Welcome to AikiWeb Aikido Information
AikiWeb: The Source for Aikido Information
AikiWeb's principal purpose is to serve the Internet community as a repository and dissemination point for aikido information.

Sections
home
aikido articles
columns

Discussions
forums
aikiblogs

Databases
dojo search
seminars
image gallery
supplies
links directory

Reviews
book reviews
video reviews
dvd reviews
equip. reviews

News
submit
archive

Miscellaneous
newsletter
rss feeds
polls
about

Follow us on



Home > AikiWeb Aikido Forums
Go Back   AikiWeb Aikido Forums > Voices of Experience

Hello and thank you for visiting AikiWeb, the world's most active online Aikido community! This site is home to over 22,000 aikido practitioners from around the world and covers a wide range of aikido topics including techniques, philosophy, history, humor, beginner issues, the marketplace, and more.

If you wish to join in the discussions or use the other advanced features available, you will need to register first. Registration is absolutely free and takes only a few minutes to complete so sign up today!

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 09-11-2009, 11:34 AM   #1
aikishihan
Dojo: aikido academy/alhambra,california
Location: Los Angeles, California
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 371
United_States
Offline
Practice Aikido with a Friend

"A friend is a gift you give to yourself." This quote is attributed to the late Robert Louis Stevenson, and it may well aptly describe a key reason why most of us train in the art of Aikido. Choosing to practice with a friend surely beats trying to train with an enemy.

In our competitive society, we encounter numerous opportunities to witness people acting as antagonists, real or perceived. It is no wonder that we acquire defensive attitudes, postures and behaviors that reflect our sense of wariness, suspicion and separation.

What we inadvertantly miss is the golden opportunity to make a friendly gesture, that is both polite and genuine. Such a small investment of time and energy may well result in a positive response, leading to mutually beneficial conversation and positive interaction. Why not adopt gestures and speech to explore hidden opportunities to open a closed mind, or to deflect a defensive posture by the other person, inviting possible friendship instead.

This is part of the mission of living in Aiki, practicing off the mat, what we attempt to practice with our partners on the mat. The skills of appropriate and mutually satisfying training may easily be transferred to social situations, bringing our "partner" into line with our intentions of peace and harmonious dialogue.

A key component of the martial integrity of Aikido, is to establish and confirm as early as possible, whether a situation or an individual presents a real threat, or an opportunity for meaningful interaction.

How embarrassing and unfortunate it would be to misread the other person's true purpose of approaching you, and greet them with inappropriate aggression or mistrust. Surely there are options in both speech and body movement, that can give us enough time and space to judge more accurately.

The principles of Shisei (body and mental posture), tsuriai (balance), ma-ai (proper distancing), hanmi (preparing for irimi or retreat) mizu no kokoro (immovable spirit) are among the Aiki fundamentals we incorporate in our training on the mat. Why can't we transfer the essence of such skills and awareness off of it as well? I think we can. I think with should. I think that it is time to start now.

In Oneness,

Last edited by aikishihan : 09-11-2009 at 11:36 AM.
  Reply With Quote

Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
What exactly is an independent dojo? David Yap General 64 11-14-2011 02:05 PM
Aikido Scam by an Indian group ze'ev erlich General 10 08-02-2009 06:46 PM
The continued Evolution of Aikido salim General 716 12-27-2008 10:00 PM
Aikido in Amsterdam, Terry Lax style... tiyler_durden General 11 11-03-2008 08:31 AM
25th anniversary practice Aikido of N CO Princess Rose Seminars 1 03-24-2007 12:12 AM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:03 AM.



vBulletin Copyright © 2000-2024 Jelsoft Enterprises Limited
----------
Copyright 1997-2024 AikiWeb and its Authors, All Rights Reserved.
----------
For questions and comments about this website:
Send E-mail
plainlaid-picaresque outchasing-protistan explicantia-altarage seaford-stellionate