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 try pushing him around. Try is the operative word. Despite size, youth, and obviously superior strength, they can’t push him over.
“Look at your opponent” he said while leading another student through a technique. He stopped abruptly to emphasize his point and look into the student’s eyes. Then he finished the technique and lead the student onto the mat.
Aikido techniques happen quickly. Sensei stops the action to show us the mechanics of what’s going on. Then he reiterates “but look at your opponent. What you do doesn’t happen in a vacuum.”
I couldn’t do the techniques on Thursday. My abilities are very unsure, especially when I was partnered with the women. I’m a white belt–that’s complete and utter noob to everyone who’s never heard of what belt colors mean. My problem centered around the last time I did aikido lessons.
Roughly ten years ago, while I was in college, I hurt the girl I was practicing a wrist hold with. On top of it I’ve always been a big guy, over six feet tall, and have always known I could hurt people if I wasn’t careful.
Sensei said “the best way to not hurt your partner is to extend ki.” That’s…ummm…great advice. While I mentally agree with that my body lags behind me. My kinesthetic memory (memorized motion) hasn’t developed all that much yet. I know I’ll conquer this particular difficulty, but it might take some time.
Things to Work On
- Coordinate mind and body, or extend Ki, naturally. Funny faces are optional.
- Look at my opponent.
- Extend Ki to avoid hurting my partner.
