Beginner To Aikido

Ledosuki · 07-21-2003, 01:02 PM

WHAT COULD SOMEONE SUGGEST TO A PERSON BEGININNING AIKIDO?IV'E BEEN READING AS MUCH INFORMATION HERE ON THIS SITE AND FROM OTHER SOURCES,BUT WHAT SHOULD ONE BE PREPARING FOR BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY?ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.THANK YOU.

Carl Simard · 07-21-2003, 02:42 PM

Best will be to go to a dojo, go on the mat, and try for some classes. At some point, it don't really matter how much you read, you have to go and try it for yourself...

SeiserL · 07-21-2003, 03:49 PM

Relax, breath, and enjoy yourself. You cannot prepare yourself for the journey. Just go train.

Dave Miller · 07-22-2003, 05:03 PM

And please turn off the CAPSLOCK. On the 'net, CAPSLOCK is the same as SHOUTING and is quite annoying.

Chris Raeger · 08-21-2003, 12:46 AM

The hardest part in training you will ever face is walking through the front door to train for the first time. The preparation required to succeed from that point is inherent in the training and instruction given in the club. Just open yourself up for serious fun - that is - be serious enough to learn properly what you are being taught and have fun, enjoy the experience of learning.

Aikido is great and so are the people you will meet. Give it a go and do not give up if at times it seems you are not succeeding as fast or as well as you imagine you would be. Hope this is a help.

Arieru · 08-27-2003, 11:44 AM

have patience with yourself. this is alot harder to do than it sounds.

TheFallGuy · 08-27-2003, 05:38 PM

Quote:

have patience with yourself. this is alot harder to do than it sounds.

Actually, it's easier than you think. You just have to convince yourself that it is, and that's the hard part.

Preparing:

Mentally: Relaxation, Awareness, Calmness, Being Centered, Having Fun, Patience.

Physically: Stretches, General Body Conditioning....

Can't think anymore......

PeterR · 08-27-2003, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Frank Olson (TheFallGuy) wrote:

Actually, it's easier than you think. You just have to convince yourself that it is, and that's the hard part.

Exactly:

Now the relevant question is how do you convince a student that they know more than they think they do.

I've got one in particular that seems to wallow in her incompetence. She wants to improve and wont believe me that she is. If I can get her past that she will get better much much faster.

Lan Powers · 08-27-2003, 10:03 PM

Mr. Rehse

Video comparison? Pointing out how much less-sore she should be/is then from her earlier ukemi?

That is a big indicator to most of us newbies.......

Lan

justinm · 08-28-2003, 08:14 AM

Two other thoughts:

1. I find people get a real shock when they see new beginners arrive - they realise how much they have actually learnt since starting (only really works with people that still consider themselves to be a complete beginner even if they aren't)

2. Push them to their physical limit though repetition or randori and often they will suprise themselves. Usually works when my teacher does it to me!

TheFallGuy · 08-28-2003, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Now the relevant question is how do you convince a student that they know more than they think they do.

Peter,

Sometimes throwing a person harder than they are used to will make them wake up and realize "hey I can do this." I did this to a couple of my friends at the dojo. They were used to taking the nice slow approach and then squat down and roll over -- play dead. So what I did was to add a little more energy into the system and get the bigger flying breakfalls that they saw but never experienced. After landing it (not perfectly but well enough to bolster their confidence) they turned and said "Wow!!!" And they moved up a little in their own minds.

Also, focus on the positive things. If she's wallowing in the mistakes, don't bring them up. Apparently, she sees them all too clearly. Say things like. "That throw was great because you used your hips right." Or "That fall was great because you slapped out at a 45 degree angle and had your foot extended." (Pattern "Blank was done well because Blank.") Also, notice when she improves on something, and let her know.

Great thoughts Justin!

shihonage · 08-28-2003, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Domingo Castro (Ledosuki) wrote:

WHAT COULD SOMEONE SUGGEST TO A PERSON BEGININNING AIKIDO?IV'E BEEN READING AS MUCH INFORMATION HERE ON THIS SITE AND FROM OTHER SOURCES,BUT WHAT SHOULD ONE BE PREPARING FOR BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY?ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.THANK YOU.

Read the extremely helpful FAQ:

http://www.aikiweb.com/forums/showth...&threadid=3126