I found myself asking this question a few weeks ago when re-newing my PI (Personal Insurance) for the coming year. On the application, it asked me to fill in what grade I was currently at, where and when I graded. I got a bit of a shock when I realised that it was 2008 since I last graded- more or less two years ago.
Eep! That seems a long time ago, and the truth of the matter is I've not entered for the last two gradings because I felt it was too soon, I've moved clubs, changed styles-I just felt I wasn't good enough for 1st Kyu (Brown).
In the last few months, I've felt that I really should bite the bullet, the people I graded with are now one or even two belts higher than me now.
So, how does this make me feel you may ask? Strangely enough, I don't mind people becoming higher belts than me, I just feel that perhaps I'm trying to 'duck' out if you will, like a form of grading procrastination. Oh- and did I also mention that I hate exams/tests?
Or is putting off gradings a form of 'grading procrastination'? Surely if I don't feel ready, then I'm not ready for that next grade? Am I just comparing myself to others too much?
Hmmm-not sure on this point. If I'm honest, probably a mixture of all three! Still, I think in another six months or so I should feel that I'm ready for that next stage. Guess I'll have to wait and see.
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Sunday, 12 September 2010
Chapter 56: In which the fighting spirit is renewed...
A strange title for a blog post it seems, but here goes.
The last few months have been quite full of both good and sad news in a way. The good news is that I'm now married but the sad news is shortly after I returned from honeymoon, I learned that our Sensi had passed away following a short illness. As you can imagine, this was a difficult time for us all.
We all however, grasped our 'fighting spirit' and decided we all wanted to continue and so have joined a neighbouring aikido club. I'm happy to say we've now settled in and enjoying our new training regime.
The post title of 'fighting spirit' stems from the fact that we as a club could have packed our Gis away and called it a day but none of us felt that Sensi would have pleased with that idea! We've carried on, despite quaking at the knees of the idea of joining another club at first.
The last few months have been quite full of both good and sad news in a way. The good news is that I'm now married but the sad news is shortly after I returned from honeymoon, I learned that our Sensi had passed away following a short illness. As you can imagine, this was a difficult time for us all.
We all however, grasped our 'fighting spirit' and decided we all wanted to continue and so have joined a neighbouring aikido club. I'm happy to say we've now settled in and enjoying our new training regime.
The post title of 'fighting spirit' stems from the fact that we as a club could have packed our Gis away and called it a day but none of us felt that Sensi would have pleased with that idea! We've carried on, despite quaking at the knees of the idea of joining another club at first.
Sunday, 2 May 2010
Chapter 55: Being a good Tanto player- Is it something that is innate inside or can be taught?
This is something I've being wondering about since taking part in my first competition about two years ago. Watching the good tanto players, (the ones who win the gold) it seems that a small part of the battle of being good at tanto is having a good 'fighting' attitude.
The difficulty I find with Randori is what to do once you have hold. I seem to have the idea of breaking balance, and doing technique but seem to lose it a little after that. Whereas others, seem to just have the 'knack' of knowing what works immediately.
I came to think about this after a recent session where I was working with a lower grade who was new to tanto practice, especially full-blown Randori. My first thought was 'Gees...how do you teach this? Can you teach this? Do you start with tanto avoidence, then technique with no resistance, gradually bluiding up to the point of light Hikkitat? Or do you just let the Aikkidocca do what comes naturally when they first encounter a tanto coming towards them?
I think its a bit of both, you need a good teacher, someone who knows what works but equally I think that you also need a bit of 'fighting' instinct. There is many different ways in which Aikido can both be taught and learned, so for the moment with this in mind, I think I will try to muddle through the best way I can, finding out what works for me.
The difficulty I find with Randori is what to do once you have hold. I seem to have the idea of breaking balance, and doing technique but seem to lose it a little after that. Whereas others, seem to just have the 'knack' of knowing what works immediately.
I came to think about this after a recent session where I was working with a lower grade who was new to tanto practice, especially full-blown Randori. My first thought was 'Gees...how do you teach this? Can you teach this? Do you start with tanto avoidence, then technique with no resistance, gradually bluiding up to the point of light Hikkitat? Or do you just let the Aikkidocca do what comes naturally when they first encounter a tanto coming towards them?
I think its a bit of both, you need a good teacher, someone who knows what works but equally I think that you also need a bit of 'fighting' instinct. There is many different ways in which Aikido can both be taught and learned, so for the moment with this in mind, I think I will try to muddle through the best way I can, finding out what works for me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)