Why We Train Aikido

or

(Oh My God! What Have I Gotten Myself Into?)

It's a journey not a destination. Practicing aikido is a process that gives us different benefits at different stages. Sometimes these seem to come easily, sometimes with great difficulty. The important thing is to allow yourself to trust the process, and keep going. Think about what you were hoping to find when you started aikido. Most people who are attracted to aikido are seekers, looking for some way of experiencing their lives differently. Most of the time what we find is pretty different than what we expected. Do you like surprises?

This is killing me! Change is usually accompanied by pain and discomfort and chaos. Giving birth to a child, creating a new nation, fighting for civil rights, learning to ride a bicycle. Aikido seeks to change us at a very deep level. It's a change that takes place on the physical level, the emotional level, the intellectual level, and the spiritual level. It seeks to change the way we perceive ourselves and the world around us. If your body starts to hurt, it's probably not very fun, but it means that the process is working. You can see that your body hurts in different places as you progress in your training. If you find yourself feeling frustrated, it's a good sign. It usually means that you are trying hard and may be at a plateau. Aikido is killing you – it's killing the old you, the you that you wanted to leave behind.

Lose your mind and come to your senses. We try not to think or talk much when we train. The learning comes in the doing. Aikido has a rich tradition of spirituality and philosophy, and the hard training brings us to this most easily when we don't think too much. And it's easier to not think so much when we're training with all we've got. Ever see The Karate Kid? (Maybe dumb, but a little true) Wax on, wax off!

Pay attention! We try to be present at all times, and pay attention to our bodies, the people we are training with, the feeling in the dojo, and the sensei. Paying attention doesn't necessarily mean thinking. It means being more and more aware. We try to always stay in contact with our partners; physically and emotionally. Aikido helps us to become more and more sensitive and aware the longer and harder we train.

Have fun. Aikido people are probably a bit nuts anyway. Train hard, sweat, and keep a smile on your face. We're all just beginners here.

(By Steve Trinkle)