A humbling memory

I found an old film of me as a very uncertain and nervous tori, doing taisabaki on bokken attacks by my teacher at the time, Toshikazu Ichimura. He was 6 dan Renshi in iaido, so he knew how to swing that thingy. Me, I was 19 or 20 years old, hardly yet comfortable in my hakama, swinging my arms as if longing to fly away. It was in 1973 or '74.
I put it on my YouTube account - sort of masochistically:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFUAljTzWV4

When I look at the film now, I am reminded of how flabbergasted I was with that whole aikido world, and the grim sensei, and the daredevil scent of it all. What was I doing there, really, being a timid adolescent at heart - and still loving it?

Do you recognize the feeling?

Stefan Stenudd wrote: Do you recognize the feeling?

Yep. I still have it...

Clark Bateman wrote: Yep. I still have it...

Me, too.

Each time I 'get over it', Aikido gets bigger, and the mystery continues.

Very Cool Stefan!

Ahh the old days when you were so skinny (in my case) you did not have to move as much to get out of the way. LOL

I still have that feeling too.

William Hazen

Stefan Stenudd wrote: I found an old film of me as a very uncertain and nervous tori, doing taisabaki on bokken attacks by my teacher at the time, Toshikazu Ichimura. He was 6 dan Renshi in iaido, so he knew how to swing that thingy. Me, I was 19 or 20 years old, hardly yet comfortable in my hakama, swinging my arms as if longing to fly away. It was in 1973 or '74. I put it on my YouTube account - sort of masochistically: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFUAljTzWV4 When I look at the film now, I am reminded of how flabbergasted I was with that whole aikido world, and the grim sensei, and the daredevil scent of it all. What was I doing there, really, being a timid adolescent at heart - and still loving it? Do you recognize the feeling?

Stephan,

What a gift. It was quite eye opening to see your improvement from a beginner/shodan to a masterful/technician. Hmmm...what will happen in the next 35 year?

Joseph