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  #26  
Old 10-12-2007, 05:00 PM
Lynn Seiser
Username: SeiserL
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Why is Easy So Hard to Learn?

If I work hard and "make" the technique work, it is wrong.
If I relax and" let" the technique work, it is right.
Why is easy so hard to learn?

To practice Aikido, one must be completely relaxed. When I first started in Aikido, everyone told me to...
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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!

Last edited by akiy : 10-20-2007 at 12:21 AM.
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Old 08-17-2011, 04:25 AM   #25
SeiserL
 
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Re: Why is Easy So Hard to Learn?

Quote:
Chuck Clark wrote: View Post
I tell my students that the hardest part of learning any real budo is that it is really counter-intuitive to most everything else they do, or have done in their life in western societies. They usually then, think about that a bit (usually a few minutes

As a good friend and student of mine and a very fine budoka was fond of saying, "Ya buy 'em books, and buy 'em books and even read some to 'em and then all they do is end up eating the covers."
Osu Sensei,

Agreed again.

I often share that I was taught that if you feel like you are doing it right, then you feel it, and its wrong. If you feel like you didn't do anything, then you did it right.

I also often tell people that there are things you can "make" happen and others your have to "let" happen. Aikido and love are the second kind and much harder to learn.

BTW, I am still eating a lot of the covers of the books my Senseis have loaned me.

Rei, Domo.

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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Old 09-11-2011, 04:18 AM   #26
Relaxed Aikidoka
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Re: Why is Easy So Hard to Learn?

Hello Lynn!
After reading your article I began thinking about how you let yourself be happy. How did you do it?

Thanks
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Old 09-11-2011, 04:57 AM   #27
SeiserL
 
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Re: Why is Easy So Hard to Learn?

Quote:
Adam Frank wrote: View Post
After reading your article I began thinking about how you let yourself be happy. How did you do it?
Thanks for thinking and asking about it.

IMHO, happiness first is a choice, a decision to be happy.

Next, happiness is a internal mental attitude, not external accomplishment or possession.

Then is the daily discipline of staying positive. When the mind wonders to negativity, gently bring it back to trying to see the positive intention behind thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

This is not denial of the negatives (which usually just means it isn't the way you want it to be), but being aware and accepting (not necessarily understanding, liking, or agreeing), and then choosing how to respond (not just reacting from historical patterns).

IMHO, its unrealistic and undesirable to be "happy" all the time. But it is very possible to learn to be an optimist.

Useful?

Again, thanks for reading and asking.

Hope it helps.

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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