Having trouble sticking with training...any thoughts?

Nick Pittson wrote: [...] since reflecting further on your post, and the answers supplied (except Joe, brunotex and Paul - those were just way too honest) [...]

Which is the more compassionate, "irimi" or "tenkan"?

Joe McParland wrote: Which is the more compassionate, "irimi" or "tenkan"?

ato,ato,ato!!!!

Joe McParland wrote: Which is the more compassionate, "irimi" or "tenkan"?

Neither....kuzushi!

Onegaishimasu. Irimi and tenkan are two sides. They work together. You can also look at them like the left and right foot when walking.

In gassho

Mark

Jennifer Smith wrote: ato,ato,ato!!!!

Bowing to the One who Understands

Nick Pittson wrote: Neither....kuzushi!

But to the ones who said "Quit!" those were good kuzushi

Joe McParland wrote: Bowing to the One who Understands

Thanks. That's what my friends call me .
Anyhow, it was your funny joke that got it going!!!!!!Bueno, O' Gospacho.

I enjoyed your blog site!

Yeah, those have a nice ring to them...
"I'm gonna open a can of compasionate-a$$ on you."

Joe McParland wrote: But to the ones who said "Quit!" those were good kuzushi

I dunno, I think those were more verbal atemis.

In middle-school I decided I wanted to play the saxophone. So I told my parents, "Mom; Dad, I want to play the saxophone." So they bought me a saxophone. When I first started, it was the greatest thing ever. I had fast, nimble fingers and picked up on it really well. I even earned second chair! However, at about 2 months, my progress and learning curve had slowed drastically. I wanted to quit, so again, I went and told my parents. My father, in all his infinite wisdom, told me no. He told me that I could only quit after I had finished the season - another 3 months out! So I stuck it out - and I loved it! My father had made the decision for me and it was the right one.

You don't have your father over you to make that decision for you. But stick it out for 3 or 4 months and then make your decision. You may find that because your learning curve has slowed after 30 days and the routine has become monotonous that you have lost your enjoyment in it. But at 3 months your learning curve will increase again and you will re-find what you thought you had lost.

Just a thought...

J.

Quitting and deciding to stop are two different things. The individual making the choice is usually the only one that knows the difference.

Jonathan Hall wrote: In middle-school I decided I wanted to play the saxophone. So I told my parents, "Mom; Dad, I want to play the saxophone." So they bought me a saxophone. When I first started, it was the greatest thing ever. I had fast, nimble fingers and picked up on it really well. I even earned second chair! However, at about 2 months, my progress and learning curve had slowed drastically. I wanted to quit, so again, I went and told my parents. My father, in all his infinite wisdom, told me no. He told me that I could only quit after I had finished the season - another 3 months out! So I stuck it out - and I loved it! My father had made the decision for me and it was the right one. You don't have your father over you to make that decision for you. But stick it out for 3 or 4 months and then make your decision. You may find that because your learning curve has slowed after 30 days and the routine has become monotonous that you have lost your enjoyment in it. But at 3 months your learning curve will increase again and you will re-find what you thought you had lost. Just a thought... J.

I agree, I have hit a few times in judo when I wanted to quit because I had stagnated. It wasn't that I wasn't having fun, it was that I was not improving. This made me think "what is the point of training if I'm not improving.". It wasn't that I was not improving, just that it was slower and learning the more advanced stuff was harder. Thanks to my friends who kept pushing me to go with them, I stuck it out and broke past those humps. I'm having more fun now then ever.

Don Magee wrote: I agree, I have hit a few times in judo when I wanted to quit because I had stagnated. It wasn't that I wasn't having fun, it was that I was not improving. This made me think "what is the point of training if I'm not improving.". It wasn't that I was not improving, just that it was slower and learning the more advanced stuff was harder. Thanks to my friends who kept pushing me to go with them, I stuck it out and broke past those humps. I'm having more fun now then ever.

Thanks Don.Great Post. I don't know any dedicated Martial Artist who has not gone through this part of the learning "process" myself included.

William Hazen

PS. Firefox 3's little spellchecker tools ROCK. LOL

I have had a love affair with Aikido since day one, back in Jan 1999. I long to continue training, but the side effects of my bipolar drugs (poisons) have been increasing with raised doses over time. Since you're looking for something physical and spiritual simultaneously, you hit the jackpot with Aikido, working from the foundation that you have a sensei and fellow aikidoka with positive attitudes. My side effects include dizziness, lack of ability to focus, exhaustion, and rapid dehydration (profuse sweating). It is impossible for me to "train with a spirit of joy" while on these meds. I believe someday I'll be on a kinder regimen as further developments are made, but until then I will only be able to train sporadically. If I was not so hindered, my ass would be in every class.

Drew

Drew Gardner wrote: It is impossible for me to "train with a spirit of joy" while on these meds. I believe someday I'll be on a kinder regimen as further developments are made, but until then I will only be able to train sporadically. If I was not so hindered, my ass would be in every class.

IMHO, the spirit of wisdom is as important as the spirit of joy.

Drew Gardner wrote: I have had a love affair with Aikido since day one, back in Jan 1999. I long to continue training, but the side effects of my bipolar drugs (poisons) have been increasing with raised doses over time. Since you're looking for something physical and spiritual simultaneously, you hit the jackpot with Aikido, working from the foundation that you have a sensei and fellow aikidoka with positive attitudes. My side effects include dizziness, lack of ability to focus, exhaustion, and rapid dehydration (profuse sweating). It is impossible for me to "train with a spirit of joy" while on these meds. I believe someday I'll be on a kinder regimen as further developments are made, but until then I will only be able to train sporadically. If I was not so hindered, my ass would be in every class. Drew

This is one area where the medication certainly has not made as much progress as we have hoped it would. This and with some of the psychotic disorders (schizophrenia, schizotypal, etc.). I, too, hope to see some better medications soon, as I have a few friends who take the current meds with numerous side effects.

William Hazen wrote: Thanks Don.Great Post. I don't know any dedicated Martial Artist who has not gone through this part of the learning "process" myself included. William Hazen PS. Firefox 3's little spellchecker tools ROCK. LOL

That's what I get when I post from the couch watching tv and exhausted from crossfit workouts.

Lynn Seiser wrote: IMHO, the spirit of wisdom is as important as the spirit of joy.

Yes, but with the former and not the latter, Aikido is not pleasant. When I started out (on lower doses), it was pleasant. As I'm sure you know, it is abnormal human psychology to do something that is unpleasant, unless you must to put rice on the table.

Training should always be FUN - if you don't want to be there mentally, then maybe it's just not the right thing for you to do.

When I was doing JuJitsu, I started 2x per week at my college (that's where I met my sensei), and later on he invited me to train at the dojo as well. For about 6 weeks or so, I was going to the 2 college sessions *and* the 3 days a week at the dojo.

Yes, that's a heck of a lot of training, yes it took its toll on me (I ended up hurting my shoulder and had to sit out for nearly 2 months), but was it FUN? You bet

There were lots of times during that period that I was saying "Geez, I just went to train yesterday, now I gotta train today too??" (Of course I didn't have to, but as soon as my brain got past that, and I was driving to the dojo, I knew it would be ok.)

There were other times where I'd have an awesome time at class one night and the next day I'd say, "I just went to class last night, I can't wait to find out what I'm gonna learn tonight!"

It's all in your mind - if you enjoy what you're doing, you'll find a way to get there. If you don't enjoy it....REALLY don't enjoy it, then don't waste your time.

-Bryan