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I guess I haven't really discussed my own intent with aikido or with this journal. I guess I'm trying to flesh out the philosophical aspects, or my understanding of it. My hope is to build on the lessons of my Sensei Pat Hendricks, the Dai Sempai when I was an uchideshi Louis Jumonville, the current Dai Sempai Bill Essig, and one of my best friends Eric Winters. I owe my initial perspective of Aikido to them. Let me send out an official 'domo arigato gozaimashita' to these people.
Humility is a constant keiko, I don't have it down yet, but I'm working on it.
I have been known to take the logical path in terms of aikido, most people generally do not have the understanding of my spiritual path in that regard, I tend to keep it to myself. It has changed my life. My outlook, my demeanor, my understanding of how to relate to people has changed because of aikido. Most people I know now do not see this. They did not know me before aikido.
So what I've journaled so far is a regurgitation of my feelings on some philosophical aspects of aikido. I'm not perfect, but I'm working on being as authentic in my aiki-practice as I can be.
To say 'Aikido is...' can be a dangerous beginning to a broad generalization, which can lead a person to think thay must choose one tine in a forked road. I believe Aikido can be many things. Yes, it is a lot like dancing. The concepts like musubi, and ma ai certainly lead to such an observation, but that sense of timing and spatial understanding is imperative for martial disciplines. Take boxing for example. The martial art of boxing requires one to be quick on their feet and maneuverable in order to dodge jabs and other fast punches. That same boxer must also have a good enough spatial concept so that s/he will deliver an effective blow with appropriate power generation and extension to score against the attacker and possibly stun them enough to land another blow before they dodge or parry.
Consider also that the lack of connection, lack of musubi, lends itself toward injury. The nage must have an understanding of timing and positioning of their uke in order to deliver an iriminage or shihonage (for example) without causing significant injury. The uke is also responsible for cooperating with a nage who might be learning a technique for the first time to perform the task. Aikido has never been described as easy in my experience, the dance in learning allows the nage to create a new neuromotor program that will make the technique easier when the timing, spatial differences, resistance, or variety of ukes, makes the task more difficult.