kind of loudly. Almost like a Wiley coyote super genius sort of giggle. Well everyone started laughing and I couldn't stop laughing when I got up with this confused look on my face. Anyone else have anything like that or have you ever started giggling during an inappropriate time?

[ElizabethCastor]

Ummm yeah :p

I suppose that I giggle or even laugh at least once in every class or so... I don't know how unusual that is but it seems that there is a bit of laughter from many people on our mats.

It's one of the things that I appreciate about our dojo... it is serious but not so serious that anyone feels awkward

[John Bernhard]

HA...I understand that all too well, I try to laugh every time I get on the mat, but have you ever done so and it was just so funny when you did it. Like getting thrown and screaming out, OHH MY GOD !!! or YIPPEEEE, soemthing like that? Anything?

[jimbaker]

It's a common reaction when your center is taken expertly. Your body is surprised by the novelty and your brain laughs while not exactly knowing why. Kind of like a joke your body gets but your mind doesn't.

For me, the giggle is the hallmark of a really good technique.

Jim

[Pauliina Lievonen]

For me, the giggle is the hallmark of a really good technique.Hear, hear! :D

kvaak
Pauliina

[Ryan Sanford]

We were practicing some slower-motion jyu-waza in class the other day. Sensei came to my partner and I and attacked me to see how I was doing. I panicked and didn't get off the line, and next thing I knew, after a play-punch to my face, I was in a headlock and giggling like a little girl. :D

For some reason, being shown my openings with a play atemi always makes me giggle. :p

[Angela Dunn]

Every single class! There's a lot of joking around and humour and tickling of feet though in my classes so yes.

(Why no thats not one of the reasons I go for the giggles, honestly:D )

[Janet Rosen]

One reason I had trouble visiting dojos that enforced "silent practice", though I respect it theoretically, is that I am prone to take the injunction to "train joyously" to heart, and receiving a particularly wonderful throw - having my balance thoroughly disappear so I end up on the ground w/o seeing it coming - ALWAYS results in something btwn a giggle and a belly laugh from me!

[John Bernhard]

Thank god, I was starting to wonder if I was just loosing my mind. I laugh quite a lot but god that time that I giggled....it came out of NO WHERE. And yes you are right it was an extreamley well done technique, I didn't feel anything didn't feel the throw the technique or even the landing, it was more of a OMG....I'm flying..*giggle*.
Keep em coming I'm enjoying this

[Qatana]

Oh. You mean you're not supposed to roll on the mat laughing uncontrollably just becuz you don't know how you got there? Not only have I yelled "wheeee" while taking ukemi in the dojo, I've also done it when tango dancing.
It is much more acceptible in the dojo.

[mickeygelum]

Giggle?...I roll every time I hear that spontaneous, " WHOOOOOOOOOAH "......:D

[DonMagee]

We laugh and joke all the time while we work out. No reason to take ourselves all that seriously. Of course we all shut up during instruction. But when we drill, spar, etc we are always telling jokes and having fun with what we are doing. If it wasn't fun I wouldn't be doing it.

I've been known to say "That was stupid" a lot while sparing high ranks. Last week I was paired up to spar a guy with about 150 pounds on me, but a lot less experienced. I took his back, grabbed his collar and rode him like a cowboy would ride a bull with one hand in the air. It was very funny and we had a great laugh.

[raul rodrigo]

I was uke several times for a Hombu shihan in a seminar in September last year, and I laughed out loud on several occasions. The waza were just so "sweet" and unexpected; you were floating and then falling and had no idea why.

Of course, when the technique being taught was sankyo, I wasn't laughing any more.

R

[John Bernhard]

HA........I would hate it more if it were Yonkyo. Me and the 4th principle are not friends. :) There would be no giggling, at least not from me, perhaps from my sensei, who takes great pleasure in seeing me put on my butt. I was completely missing the point at a seminar with an iriminage technique, and Hooker Sensei so very kindly showed me the error with what I was well not doing. As I looked up at the ceiling my sensei was laughing so hard. That was like 7 years ago I'll never forget it. God I just love that I laugh so much with Aikido. :) I think O'Sensei would be happy to hear there are so many of us that can laugh so eaisly while training.

[Marie Noelle Fequiere]

In my school, we often do silent practice. It's necessary for concentration and for developping observation skills, and, like talking, giggling is not allowed. But we also always have time for joyous practice, not to mention the occasional joking cession after class. O Sensei was a wise man, and I think that he too, il laughing with us when a sempai being projected by Sensei starts stammering: "Oh my! Oh my God! Wow!"
Happiness is part of Zen.:D

[Karen Wolek]

Every single class. At least once. Usually more. :)

[Jon Shickel]

Often. We have fun.

And when you try to do a technique, and what your body does isn't even close to what your mind wants to do, you just gotta laugh.

[Erik Jögimar]

haha hade a funny goof last week. we were practicing Ikkyo, and i did a pretty damn good one. Inge sensei however didnt see it other then out of the corner of his eye, so naturally he asked me to do it again.

So, i step up and do it, break both Ukes AND my balance, do the circular motion with ukes arm and down we both went!

*shakes head*

That was so embarassing, but we were laughing so hard :)

[Mattias Bengtsson]

I think the question should be:
"Have you ever NOT laughed/giggled in class? :D

Much easier to keep track of.

[James Davis]

You mean you're not supposed to roll on the mat laughing uncontrollably just becuz you don't know how you got there?

I've also laughed because I finally did figure out how I got there!:)

[Kakita]

Laughing is part of the session as far as i'm concerned. Makes it more fun.

