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Aikido Dancer
03-09-2012, 12:29 PM
Hi all!
I am a dancer just beginning to discover aikido.
I have a passion for movement and am extremely intrigued by the philosophy of aikido, its intersection of the mental and the physical. I came to this forum to better understand aikido and its community of practitioners.
I was introduced to aikido through an internship at Aikido Kenkyukai Santa Barbara. As a dancer, I could see instant parallels between the two disciplines, which I explore in my blog: A Dancer's Guide to Aikido (adancersguidetoaikido.aksb.org).
Looking forward to sharing experiences, thoughts and perceptions with you!
Hi Oxana,
Welcome to AikiWeb and to aikido.
-- Jun
PhilMyKi
03-09-2012, 01:16 PM
Hi all!
I am a dancer just beginning to discover aikido.
I have a passion for movement and am extremely intrigued by the philosophy of aikido, its intersection of the mental and the physical. I came to this forum to better understand aikido and its community of practitioners.
I was introduced to aikido through an internship at Aikido Kenkyukai Santa Barbara. As a dancer, I could see instant parallels between the two disciplines, which I explore in my blog: A Dancer's Guide to Aikido (adancersguidetoaikido.aksb.org).
Looking forward to sharing experiences, thoughts and perceptions with you!
Welcome to the world of aikido; I have recently discovered that I am quite passable (for a complete novice) at the argentine tango. Coincidence? I think not :D
Marie Noelle Fequiere
03-09-2012, 01:51 PM
Welcome to our community, Oxana.
One thing I can tell you is that the same qualities that make a good dancer will also make a good martial artist.
Now, your determination will make the rest.
The fun has just started!;)
Robert Cowham
03-09-2012, 03:14 PM
My main teacher over the years has been Paul Smith (or Paul Douglas to use his stage name) who runs Tetushinkan - see http://www.movingeast.co.uk/tetsushinkan/Paul_Smith.html
Tetsushinkan has had a fair few dancers as aikido students over the years as a result. For those of us less physically able, it can be occasionally annoying to work with such flexible people :) That said, aikido takes work and effort, and dancers need time to learn it too - it is not always that close to the skills they have learned as dancers (but depends on your teachers - for example Sasha, Paul's wife, now teaches dance at The Place, informed by many years of aikido alongside her dance experience).
Hope you have fun!
My main teacher over the years has been Paul Smith (or Paul Douglas to use his stage name) who runs Tetushinkan - see http://www.movingeast.co.uk/tetsushinkan/Paul_Smith.html
How nice to hear this dojo is still going, I had a brief visit to the London dojo in the late 90's and just prior to it moving away for some time I discovered a month hence :( Quite confronting for the brain at the time...enjoyed the videos on the website. thanks
dan
PeterR
03-10-2012, 08:29 AM
Reminds me of a post I wrote a long way back [the magic of the search function]. There is a lot of connection not jut at the physical movement level but what it really takes to get there.
Actually Jo I use the dance analogy quite often to get my students to understand Budo spirit.
When a top-level ballet dancer does Giselle she must become a 16 year bundle of naivety.
When she dances Carmen she must become a 26 year old pack of trouble.
Same with Budo - you must mentally become what you are trying to achieve.
That little aside most ballet teachers (I'm married to one) at local clubs face the same problem as Aikido . Students just going through the motions. She has commented a number of times about the level of discipline shown by students of my teacher and how a greater proportion seem to get it.
Now the physical requirement of top-flight dancers is pretty high and that coupled with the almost anorexic nature of the women make the potential for injury horrible. I don't wish that life on anyone.
Aikido Dancer
03-10-2012, 11:57 AM
Thank you everyone for your warm welcome and insight!
There is so much fascinating information and wisdom on the forums here at AikiWeb. It is profoundly humbling yet so inspiring.
I am so grateful to have found this site! I think it will be a great guide to deepening my understanding of the practice.
ENevois
03-13-2012, 12:24 PM
I'm anxious to follow your blog Oxana. As a former dancer myself and well into my Aikido training, I'm happy to find fellow female aikidoka to share their experiences.
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