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08-22-2008, 11:28 PM
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#1
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Dojo: Osaka Aikikai Hombu
Location: Osaka
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 44
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Training goals
With regard to the Olympics, I was discussing with one of my senseis about the fact that athletes engage in daily practice with a very tangible goal in mind - winning a gold medal.
In the case of Budo, specifically aikido yuudansha and our daily practice, how important is it to set personal goals or targets? The conclusion in our discussion was that it's a matter of individual preference, different people have different approaches to goal-setting. My sensei noted that goals can be non-technical.
I'm interested to hear about people's approach to goal-setting in Budo, are they specific or general and how are they measured? Without them, is there a danger that we get into a kind of 'cruise-mode' on the Way?
When I was a white belt, my personal goal was clear in front of me: to become shodan. Things are not so tangible from the middle dans perspective. I'm not convinced that continued test-passing is a useful goal and I try to keep in mind the meaning of Budo.
The general purpose of my Budo training is to improve my character and try my best to apply aikido principles in daily life - to blend with and extend kindness to family, friends, colleagues etc. However, these are hardly training goals, and improvement in them is difficult to measure. I can only conclude that my training has no goals at the present time.
I'd be very interested to hear others' thoughts on this.
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08-23-2008, 05:56 AM
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#2
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Location: Fayetteville, AR, USA
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 54
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Re: Training goals
I have more than one goal at the moment.
-Not to occasionally hit my head when I roll
-Keep my unbendable arm
-Extend!
-Intent!
-Figure out what the hell is going on when Sensei calls out a technique in Japanese
-Keep Learnin'
I'm also a beginner so i'm not really sure this applies to me as much as it does to those of you who have been doing it for so long.
Then again...maybe it does?
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08-23-2008, 10:07 AM
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#3
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Dojo: Enighet Malmo Sweden
Location: Malmo
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 539
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No goal, no limit
Goals are dangerous things. When you set up a goal, you can only learn what you already somewhat knew at the outset, or you would not have been able to make it a goal. You eliminate the element of surprise, of learning something that you had no idea of to begin with.
The way is the goal. It should be allowed to surprise you and transform you.
If you feel the need of formulating goals, make them ridiculously far-fetched. That way, they will take you somewhere marvellous, instead of just back to your starting point.
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08-23-2008, 12:04 PM
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#4
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Dojo: Team Combat USA
Location: Olympia, Washington
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,376
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Re: Training goals
George Leonard Sensei wrote a book on Mastery several years ago, that book comes to mind as being relevant to this issue. Mastery is a larger concept than simple goals. It is a complex process.
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08-23-2008, 01:36 PM
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#5
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Dojo: Yoshin-ji Aikido of Marshall
Location: Wisconsin
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,224
Offline
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Re: Training goals
Onegaishimasu. The zen master Taisen Deshimaru Roshi did a book on "Zen and the Martial Arts". He talked about the importance of being "Mushotoku", having no goal. I guess that meant that you had to show up at the dojo and practice. And do it over and over. And see what type of experience you had.
In gassho,
Mark
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- Right combination works wonders -
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08-23-2008, 08:04 PM
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#6
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Location: Left Coast
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 4,339
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Re: Training goals
I don't have any goals but I do always have a couple of problems/puzzles I'm working on...I don't actually "resolve" them but reach a certain level of understaning or plateau and by then several other things will have shown up...
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Janet Rosen
http://www.zanshinart.com
"peace will enter when hate is gone"--percy mayfield
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08-23-2008, 08:11 PM
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#7
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Dojo: Confluence Aiki-Dojo / Santa Cruz Sword Club
Location: Santa Cruz
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,049
Offline
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Re: Training goals
Training is the goal.
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Jennifer Paige Smith
Confluence Aikido Systems
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08-24-2008, 03:00 PM
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#8
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 20
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Re: Training goals
My goal is to be stronger and better .Very simple and honest, I think.
