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<blogEntry id="3506">
	<title><![CDATA[Off the line...off the mat]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[I'm feeling the need for more practice but not in the dojo - by donning gloves and headgear and going head to head with another.

When I mentioned this the other night to a fellow student, he remarked about competitiveness and aggression which is not the case.  I have no complex to prove or to see how well aikido works against other arts.  

I purely want to feel the dynamics of varying attacks.  To feel that timing and distance in the heat of a quick or even sloppy fist in the face.   Getting hit doesn't bother me...but getting hit due to poor technique, bad timing or improper distance does.
Controlling the attack seems to be the crux of aikido and I want to feel that control in real time outside the 'comfort' of the mat...outside yokomen uchi, shomen uchi and tsuki.

I wonder how many other aikidoka have felt this.]]></body>
	<date>05-23-2009</date>
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