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Can't help it, but that's the song that just kept on repeating itself in my head during the lunch class......
I didn't get to train with Nabil Wednesday night, so today for the first 15 minutes, he was the only student in the lunch class.
So for 15 minute we did suwari waza kokyu ho and shomenuch ikkyo suwari waza, then Vadim came to class.
Well, after the 20 minute marker, Nabil had to rest, and then rest, again rest, and then rest again.
Nabil just started training at the dojo about a month or two ago. He comes everyday, but today was his day to train with two black belts, myself and Vadim. Vadim is nicked named, the pit-bull. He is built like a fire hydrant, short stocky and extremely strong. He has been training at the dojo for close to 8 years. I don't think I ever been able to successfully perform a technique on him. And today, Nabil got the best of him and of me. Twice as good as a private lesson.
The best classes have been the ones when only one or two students show up. Always extremely intense, never boring and always exhausting!
Can't wait to train tonight……….
Erik Sasha Calderon
Aikido ShinKiKan
www.shinkikan.com
Panda Warrior is a nick name that some of the members of the dojo gave to Marc. They gave it to him for a reason. He is sincere in his attacks, has an incredible amount of energy, is extremely strong, and at the same time he is very kind hearted, very soft and very cute.
I had the wonderful opportunity to work with him the first two techniques of class....suwari waza kokyuho and tachi waza shomenuchi ikkyo (oh, inbetween was katate dori tenkan, which was long and intense with Chris).
Marc really tests me, he truly out weighs me and having to perform a technique against an attack by him makes me feel like how in the world am I going to redirect all this energy without hurting myself and crashing into him.
I feel the same way with anyone that is much bigger and stronger than me. I just do not have the opportunity to use strength against them, and I definitely don't want to use "the powers of psychology" over them. I think that defeats the whole purpose of becoming better.
Anyhow, last night was, again, an incredible class. Don Ramirez, Mike Nguyen, and Vinny Nguyen give incredible classes. It is an honor to be able to train in their classes and to train with each and every student in the dojo. Well, I missed training with Nabil last night, but I told him that we need to train together at least once next time.
And on a special note, my wife actually came to the dojo last night and trained. I trained two techniques with her and had the most incredible ti
...More
On Wednesday night, Yulia made sure to bring up my statistic to 100%. I could not perform a single technique on her. It is amazing and at the same time extremely interesting to discover and experience different people with different levels of strength.
The training on Wednesday night was intense and the techniques hard to perform. I've always felt like Aikido is a cycle, some days I can perform the techniques without a single problem, then there are the days I can't, I'm using too much strength and no technique. I have notice though, that although the cycle never goes away, the interval gets smaller and my mistakes go unnoticed and unfelt by uke.
It has nothing to do with anything on the outside of me, and everything to do with what is in me, what is going on in my mind, in my heart, and I wonder how to even begin to work on that.
Erik Sasha Calderon
www.shinkikan.com
Aikido ShinKiKan.
Slowly, little by little I think I might be getting back into shape. I was actually able to make the whole class yesterday without having to actually sit out to catch my breath.
I do have to comment, that Yulia attacked me like she never has before on Friday. She was committed to making sure that my statistic of 88% went up to 99%. It was a wonderful feeling to have such an honest committed attack. I really felt like there was not much I could do.
Don Ramirez is doing a wonderful job teaching the classes...WOW, I am just impressed. Last night the techniques he taught, the flow of the class and the attendance was incredible.
I got to train with Mike, Marc, Steve, Jordan, Anguel, Nabil, Adam...I'm not sure why Yulia stayed away from trainning with me, and hopefully I'll get to train with everyone next time.
As I looked out before class started, I was so reminded about the nick name Kato Sensei gave my dojo....."The Gorilla Dojo".
Feels like to the good old times!
Erik Sasha Calderon
www.shinkikan.com
aikido shinkikan
Each day, each moment presents itself with a new challenge. Somestimes I am able to "out perform" the challenge. Sometimes I am overcome.
There is an amazing bridge that I can make between that and my Aikido training,.
I can't begin to express how wonderful the trainnig at the dojo has been coming along. How frustrating to have students attacking me so hard that I simply can't get the techiques about 88% of the time. But, I must admit, that that one time I get it, I really get it and to feel it's strength and power, to see it's effect on Uke, especially after the fact is wonderful.
Feels like I'm at Honbu dojo again, training my heart out, sweating blood.
06-22-2007 04:24 PM 
