So, You Want To Start Aikido?: Chapter 61: The Spirit of Aikido

About The Following Blog

The following blog has been written purely for those wanting a first hand knowledge of what it is like to step into the dojo for the first time as a complete beginner as a Martial Artist. Through practising a Martial Art, you will gain many things such as self-confidence, self-respect and life-long and good friends. I hope this helps you to see into an amazing world of which you have never seen before and that I have had the privilege of belonging to and knowing.
Although I have not put my name or any name to this blog, it does deserve a dedication- a dedication to those who help people to train, who teach, reassure and most important of all- those who never give up, no matter how many times they hit the ground or a mental brick wall, with themselves or others. But above all- those who are ready to begin their own journey, it begins with one step….

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Sunday, 29 April 2012

Chapter 61: The Spirit of Aikido

A strange title to a blog post I think you'll agree, but its something that I've come to reflect on in recent weeks.

I am not sure if its my recent injury that kept me away from training, or if it is a natural process of the mind wandering because I could not train, but I found myself thinking about the spiritual side of this martial art. What makes Aikido, Aikido? What compels us to return to the dojo each week regardless of what chaos and mayhem is part of our everyday lives? Why do we train and continually push individual boundaries?

I am not sure if other martial artists or other Aikidocca reflect on the spiritual side of the arts they train in and love. We all just turn up, change quickly and jump into the warm-up with gush do, don't we?

If I am honest, I do the same. I rush from work, quickly change and hit the mat. This week however, was different. For some reason, I was the first person there. I bowed on but rather than start stretching, I felt compelled to just sit in Siza for a little while, don't ask me why. It was a strange feeling, to sit there and 'feel' the quietness and stillness of the dojo-it was very soothing. Try it- you definitely feel the spirit of the dojo around you.

So, back to my wandering mind for a second. Maybe the spirit of Aikido isn't necessarily what we think it is, but maybe its a little more of the essence of the people who we train with. Whatever it is, you know what I mean-Aikido grips you in a certain way. Its not something you can put into words-all I know is, and I'm sure you'll agree-if you're not training, you don't feel whole.