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ian · 08-16-2001, 06:12 AM

Ha ha,
An excellent wake up call. Thinking to yourself 'be more aware of what is around you' is like trying to stop yourself thinking of a pink elephant. You shouldn't be thinking 'I must be more aware', you just must be more aware. However I think everyone has different degrees of awareness but randori is fantastic for developing this (as well as occasionally sneaking up on people in the dojo; although if this goes too far paranoia results).

Ian

Strangely enough I was recently in a night club just mucking around with a friend (nothing violent), when I felt something strange behind me and out of the corner of my eye I could see that someone was finding my behaviour rather intimidating (so I mellowed out). I think awareness is definately one of the most important aspects of aikido, but it can be so subtle that it cannot be taught, just conditioned into you (and this includes body language).

08-16-2001, 06:12 AM	#6
ian Dojo: University of Ulster, Coleriane Location: Northern Ireland Join Date: Oct 2000 Posts: 1,654 Offline	Ha ha, An excellent wake up call. Thinking to yourself 'be more aware of what is around you' is like trying to stop yourself thinking of a pink elephant. You shouldn't be thinking 'I must be more aware', you just must be more aware. However I think everyone has different degrees of awareness but randori is fantastic for developing this (as well as occasionally sneaking up on people in the dojo; although if this goes too far paranoia results). Ian Strangely enough I was recently in a night club just mucking around with a friend (nothing violent), when I felt something strange behind me and out of the corner of my eye I could see that someone was finding my behaviour rather intimidating (so I mellowed out). I think awareness is definately one of the most important aspects of aikido, but it can be so subtle that it cannot be taught, just conditioned into you (and this includes body language). Last edited by ian : 08-16-2001 at 06:16 AM.