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<blogEntries>
<blogEntry id="3375">
	<title><![CDATA[The Journey of a new Shodan]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[So, since my last entry, I had officially tested in my own dojo and invited many friends to come and watch. I had never really needed to "show-off" Aikido. 

To respond to the comments, thanks for the acknowledgements, I've since gained a commanding presence with confidence in what it is I know. I'm now responsible for what I know in Aikido and I'm loving it, because it just feels good to know, especially that people trust me to know what I know. Also the first experience was not videotaped, by the time someone realized we should be videotaping, it was already over.. oh well.

That was more nerve racking than the my experience with the senior examiner and many yudansha I've only met for the first time. Anyway, the space I'm in was much smaller and this time was videotaped, yet to be put digitally. 

I do have my black belt officially now. I don't see it as anything but a decorative article of clothing to still hold my gi together. It's simple now, 2 colors instead of 3. From this point on, is just replacing pieces of my dogi and/or hakama. Only thing that really has changed is that I'm being referred to as Sensei now, instead of Sempai, which I'm still getting used to. I'm so informal with the students, I don't mind if they call me by my first name.

Right now, as part of my training, and a key point to achieving Nidan(in Ki Aikido, Nidan is representative to someone dedicated to teaching students, and Sandan is a rank dedicated for teaching "teachers"), is to help guide the 2 next senior students to achieve their Shodan ranks, and helping others gain the ranks.

Being in the midwest, being a yudansha is uncommon. It's not like many dojos in the west coast, where there's a surplus of shodan thru sandan. So many people coming to me for reference constantly is a new experience, and so I'm talking a lot more, and more than that, taking charge of what it is I know, always ready for corrections and improvements from my sensei.

I'm now implementing the Ki principles of my training more actively in my dance instruction, because it makes it easier. Plus it keeps my training present in my life. I'd love to continue sharing what I know, but at this point I feel like I'm going to repeat myself.

Til next time.

Plus :ki:]]></body>
	<date>11-06-2008</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="3341">
	<title><![CDATA[Finally, Shodan, a milestone of humility.]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[It's been 4 years since my last post. I do ever so rarely come here anymore because of life. It is what it is, but now it's time to reflect.

4 years ago was when I started teaching dance. Since then, I've been coined the name Niko "Suave" and have made myself somewhat popular in the world of salsa, teaching and performing around the US, and in Puerto Rico just a month and a half ago. To see some of my work, partnerships, and involvements, check out youtube. Search Niko "Suave", SalSubZero or Minneapolis Salsa Movement.

With a profession like dance instruction, the time to commit to Aikido training was tougher since most my work is in the evening. It wasn't until my head instructor took seriously his involvement in my growth and development, that I gave it a chance as well. I've been doing Aikido for 12 years, on and off, A LOT. It was ridiculous how much lack of dedication I had to the actual practice, but every time I come back I'm always told because of my dancing that it's like I haven't missed much. My Ikkyu test was just last April.

What made a huge difference, and in Ki Society, Ikkyu is the exact same test as shodan, but it counts as a pretest for shodan. I spent over 9 months of more intensive training about 10-20 hours a week, and an additional 8 months prior to get back in the groove of commitment to the training.

Let me tell you what happened in my shodan test... it wasn't going so well for me at first, at least that's how I felt. I was failing the ki tests, I was performing the arts with less than shodan level relaxation and every time I did something right, I hesitated. And actually, it was still very much a pretest, because the senior instructor hadn't seen the results of any of my training beforehand.

The highlight of the test and to my disbelief was the randori. They started me off with 2 people, which lasted for 15 seconds, then to 4 people, which was the standard, lasted for 25 seconds, and then suddenly, out of the blue, 6 people, thinking I was done already. I was asked if I'd ever done 6 people, and I said no. I was convinced it was easier, and he just had to see. That lasted 30 seconds and stopped it. Then he told 2 people to sit down, so there were 4 remaining. 3 of the 4 he asked respectively to get a jo, a bokken and a tanto. Again he asked, have you ever done this before?:hypno: :eek: :confused:  I said no, already exhausted prior to this part of my testing. I was convinced yet again, that it was even easier, and asked me why that would be. All I could answer was that, they have to watch out for each other more because of the reach and sharpness of weapons. He acknowledged I answered correctly and off I went. What felt like forever was about 40 seconds, and I felt like there was a slow motion movie playing as I was dealing with each person.

I had an applause for an impressive randori, for which I never really trained much, and only understood it just a few weeks before. I was thinking, "what's next?" Then it was done. 

I'll cut the senior instructor's explanation short, but basically he made it everyone's attention that I was a dancer and didn't have to think about where my feet were, and my hands stayed calm and soft the entire time, as if I was dancing. Which was why he had to see how I would do in higher standard situations. 

The feeling I got wasn't anywhere near where it should be(by this meaning what people think I should be feeling, because they apparently were impressed). I didn't feel proud, I didn't feel stable, and certainly didn't feel like I passed any test. Well oh well, I didn't find out the results that day.

The next day, I was recognized for a job well done, it was one of the more impressive Shodan pretests they'd seen, and basically said, they did not need to see it again. I should run the test again with my own instructors as a celebration of my experience that weekend. It's only been over a week since, and I'm still having trouble letting people know that I'm a black belt, after so long.

I'm looking forward to learning more. I'm only starting to feel good.

+ :ki:]]></body>
	<date>09-16-2008</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1119">
	<title><![CDATA[New member, long participant]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[So, anyway, here's where I give my introduction. As the title says, new member, long participant. I've been browsing this site for several years now, although never really considered to be a part of until now. Why is that? I'm taking a break from college, and regathering my thoughts and goals so that I can pursue them without conflict. 

I am 22 years old, and majoring in nursing, although it's been really tough financially, since I've paid my way so far without taking out any loans, and I plan to continue that way. I used to be a Computer Science, then Computer Engineering then Electrical Engineering major prior to this, but I was only focusing on the job market from there on and that's why I am now in nursing.

My hobbies include computer gaming, movies and dancing(ballroom, swing and salsa). It is through these that I have been sane over the years of schooling and highly involved with my social life. 

I am a part of Minnesota Ki Aikido Society and have been studying for approximately 8 years. I am currently rank Nikyu as of October 8th, 2004. After 8 years, one would expect me to be at least shodan by now, but in times today, school is so demanding of time, that my involvement gets cut off by "more important" things. I started at the age of 14, seeking a new level of maturity and patience because on top of all the stresses were two brothers that knew how to annoy me very easily. Although in 8 years of practice I see things more clearly as far as simplifying our movements. This very act can be complicated. Although a part of Ki Society, I have been open and exposed to some other styles of Aikido as well, and my preference remains with Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido for more philosophical and practical reasons. 

My reasons for joining Aikiweb is primarily to share my thoughts and experiences with people as well as become active and recognized by others as well. I hope to meet some of you and possibly even practice. ]]></body>
	<date>10-20-2004</date>
</blogEntry>


</blogEntries>