aikido practice

Edwin Neal wrote: "If one isn't passionate about ones practice, one should quit and find something else to be passionate about. There's little or no benefit to be had from training sporadically,... making less than a committed effort to master the art."

It's a nice soundbite that dosn't necessarily have any basis in reality.

Has this person forsaken all their worldly goods, shaved their head, and removed themselves to a cave for the next 20 years of eating, living, and breathing aikido?

No?

Where's their "committed effort" then?

Committed effort can be as simple as going to the dojo once a week (no matter what!) Bowing in,
always pairing up with the nearest person, having a good practice, then bowing out at the end of class and getting back to your "other" life.

my points exactly, Mark and Paul... is this attitude 'too' widespread in aikido... does it 'scare' off people who would benefit from training... does it make are art seem 'snobby' to others... just thinking out loud as this statement felt wrong to me...

Edwin Neal wrote: my points exactly, Mark and Paul... is this attitude 'too' widespread in aikido... does it 'scare' off people who would benefit from training... does it make are art seem 'snobby' to others... just thinking out loud as this statement felt wrong to me...

It might just be a case where the person chose their words poorly.

When I hear the word 'passion' in this context, I'm reminded of the line in the film "Bladerunner":

The fire that burns twice as bright burns half as long.