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When I was 13 years old, my dad shipped me off to military school. I went to MMA, Marine Military Academy in Harlengen, TX. It was, and I believe, still is, an incredible school. I learned all about discipline and physical fitness.
I went in weighting 90 pounds, three months later I weighed in at 140 pounds and I was able to do 150 push ups in a row under 2 mins.
We had a physical fitness test "PFT" every three months, if I remember correctly...
We would jog every morning, together. It was awesome. So awesome that I'm deciding to require students of mine to undergo a PFT, physical fitness test in order to proceed with rank.
I think the Aikido training in itself is enough to get one in shape, but the running, push ups, pull ups, and sit ups just makes the training a bit more exciting. And best of all, the Army has an incredible website with all kinds of awesome guidelines for the Physical Fitness Test.
Tomorrow is our first PFT training at Memorial Park....I wonder if anyone will show up!
Here's another video - I sure am having fun making these.....
I always thought that colored belts were best for kids, up until about 1 month ago.
We're adults, there's no need for colored belts and in Japan, there is no colored belt system for adults.
I think I'm finally realizing that I don't live in Japan anymore and that the colored belt system is very good for measuring progress and setting goals.
The whole idea of getting rid of all desire is great in Japan, but here in America, setting goals for things we would like to accomplish is part of our lives.
So, I've finally decided to put everyone on a colored belt system, and I am also making physical fitness a requirement.
I've also uploaded a new video clip, check it out:
Wow, how many times I've heard this from people, and especially from students who came to my class from another dojo and said, my sensei is better than you.
How misguided people can get sometimes. Aikido is an art, how can one mans art be better than another. How can one Aikido work better than another.....
So many questions, so many opinions and so many ways to judge....
I'd prefer to say some people like doing things one way, some people like doing them another. Some people like McDonalds better than Buger King.
I personally like Five Guy Burgers better than Smash Burger. AND OF COURSE, I like my way of doing Aikido better than anyone else's way.
I'd say, let's not judge one another. We can always learn from everyone....I even learn from beginners!
In my opinion it is very important to integrate weapons training with Aikido training as an add on and expansion of Aikido. I think it's important to stick with "Aiki - Weapons" inorder to build a stronger foundation.
I consider any weapon practiced with the fundamental movements of Aikido "Aiki - Weapons." That covers a lot of ground doesn't it?
And the possibility to have fun learning Aikido with a variety of weapons also comes into play.
I've uploaded an exercises with the sword to Youtube. Check it out:
Finally got a third video post up. It's a lot of fun making these and then seeing how my own techniques changes over time. It's funny because it feels wrong to show something one way then a few months later say, it's not like that, it's actually like this. It's very humbling to know that I am always learning, changing and improving. Guess that's what makes it so hard to be a teacher of Aikido.
08-18-2010 12:32 PM 