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08-24-2008, 03:29 PM
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#9
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Dojo: Itten Dojo
Location: Dalfsen
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 8
Offline
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Re: Training goals
Hai,
I have a lot of training goals:
- getting fitter and ‘better organised' in my body after an accident 11 years ago
- feeling a beginner for 2-3 times a week, so to keep my feet on the ground. Since I'm a solo working trainer/coach there is a lack of personal feedback in my work.
- getting sweaty, and all the good things that come from that
- feeling alive at the moment my body ‘automatically' is taking Ukemi or is responding to a movement.
- Some vague dream about teaching Aikido
Thirza Schraa
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08-25-2008, 02:54 PM
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#10
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Dojo: Tsubaki Kannagara Jinja Aikidojo; Himeji Shodokan Dojo
Location: Renton
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,276
Offline
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Re: Training goals
Quote:
Michael Lewis wrote:
I'm interested to hear about people's approach to goal-setting in Budo, are they specific or general and how are they measured? Without them, is there a danger that we get into a kind of 'cruise-mode' on the Way?
When I was a white belt, my personal goal was clear in front of me: to become shodan. Things are not so tangible from the middle dans perspective. I'm not convinced that continued test-passing is a useful goal and I try to keep in mind the meaning of Budo.
The general purpose of my Budo training is to improve my character and try my best to apply aikido principles in daily life - to blend with and extend kindness to family, friends, colleagues etc. However, these are hardly training goals, and improvement in them is difficult to measure. I can only conclude that my training has no goals at the present time.
I'd be very interested to hear others' thoughts on this.
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My main goal these days is to get to train, but working two jobs and having a wife who plans everything months ahead of time makes that often difficult.
That aside, my overarching goal in Aikido is to better myself that I may better the world around me, whether it be in physical defense, developing a hard-working character, etc. My goal in life has long been to help in as broad a manner as I can muster and I feel Ueshiba Aikido reflects this same goal. After that it's great exercise and a fun way to spend a couple hours of a day. It keeps my body in shape, my coordination sharp, and my mind relaxed...can't ask for much more in something. These are some of the things that I plan on working on in my future training of Aikido so i guess they could be called goals.
Take care,
Matt
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Gambarimashyo!
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08-25-2008, 08:26 PM
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#11
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Location: Massachusetts
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,202
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Re: Training goals
My only goal is to keep training.
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08-26-2008, 09:06 AM
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#12
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Location: Florida Gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,902
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Re: Training goals
IMHO, goals can be useful as indicators of a direction. Like mile markers are the freeway, you drive towards them, pass them, and keep going.
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Lynn Seiser PhD
Yondan Aikido & FMA/JKD
We do not rise to the level of our expectations, but fall to the level of our training. Train well. KWATZ!
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08-26-2008, 05:43 PM
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#13
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 20
Offline
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Re: Training goals
Quote:
Lynn Seiser wrote:
IMHO, goals can be useful as indicators of a direction. Like mile markers are the freeway, you drive towards them, pass them, and keep going.
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I agree. They encourage you to go further, they let you know that your hardwork's started paying off.
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09-15-2008, 09:48 PM
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#14
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Location: Las Vegas
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 114
Offline
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Re: Training goals
I think no matter what you do in life you have to have a goal.
Training=Polishing and Polished=Goal.
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"For The Secret That The Warrior Seeks: You Must Know That The Basic Principles Lie In The Study Of The Spirit." - Morihei Ueshiba
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09-16-2008, 09:36 AM
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#15
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Dojo: Seibukan, Milton Keynes
Location: At Work unless I am at the DOJO!
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 112
Offline
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Re: Training goals
To be the best I can be at that given moment, then move onto the next. Will never quite achieve it, but the goal evolves with me . I use this in nearly everything I do.
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09-16-2008, 01:23 PM
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#16
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Dojo: Arendal Aikido
Location: Arendal
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 20
Offline
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Re: Training goals
My goals is quite simple:
- learn stuff
- meet people
- have fun
Some wiseguy said something about it's not the destination that's most important, but the journey. So I guess goals is a good way to get the direction. What you accomplish can be something totally different, but still kool gear.
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