What makes a great training session for you?

How do you know you just had a great training session? Is it because you feel ragged, tired, sweaty, bruised and a bit ruffled from getting thrown (and throwing) a lot?

Do you feel great after training because you finally managed to master a technique that you could not do before through carefull slow practice?

Do you feel inspired by something your sensei said before, during or after class?

What gets your Aikido motor running? What do you want from all of your practice sessions?

Personally a perfect class for me would be a combination of all of the above with realy physical work taking 50-60%, careful slow work taking a further 35-45% and a few inspiring and thoughtful words here and there during class making up the difference.

Those little moments of enlightenment when you suddenly realise you've been doing it wrong for years and this is the right way and how could you have not seen it before and it'll change the way you do everything in aikido and the way you live your life and you have to show everyone in the dojo and how could they not see how wonderful it is and now your aikido will be perfect...

...until the next time.

Tim

A great training session for me is one wgere I come off the mat buzzing with mental energy although I'm tired physically, shaking my head with a wry smile, thinking " I ain't never going to be that good". Pretty much every lesson really.

Have fun

a good training session for me is like being high, afterwards i'm full of energy and want to continue for hours on end also i flow niceley no stop and start movements everything just rolls off into something else.

now that is a good training session for me.

pete

A great training session for me is when the class seems to work well together. I've not quite worked out how best to do this - I think it partly depends on a critical mass of people who understand the technique or what you are trying to teach and the others can easily copy. Therefore - if we want to progress; not all classes will be great!

Ian

Hi all,

Well, after returning from a semminar with Master Endo this weekend, I can honestly say I'm still in aikido heaven mmmm....

It was fantastic and I am still trying to assimilate all of the things I saw there. I have been eating, sleeping, thinking about the course, and Endo every minute since.

He was so happy and just touching him made me feel happy too. Of course I have made several leaps of understanding which I will try and integrate into my aikido in the future but for now it doesn't matter, I'm joyous, happy and feel harmony and openess towards understanding of my fellow human beings.

That for me makes it a great session

love and light

Ali

Tim Griffiths wrote: Those little moments of enlightenment when you suddenly realise you've been doing it wrong for years and this is the right way and how could you have not seen it before and it'll change the way you do everything in aikido and the way you live your life and you have to show everyone in the dojo and how could they not see how wonderful it is and now your aikido will be perfect... ...until the next time. Tim

This captures my idea of subj perfectly

I like those nights where I get a glow after good training. Kinda like in "The Last Dragon"

When I could make a connection with everybody in the dojo.

When I am of one mind and body, and not let my ego or my wild emotions take over me.

Basically, when I am of one mind and body, and in aiki.

Wynand van Dyk (drDalek) wrote: Do you feel great after training because you finally managed to master a technique that you could not do before through carefull slow practice?

You mastered techniques?? I am envious and cannot wait!

To me a great class ends with me getting over a problem I have been having with technique(s). Like not too long ago I had a breathrough with sankyo ura. It was great, I left class and suddenly realized I knew the technique and I was able to point out exactly what I was doing wrong.

I have a tendency to focus on a technique that I am having trouble with, and work on that. Shihonage, ikkyo, nikkyo, sankyo, yonkyo etc. I have found after a few classes (sometimes more, sometimes less) I usually have a "breakthrough". This is what I consider a great training session.

Cheers,

Eric

to me, I realize I had a great class when I come out feeling soothed and vigorous, like a TV that has been properly tuned so to speak.

What exactly takes me there I'm not sure about; it's not something that depends on the pace or the techniques being explored, nor even if I could do it right, it has less to do with me than I would like..

at some point I feel like I've been exposed to a warm , sobering truth that is very very comforting.

keeps me coming back for more..