The best ways to memorize information, facts, names and such use visual imagery. Imagination is key to thorough memorization and knowledge integration, despite what most American public schools teach to the contrary.
Except when it comes to physical movement. Physical movement works best with both imagination and repetition.
Remember, the spirit leads the mind [...]
Archive for July, 2008
Do It Again: The Power of Repetition
Posted in concepts, tagged aikido, ki, martial arts, muscle memory, practice, repetition on July 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Passing a Test that Wasn’t Meant to be Passed
Posted in Journal, Mind and Body Coordination, tagged aikido, martial arts, Mind and Body Coordination on July 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Question: How do you know you’re Coordinating Mind and Body unless someone tests you?
Answer: Until you know what it feels like to actually coordinate mind and body, umm, you don’t.
Tests are a good thing, ever since grade school started giving tests I’ve loved them–I know, I’m one of those nerdy, scholastic wackos. Tests are moments [...]
Avoiding Collision
Posted in Journal, tagged aikido, concepts, ki training, musings on July 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Thursday night is normally Maxon sensei’s night to teach, but he’s away in Japan, so Hess sensei taught.
During Ki class he focused on Ki meditation. I’d like to think I’m getting it. I don’t coordinate mind and body all the time, but when I think about it I do it. I work through a simple [...]
Do It Again: When Teaching Methods Collide
Posted in Organization, tagged aikido, methods, teaching style on July 12, 2008 | 2 Comments »
On Tuesday Hess sensei teaches classes. He’s intelligent, thoughtful, collected, and methodical. He contrasts very nicely with Maxson sensei on Thursday nights.
Right now the entire international Aikido some long name in Japanese [Federation?] is meeting in Japan. Almost the entire upper echelon of the Oregon Ki Society is away. So there [...]
Aikido’s Attractiveness Examined
Posted in Journal, tagged aikido, musings on July 11, 2008 | 5 Comments »
It should be obvious, I like Aikido, specifically Shin-shin Toitsu Aikido. Yeah, it’s am mouth full and I cheat by cut and pasting the that really long name into my posts. But why do I like it?
Spiritual Things Come First
Ki moves the Mind which moves the Body
Or, as I know it better from [...]
What is Mind and Body Coordination?
Posted in Mind and Body Coordination, tagged concepts, musings on July 11, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
This is how I view Mind and Body Coordination as of July 10th, 2008 while I am a white belt (lowest of the low). I’ve thought about Mind and Body Coordination and Ki Meditation for 10 years.
Do I have the right answer? I really don’t know. That’s part of what makes writing [...]
Look at Your Opponent
Posted in Journal, tagged aikido, concepts, ki training on July 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
I laugh throughout Maxson Sensei’s Thursday night classes.
I realize, while he teaches that I shouldn’t look constipated or goofy while I’m “coordinating mind and body”. If mind and body coordination is truly a natural state of being then it shouldn’t matter what I’m doing.
I watch sensei continue the lesson while two students [...]
Two Classes
Posted in Journal, Organization, tagged aikido, concepts, ki training on July 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Twice a week I ride a bus to the dojo in Southeast Portland. This gives me roughly an hour to contemplate what’s going to happen.
Each evening is broken up into two classes.
Ki Training
Aikido
There’s a short break in between and socializing with very friendly people.
Ki Training
To quote the Oregon Ki Society website,
The purpose of Ki development [...]
