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Aikido Teachers
Hello Aiki Web members, this is my first time posting on this site . I'm glad to be here. I have spent some time away from Aikido but went in depth into training in some Chinese internal arts which deepened my understanding of Aikido technique. Returning to Aikido, I had some specific preferences due to some poor experiences with Aikido teachers in the past.
First, I would like to ask the question, what are the selling points of Aikido? Why from all the choices of other Martial Arts , would a person choose Aikido. I can only speak for myself, but I feel others may share my viewpoint in saying ,to be able to stay calm under pressure. My current instructor constantly shows how ineffective our techniques are when we tense up the muscle groups. Isn't this a metaphor for life off the mat as well. A sense ethics with decisions of what is the appropriate amount of force to be used with respect to the appreciation of all life. Or in a sense, a peaceful warrior tradition or a spiritual martial art.
Second, I would like to ask the question with regards to Aikido instructors , should the form match the function? What I mean is this; if a personal trainer came to your gym that was 25lbs overweight with a cigarette in one hand and a doughnut in the other talking about "get in shape" would you listen to him. On the other end of the spectrum, you may have a physics professor that is a genius but also a ruthless human being and that doesn't effect the teachers ability to administer the lesson in the least. The fitness example requires intrinsic qualities of that which is being taught, while the academic example does not. Where does Aikido instruction fit in with these two examples?Some would say Aikido is a martial art , so the military break em down to build them up mentality is keeping with martial tradition. For me it's not so much what a teacher does when they might belittle students, its what their not doing. Teaching!!
Thoughts??
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