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Old 12-06-2008, 10:36 AM   #1
Luc X Saroufim
 
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Most Ideal Time to Start Your Training?

I have come to the conclusion that there is never a good, or bad, time to start Aikido.

i started in my mid-20's, and I always regreted not starting sooner. responsibilities are coming in greater numbers and I cannot focus on just one hobby anymore. i wish i started when i had more free time.

but then i always thought i would look at Aikido through different lenses if i started sooner.

or not. who knows?

is there an ideal point in your life to train? is it a matter of free time? a matter of needing something different in your life?
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Old 12-06-2008, 12:44 PM   #2
ChristianBoddum
 
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Re: Most Ideal Time to Start Your Training?

I'd say from experience, if you want to develop good natural ukemi
you're probably better off starting before the age of 30.
The older you get the more you want to protect your body,
so the daredevil attitude of youth will help you develop fearless breakfalls.
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Old 12-06-2008, 04:05 PM   #3
oisin bourke
 
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Re: Most Ideal Time to Start Your Training?

Anytime before you have children!
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Old 12-07-2008, 06:04 AM   #4
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Re: Most Ideal Time to Start Your Training?

Early in the morning before you really wake up and realize what you are doing.

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 12-07-2008, 09:25 AM   #5
Luc X Saroufim
 
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Re: Most Ideal Time to Start Your Training?

Quote:
Oisin Bourke wrote: View Post
Anytime before you have children!
so i keep hearing!
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Old 12-07-2008, 05:50 PM   #6
lbb
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Re: Most Ideal Time to Start Your Training?

Quote:
Luc Saroufim wrote: View Post
but then i always thought i would look at Aikido through different lenses if i started sooner.
Most likely. You were a different person then.

A lot of times, when people say, "I wish I'd started this at such-and-such age," what they really mean is, "I wish I had a greater degree of proficiency than I do now, and I think if I'd started a long time ago, I'd have it." Of course, that presupposes that the person you were at such-and-such age would find yourself drawn to whatever pursuit you're talking about as much as you do now. Given how much people change, I think that's statistically unlikely. That's not to say that you can't take up something at a relatively young age and make a lifelong pursuit out of it, but it does argue against having regrets that you didn't start training aikido as a child.
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Old 12-08-2008, 02:21 AM   #7
Eva Antonia
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Re: Most Ideal Time to Start Your Training?

Dear all,

my brother started Judo when he was 8 years old, and then I, with 13 years refused to do the same, thinking that I was way too old and that you should start as a kid to become really proficient (like master violinists or so).

25 years later my son started aikido with 8 years, and I just joined. So in retrospective I see how stupid I was thinking I was too old with 13 years. Even 38 is not too old, and I never had this inhibition concerning ukemi, once I learnt to do mae ukemi without falling on my head, I was never more afraid of any other fall including breakfalls on all sorts of techniques.

But in some way I think it is even better to start as an adult, i.e., after having finished puberty. I see a lot of kids being assiduous aikidoka and becoming really proficient, and then, at 14, 15, 16 years, they just get involved with all sorts of puberty distractions; they fall in love, they get other friends, and they just abandon aikido.

I think as an adult you are more consistent, and if you really like aikido (or any other activity) you will pursue it more consequently, which is at long term more satisfactory. My aikido teacher started at 40, and he still managed to become 5th Dan. Maybe he would have got one or more degrees if he had started 20 or 25 years earlier, but then, where is the point?

I don't agree that you should start before having children. It's a sport you can share with your kids, and that is one of its attractions, at least for me. As a woman, I think it's even very disappointing to start before having kids. Then you get pregnant, you have to interrupt, and I suppose that would be very frustrating if you are really an aikido addict. So starting together with the kids worked just fine for me...and I still think there is a lot to achieve and to improve in the future - and hopefully enough time...

Best regards,

Eva
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Old 12-08-2008, 06:22 AM   #8
phitruong
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Re: Most Ideal Time to Start Your Training?

Quote:
Oisin Bourke wrote: View Post
Anytime before you have children!
started my aikido after my second chilld. no problem so far. "to thyself be true", i.e. no excuses.
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Old 12-08-2008, 06:26 AM   #9
phitruong
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Re: Most Ideal Time to Start Your Training?

Quote:
Lynn Seiser wrote: View Post
Early in the morning before you really wake up and realize what you are doing.
i do it in my sleep. i practiced maai and blending. however, my uke kept complaining "would you stop putting your cold feet on me and stay on your side of the bed!" it's hard to get good uke these days!
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Old 12-08-2008, 07:26 AM   #10
oisin bourke
 
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Re: Most Ideal Time to Start Your Training?

Quote:
Phi Truong wrote: View Post
started my aikido after my second chilld. no problem so far. "to thyself be true", i.e. no excuses.
I'm not sure what you mean by that. People simply have more time and energy to devote to practice before they start a family.
But everyone has their own path to follow.
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Old 12-08-2008, 08:04 AM   #11
Eva Antonia
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Re: Most Ideal Time to Start Your Training?

Quote:
Oisin Bourke wrote: View Post
I'm not sure what you mean by that. People simply have more time and energy to devote to practice before they start a family.
But everyone has their own path to follow.
...maybe - but what will you do when the family comes in?
Interrupt/ slow down/ give up aikido?

Eva
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Old 12-08-2008, 05:14 PM   #12
Luc X Saroufim
 
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Re: Most Ideal Time to Start Your Training?

Quote:
Oisin Bourke wrote: View Post
People simply have more time and energy to devote to practice before they start a family.
yeah, i find that my Aikido schedule is certainly not as rigid as it used to be. my wife and i are expecting a child, i'm getting more responsibilities at work, etc etc.

i don't feel starting a family will affect my training, but i do feel it will affect when i train. i even considered going on my lunch breaks at work, but that doesn't make any sense in the engineering field.

i've seen many married couples train together but unfortunately i don't have that luxury.
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Old 12-08-2008, 06:02 PM   #13
oisin bourke
 
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Re: Most Ideal Time to Start Your Training?

Quote:
Eva Röben wrote: View Post
...maybe - but what will you do when the family comes in?
Interrupt/ slow down/ give up aikido?

Eva
Whatever circumstances dictate, I suppose.

My view is that, initially, learning anything takes a lot of effort until one gets the basics "burned into" one's system. Once you have the basics down, when a life changing event does occur, you have a lot of flexibility/choice as to how you continue your training. You don't need to be in the Dojo so much.

But like I said, everyone has their own path to follow.

Luc, congratulations! You'll have a great time!

Anyway, between family, work, study and practice, I barely have time to post!
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Old 12-08-2008, 07:42 PM   #14
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Re: Most Ideal Time to Start Your Training?

Now

David M. Valadez
Visit our web site for articles and videos. Senshin Center - A Place for Traditional Martial Arts in Santa Barbara.
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Old 12-08-2008, 07:50 PM   #15
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Re: Most Ideal Time to Start Your Training?

Before it's too late.
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Old 12-09-2008, 01:47 AM   #16
Luc X Saroufim
 
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Re: Most Ideal Time to Start Your Training?

Quote:
Oisin Bourke wrote: View Post
Luc, congratulations! You'll have a great time!
thanks!
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