Aikido goals

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[Angela Dunn]

Have read through many posts on this board in the past but have rarely started a new thread so I figured it was time to rectify that. :) (I just hope I am posting this in the right place.)

With it being the new year (apologies for those who work on different systems, No offence meant) I always try to set myself little goals and challenges for the year and beyond. Not resolutions exactly as I am pretty hopeless at keeping them but goals to work towards.

My Aikido goals this year I think would have to be...

Learn how to relax and place trust in my uke as this is something I have trouble with. (I actually do not think I have attended a class without someone telling me that I need to relax, chill out or stop being so tense so this is obviously a big thing I do need to work on.)
Realise that break falls are not that scary and will not hurt. Much. Well for long. Likewise with every new move and concept in class. 2008 will be the year I will stop , for lack of a better word having a mild panic about them and throw myself enthusiastically into learning them.
Work on having some patience with myself. It is unrealistic to expect to get everything perfect on the first try and I should not get frustrated with myself when I struggle with moves familiar and new alike. But I think I need to also remember that I need to have patience with others to as everyone is at different stages and levels.

And whilst I know its all about the journey and it’s great to take the scenic route through the aikido path it would be nice to end 2008 as a green belt.

Well that’s my aikido goals, if you had to pick goals for yourself for your own aikido progression what would they be? I think this thread has the potential for some interesting goals and debates so I would be reading what goals people have for themselves.

Edit..Oh what a twit, I did not know there was a vote on something similar already ...doh!

[CarrieP]

Great thread! As a beginner, I appreciate the opportunity to really clarify my thinking here.

My goals for 2008, in no particular order, are to:

* Relax my shoulders, arms, elbows when throwing and being thrown;
* Improve my strength and endurance with some conditioning;
* Try not to get frustrated when it seems like I'm not picking up a technique or when I'm tired;
* Focus on my observation skills. Get better at observing a technique and learning it from the observation;
* Be more decisive/assertive when training.
* Talk less on the mat;
* Learn more vocabulary
* Test for rank at least once.

Those are the main ones, I think.

I'd love to see others at all different skill levels weigh in.

[dps]

I can accomplish more if I practice more. Can't progress without more practice.

David

[Tony Hudspith]

Hi Angela
Firstly I would like to say..... GREEN BELT?!?!?! Is that all you're hoping to get this year? Aim higher as I have confidence in you progressing much quicker this year.
As you say you need to relax but focus on the progress you have made already on this front. You do forward rolls on both sides okay now and you rarely draw blood from people now (That's an in-dojo joke)
Put all your goals into action this year and there'll be no stopping you!
I have faith in you and all my students but more importantly is faith in yourself. You have this faith in you. Maybe you cannot see the potentail of this yet but I can.
Best of luck for 2008 to Angela and everyone who reads this reply.

Tony :)

[SeiserL]

if you had to pick goals for yourself for your own aikido progression what would they be?
Keep showing up.
Relax, breathe, and enjoy each other.
Keep trying to get the circles smaller and more internal.

[Angela Dunn]

Hi Angela
Firstly I would like to say..... GREEN BELT?!?!?! Is that all you're hoping to get this year? Aim higher as I have confidence in you progressing much quicker this year.

As you say you need to relax but focus on the progress you have made already on this front. You do forward rolls on both sides okay now and you rarely draw blood from people now (That's an in-dojo joke)

Put all your goals into action this year and there'll be no stopping you!
I have faith in you and all my students but more importantly is faith in yourself. You have this faith in you. Maybe you cannot see the potentual of this yet but I can

Best of luck for 2008 to Angela and everyone who reads this reply.

Tony :)

know I can get higher, after all I have stopped tripping over my feet and hitting my head but its going to be that old chestnut of awkward that awkward work thing. But hey my other goal for the year is get new job so why not aim higher eh. lets aim for a brutal brown then :)

That true actually, I need to be reminded of that from time to time you know.
We know you do Tony. But Its still nice to be , again reminded of that from time to time. I know I do have the potental, after all I keep comming back for more. And no stopping me, I do like the sound of that.