[Marxama]

I remember once doing a sword kata with uke, where you start far apart and move towards eachother, and sensei told us to imagine being actual samurai, trying to bring on that attitude thing. The one I paired up with happens to be one of my best friends, which unfortunately lead to us bursting into laughter... it was incredibly difficult, but somehow we finally managed to do it right :D

[BC]

There is a yudansha in our dojo who specializes in using laughter as atemi during practice. He will crack a joke at the beginning of a technique and I start to lose my balance as I laugh, then down I go.

[Jane]

HA...I understand that all too well, I try to laugh every time I get on the mat, but have you ever done so and it was just so funny when you did it. Like getting thrown and screaming out, OHH MY GOD !!! or YIPPEEEE, soemthing like that? Anything?

We have a very special sempai that everyone loves at our dojo. even with my eyes shut I can tell you when he's uke; Suddenly, your hear a loud "Oh My! " or a "Woy! Mezanmi!" (this is not japanese but creole) and then "wham!" breakfall!

In my dojo, we all do our best to emphasize etiquette but laughing is an important part of the work we have to do on ourselves.
It's especially hard to laugh when you've spent 2 hours getting yelled at because your technique is not working. I can talk about it since I''ve been there (And I'll probably be there tomorrow too! :) ). But it helps when you get back to work and you're having trouble with a device; no matter what, it's easier to remain calm and face the problems.

[Janet Rosen]

There is a yudansha in our dojo who specializes in using laughter as atemi during practice. He will crack a joke at the beginning of a technique and I start to lose my balance as I laugh, then down I go.

I had one training partner I regularly took balance from with a well timed pun as I entered. You gotta know your opponent's weaknesses!

[SmilingNage]

As well as being known as the Smiling Nage, I ve been told that at times I emit an evil chuckle after a good throw.

[xuzen]

Okey so after reading some of the funny threads on here, I just had to know if any of you have ever started giggling while practicing.

Giggles are for little gurlz.

REAL MEN [TM] snicker or grin but they never giggles. N3V4R!!!!1111 ROAR!

Boon.

[bleepbeep]

Once a sensei advised me not to smile or laugh so that I might have more credible aikido. But I have failed to follow his advice, so far. i truly believe aikido should be practiced "in a vibrant and joyful manner." Don't get me wrong about not taking practice seriously, I DO. I practice like there's going to be no tomorrow. Just the gift of practice time/mat time alone is enough to make me smile. What more if I had a really good technique applied to me. Wahah:D And yes, let off a few giggles every now and then..:D

[JH Ong]

Hello everyone,

On some days classes in my dojo include both children and adults. The class may not be completely serious at times (that's how this started) but the aikido practice is.

Anyway, one day before the class properly started a bold little kid asked sensei why his nose was so red (I think that was what she asked, I didn't really hear it. And yes, his nose is a little florid). Sensei replied that it was because of his age, and somehow the kids got to guessing how old sensei was. Kid 1 said,"70!" Then kid 2 went "Sensei you're a hundred years old!!" Then another little fellow said, "Two hundred!!!"

Now my sensei is only around 50, 6th dan and a really amiable guy out of class and to each of us personally. By this time the whole dojo could hear the exchange and we were all in fits of giggles. Nice to know that kids have the impression that martial arts masters must be ancient.

Sensei looked like he didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. Then the adults joined in and one of us said, "Wow, sensei you should be flattered! They're saying you can live to such a grand age!" Sensei then said to the little kids, "Well, I may be a hundred but I look only 30 right?"

This is also a stellar case of how little kids overdo flattery.

Kid 2 said, "No sensei you look 21." Kid 1 said, "Sensei, you look 18!!!" Then this other kid takes the cake for saying, "Sensei you look like you were just born!!!!!"

This is the gist of the conversation between the kids and sensei but it was the highlight of the class and all of us were in gales of mirth.

[ElizabethCastor]

It has occured to me to create a 'notable quotable' (tm) book to help preserve these oh-so-special moments!

Both the ones that offer hilarity :D and those that leave ya plain ol' puzzled :confused:

Some of the quotes I need to include is one from various sensei
"Yonkyo only works if you are smiling"
"How far do you think uke can fly this time?"
"If you spin while you're standing still...."

And from the peanut gallery.... oops I mean students (myself included):
"Ooooh, oooh, OW that really hurt! No, no don't say sorry... do it again!"
"Gosh, I am so STUPID! I guess I ought to do the technique that was demonstrated"
"If I wasn't laughing I'd be crying"

among some other choice comments!

After all the net jargon ROTFLMAO had to have its origin somewhere right!

:p :ai: :p

[DarkShodan]

I giggle every time I visit this web site and read what people post. Some of these are priceless!

[Josh Reyer]

For you folks who can't maintain your poker face on the mat:

Linky (http://venus.secureguards.com/~aikidog-/images/OSenseiPhotos/ChokePhoto2.jpg)

[CarrieP]

It's a common reaction when your center is taken expertly. Your body is surprised by the novelty and your brain laughs while not exactly knowing why. Kind of like a joke your body gets but your mind doesn't.

For me, the giggle is the hallmark of a really good technique.

This is exactly what happened to me last week. Since I'm new to aikido, I'm still working on being a good uke, and to attack with more intention and committment.

I gave a particularly committed attack, and my partner nailed the technique, really used her leverage. It was a perfect storm of really getting the lessons that Sensei was teaching that day. All of a sudden I was on the ground. Was a little worried that I'd pulled some stuff on my left side, but I got nothing more than the usual post-practice soreness.

After I had a chance to flex and realized I was OK, I definitely had the giggles. It was fun. A little scary, but fun.