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Well I decided today to take September off from Aikido.
I know, it killed me to do. Here's the issue. I am taking my next test for Jujitsu soon. I really need help in throwing techniques. Well I just joined a Judo club, and we practice Mondays and Wednesdays. I know I am not in shape, nor would I be able to take both the Aikido and Judo in the beginning.
So I took what I needed to take for advancement (Judo).
I told my Aikido instructor that I would be back next month (which I will).
It killed me to make this decision, but I have to for the advancement of skills in myself.
I love Aikido and most of what it has to offer, but it can not help me in the Jujitsu type throws.
Well- this was my decision. I will go back so it's not like forever. I mean c'mon..
One thing that has annoyed me about Aikido though was the lack of promotion. No offense, but Ive been taking Japanese Martial Arts for 20 years. Aikido has a lot of the same techniques as Jujitsu. But for some reason I remain at a beginner level.
I know, I know. People always say, "Promotions dont mean anything!" If you are concerned with promotions, then you aren't ready for one. etc etc blah blah blah.
Usually the people that took 10 years to get Shodan, pass that on to their students, even if their students are 200% better than they themselves were.
I guess my theory of rank=skill is total BS. By the time I get my Shodan in Aikido, Ill be a 5th Dan in Jujitsu. Kind of crazy. I guess I look a
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I have completed my proposal to Real Life Ministries. I hope to soon be teaching once a week at the local church. This church is amazing, it brings in about 3000+ people from all over this area.
I sent an e-mail letting the OUtdoors and Rec guy know I would be willing to teach them Martial Arts.
He sent me an e-mail letting me know he was interested and to com visit him.
I went over there, and he tells me I have to include a bible type discussion. I freaked... I know a lot about martial arts, but I dont know much about the Bible. I know enough, but not ENOUGH to teach it.
He tells me God provides us with all we need to know, etc.
I took a week to think about it. I am going forward with it. I decided to do it. I added some scripture memorization to each belt level, bought a devotional book to discuss and read in class. Im pretty sure this will work out.
I have seen Karate for Christ succeed, why cant I do this? I can, I know I can.
I understand a lot of Easter mysticism scares Christians away from Karate, however, even in Aikido, one can not say where Ki comes from. I have never been told Ki comes from the Wiccan priestess, Buddha, Mother Earth, Zeus, etc etc. So the teachings of Ki do not need to include some Eastern religional belief.
Anyways- that's my day today. See yah Monday after AIkido.
Today in class we did a nice technique. I always seem to power through techniques. I guess I make them happen instead of allowing them to happen. Oh well Ill learn.
I was noticing that Kirk (another student) has really great skill. He's only a yellow belt, and has been training for like 2 years. Im amazed that he's that low in rank. I think hes to a point that he doesnt care because hes learning. The guys got some patience.
Anyways- after doing this technique, we did kick sparring. Ive never heard of it. One person throws kicks at another, while he/she is to block those kicks.
It honestly seemed very awkward to me. No guidance, just block them. Well, I dont block kicks in Jujitsu, I either move, or I enter and take them down. It's what Ive been taught. How can I take away something I am great at, and do this junk that feels awkward?
Its no my school so I try to do what Im supposed to, but I suck at it. This makes me feel ashamed. Here I am, an instructor of Jujitsu, and I cant do what this instructor wants me to.
In my old class I was the "best" in sparring. I beat my instructor time and time again. But now Im being told to learn another way... grrrr.. makes me mad.
We have sparred before in class, and I was told the point was to control and get out of the situation.
So class was about to be over and the instructor calls up the highest ranking student. They start sparring, not real sparring, but a form of it. The instructor is hitting at the student, and the student is blocking as many of the strikes as he can.
This goes on and it comes to my turn.
The instructor starts to throw strikes at me, and Im blocking some, and missing others. It feels weird to leave out my biggest defense, which is offense, but whatever, "Ill go along with it."
I start seeing openings for Judo throws. Although this class is Aikido, I am tempted to go in. I enter, and do not throw. I do this a few times, just to see if I could and I could, which makes me feel good. But is this what he is looking for? I dont really know.
I start to do sticky hands (Chi Sao) from lessons learned years ago in Kajukenbo. While doing sticky hands I feel an opening for a shoulder lock and I take it. I feel him fighting it, and Im not sure if I should do it, or not. I do, and the instructor goes down.
I feel embarassed because Im not really sure what the point of this is. I understand learning how to block, but Im not taught to block and take punches. Im taught to find Suki to attach and ma ai for safe distancing. What is it he wants? I want to charge and do a single leg take down and start grappling because this is where I am comfortable, but I know that cant be the
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09-01-2004 08:42 PM 