[jxa127]

Hi all,

Showing up is my biggest goal. Last year was particularly lean on training time because I was finishing my masters degree.

Mostly, I need to drill the basics and prepare for my shodan exam. I especially need to work on ... well ... everything. :D But I want my movements to be precise and powerful. Right now I feel late and sloppy.

Regards,

-Drew

[Ron Tisdale]

Good luck on the Shodan Drew! Hope to see you in Feb...

Best,
Ron

[brunotex]

I also need to prepare for my shodan exam. It will be on March 15.
Little time. Lots of things to correct and to improve on everything..

I need to relax my legs, my shoulders. And also the rest of my body.
Need to be more powerful, stronger.
I need to become a better uke. And a better nage.

ok. I have enough goals for 2008, 2009, 2015...

[ChrisMoses]

Same goal as last year, to suck a little less than I did the year before... :)

[lbb]

My only goal is to keep training, and to train 3x a week most weeks. We'll see where that gets me in 2008.

[charyuop]

No goals for 2008 or any future year. I take each class the way they come aware of my possibilities and skills (and by aware I mean lacking of).

[gdandscompserv]

Organize my dojo as a 501 c.:D

[robert weatherall]

My goal is to remain injury free

[Tony Hudspith]

My goal is to remain injury free

Hiya Robert

You just attract trouble so don't count on it!!!!!

Tony

[edshockley]

Mushin is a word that keeps ringing in my ears. Sometimes I succeed at beginner's mind but in the rare sequences where I practice or move without the confusion of mind then the experience of Aikido is most rewarding.

[CarrieP]

It dawns on me I have not reviewed the goals that I posted on this thread in a while. So:

* Relax my shoulders, arms, elbows when throwing and being thrown;
-improved a little bit here.

* Improve my strength and endurance with some conditioning;
-improved a lot here, and continuing to improve.

* Try not to get frustrated when it seems like I'm not picking up a technique or when I'm tired;
-improving a little bit here. My first seminar was rough, but I think I'm starting to relax and calm down.

* Focus on my observation skills. Get better at observing a technique and learning it from the observation;
-improving a little bit here. This is going to be a tough one to learn for me.

* Be more decisive/assertive when training.
-improving a little bit here. Takes me a while to 'warm up' to technique, but then I can be pretty committed.

* Talk less on the mat;
-doing a lot better here. Partly because I've been so tired lately.

* Learn more vocabulary
-doing really well here. Really starting to get a sense of the language.

* Test for rank at least once.
-missed March test due to stupid knee tendonitis. Will be testing in July. So, barring a horrible mishap, I will meet this goal in a little over a month.

The old goals definitely still apply, but I've got a few new ones:

* work on hands and fingers, "live hands" (not to be confused with "jazz hands"

* work on developing sense of center

* rehab and strengthen my knee and quadricepts.

* if knee is strong enough to do it, finally do a forward roll.

* work on getting a regular training routine outside dojo, some aerobic, some stretching and strength training.

[lbb]

My goal was to "keep training", and I've been totally successful at that.

[Angela Dunn]

Well It has been almost half a year since I posted this so I figure its time to review the goals.

Learn how to relax and place trust in my uke as this is something I have trouble with.--And I still do. I think I am getting better but the members of my class are still noting how tense I get sometimes.

Realise that break falls are not that scary and will not hurt. Much. Well for long. Likewise with every new move and concept in class.
Well Still can not do these. I would love to be able to but its an ongoing process. Very hit and miss, (mostly miss)

Work on having some patience with myself.
I think this is the one I have made the most progress with. Yes I still get frustrated with myself sometimes but not as often as I did. And I can shake it off quicker and get stuck back in without dwelling on any mistakes.

And whilst I know its all about the journey and it’s great to take the scenic route through the aikido path it would be nice to end 2008 as a green belt.
Whilst still a possibility I think orange may be more realistic. Now to actually pass a grading!