As a club, the time has come for our next grading. It has been six months since I last graded, and it really doesn't seem like five minutes since I got my orange belt. You would have thought by now that I was used to gradings, after all, I have passed three in the past 21 months. But the next belt I've come to realise is much darker and harder...getting my green belt. The truth be told, I really am not ready.
Okay, I know I go through this phase every time there is a grading, but this time the next belt up is the start of the senior grades, yep thats right, not junior, senior. So you're expected to know alot more stuff, especially the big breakfalls. The truth is, I don't! I STILL cannot roll exactly right nor do the sumi breakfall completely right (though I am working on it) To be frank, this next stage really really scares me! I mean, after green there is only two belts to black and that is a scary thought that one day, me-yes me could be a Dan grade.
So, rather than try and beat myself up (I can do that at the grading-just pick a Dan grade as a grading partner) I've come to reflect on my own little aiki journey so far.
21 months ago, I stepped into a dojo for the first time and was quite literally petrified. One first Kyu who I train with can't believe it took nearly three sessions before I would really speak to anyone- sorry guys, but Dan grades and higher grades in Gis whilst you're stood next to them dressed in street clothes are very scary the first time you meet face to face. From there, I overcame my fear over backward breakfalls, although I still haven't broken though the fear of forward rolls as yet, but I will do so...eventually, in like 20 years time.
I've passed three gradings white, yellow and orange-though I really didn't think I was ready. Perhaps because physical sports have never been my 'thing'. In fact, I took home one school report when I was about 15 and my parents laughed at the PE grade. At my school we were given a grade (A-F) and an 'effort' grade (1-5, with 1 being excellent, 5 being very poor). I got As and Bs for most subjects apart from PE, where I got an E. My effort grade was a 1. Yes, a 1. So in other words, sorry you really are the pits at PE but can't fault you for trying- at least thats how my parents interpreted it.
Anyway, although I can't do some things in Aikido yet- I guess I've come far, especially from the terrifed student at my first few sessions...to taking myself to summer school and doing it by myself for three whole days. So, if you like, I've gone from someone rather gwaky to someone whose a fighter. I suppose what's left now is a leap of faith on that grading date...
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
Wednesday, 5 September 2007
Chapter 22: Being a lightweight...Advantage or Disadvantage in Aikido?
This topic has always been a point of interest for me since day one of stepping in the dojo, does having a light build bring advantages or disadvantages? For me, being approximately 8 stone 6lbs (give or take) I have experienced both.
I found that that as an advantage I can bounce quite well from a heavy breakfall (I always managed to 'bounce' whenever I fell downstairs as a child) but I find many people disagree. The general consensus appears to be that if you have a fair bit of muscle hitting the floor it is less so hard on your body.
However, being a lightweight does have one major disadvantage in that you find if thrown at high speed you can 'fly'. Yes, thats right, quite literally fly off the mat. Thankfully I've never come off the mat, although there were a couple of close calls at summer school.
So, I guess being a lightweight is good, but I wouldn't mind being a stone heavier, particulary during Hikitat. (Although 'flying' is fun, you still face gravity...splat!)
I found that that as an advantage I can bounce quite well from a heavy breakfall (I always managed to 'bounce' whenever I fell downstairs as a child) but I find many people disagree. The general consensus appears to be that if you have a fair bit of muscle hitting the floor it is less so hard on your body.
However, being a lightweight does have one major disadvantage in that you find if thrown at high speed you can 'fly'. Yes, thats right, quite literally fly off the mat. Thankfully I've never come off the mat, although there were a couple of close calls at summer school.
So, I guess being a lightweight is good, but I wouldn't mind being a stone heavier, particulary during Hikitat. (Although 'flying' is fun, you still face gravity...splat!)
Friday, 31 August 2007
Chapter 21: An example of the effect of eighteen months of Aikido training...I sign up for three days of summer school
A few months ago, I decided I would sign up for three days at the BAA summer school. This is testimony to the effect that Aikido has had on me...eighteen months ago I would not have even thought of reading the leaflet advertising summer school, much less actually doing it. But wisely or unwisely I did.
I spent the week before being very excited but at the same time really nervous. I really did not know what to expect,(well apart from the pain of doing Aikido for three days straight of course)and the truth was, I was scared witless. Yep, really scared, no word of a lie and I didn't know what I was scared about!
On the way there on the first day I was so nervous, I honestly thought I was going to partake of breakfast again in the car on the way there, I felt extremely nauseous.
Due to my worry of being late, I turn up half an hour early. To quell nerves, I decide to go and look at the judo hall where it was going to be. Big mistake! one look of the thin mats we were going to breakfall on, and I felt like running for the hills.
But once other people began to turn up, I felt better. Everyone seemed as nervous as one another. On the lining up for grade order, I noticed I am one of a few women there. I was quite surprised at this as my experience of Aikido (although limited) was that it was a martial art that was dominated by women. Not here it seems. But on the plus side, no long queues for the ladies over the next few days, bonus!
One of the first things we did in the morning was to get stuck in with the warm-up. All I can say is I'm glad at the club where I trained is very fitness-orientated and that I did the 5km Race For Life for Cancer Research recently as there is no way on this planet I would have survived the initial warm-ups!
I found there was very little difference between the way in which the sessions were planned in comparison to a club session but the discipline and etiquette expected was far higher. But as the club where I train is quite informal, it was a little shock to the system at first! But I got used to it.
I can honestly say that this was the best thing I have experienced about Aikido so far. The privilege of being taught by high ranking Dan grades and the opportunity to work with so many different Aikkidoccas was beyond this world.
Although I was black and blue, having around 20 bruises at the end of the three days, extremely sore and stiff and felt like I could never break fall again, I would do it all again tommorrow (Yes, I'm a nut-case, I know). But the experience I have gained and the things I have learnt were well worth not being able to move for about two days straight!
I spent the week before being very excited but at the same time really nervous. I really did not know what to expect,(well apart from the pain of doing Aikido for three days straight of course)and the truth was, I was scared witless. Yep, really scared, no word of a lie and I didn't know what I was scared about!
On the way there on the first day I was so nervous, I honestly thought I was going to partake of breakfast again in the car on the way there, I felt extremely nauseous.
Due to my worry of being late, I turn up half an hour early. To quell nerves, I decide to go and look at the judo hall where it was going to be. Big mistake! one look of the thin mats we were going to breakfall on, and I felt like running for the hills.
But once other people began to turn up, I felt better. Everyone seemed as nervous as one another. On the lining up for grade order, I noticed I am one of a few women there. I was quite surprised at this as my experience of Aikido (although limited) was that it was a martial art that was dominated by women. Not here it seems. But on the plus side, no long queues for the ladies over the next few days, bonus!
One of the first things we did in the morning was to get stuck in with the warm-up. All I can say is I'm glad at the club where I trained is very fitness-orientated and that I did the 5km Race For Life for Cancer Research recently as there is no way on this planet I would have survived the initial warm-ups!
I found there was very little difference between the way in which the sessions were planned in comparison to a club session but the discipline and etiquette expected was far higher. But as the club where I train is quite informal, it was a little shock to the system at first! But I got used to it.
I can honestly say that this was the best thing I have experienced about Aikido so far. The privilege of being taught by high ranking Dan grades and the opportunity to work with so many different Aikkidoccas was beyond this world.
Although I was black and blue, having around 20 bruises at the end of the three days, extremely sore and stiff and felt like I could never break fall again, I would do it all again tommorrow (Yes, I'm a nut-case, I know). But the experience I have gained and the things I have learnt were well worth not being able to move for about two days straight!
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