Aikido Training

4/14/10

We worked on rolling down the mat, stretching our wrists and a new move. It’s difficult describing the moves. I think that calling the elaborate techniques that we are learning, “moves” is an oversimplification. It begins with someone grabbing or punching the other person. The person receiving the attack then performs a couple of simple motions and footwork, which puts the attacker in a very bad position. All of the procedures that we learn in the class are complicated.

So, moves (there goes that oversimplification again) that are hard to learn, but the payoff is good defense. I wonder how much of this I am going to be able to retain?

Training

4/10/10

Today was a bit unusual. The Aikido Sensei agreed to meet me on Saturdays to catch up my training for missing the Monday classes. I am at work during those classes, so it is impossible for me to attend. Luckily, Master Sue, my Taekwondo instructor, agreed to allow me to train on Saturdays at her dojang.

Now, that everyone is caught up, we can see where this is going… that’s right! Two and a half hours of martial arts on Saturdays. It wasn’t as difficult as I thought it was going to be. Both classes were great. The interesting thing about training in both back to back was that I could really see some of the similarities in the footwork. I could also see the differences between the circularity of Aikido and the linear nature of Taekwondo. I can see where knowing both would be advantageous in a self-defense situation.

On a selfish note, the class consisted of me, Jade and three martial arts masters. This project is just awesome!

So, this puts my Taekwondo at 7 classes. The moves are starting to feel more natural, my balance is improving so, I am not stumbling as much when I perform kicks. The stance is still a bit strange and I constantly have to correct myself. I am starting to enjoy the forms. They really are a moving meditation.

Aikido Training

3/31/10

It was really windy again for the last two days. My asthma is really acting up. I couldn’t make it to class today. It is really frustrating to miss class.

4/7/10

We worked on footwork, rolls and a hold. My footwork was a bit spastic, my rolls were fine and the hold was just plain old fun! Everyone in the class seems nice and eager to help us newbies.

Taekwondo Training

3/27/10

Class was great today! I didn’t cough at all, so I must be better.

We went over our forms, low block, high block, front kick and the self defense maneuver for the white belt level. She also talked a bit about the “philosophy” that we are to learn for the next belt. While we were reviewing our form, she pointed out that one reason to practice forms is to put all the moves together in a natural progression.

Aikido Training

3/22/10

I ordered my gi (training uniform) a couple of days ago. I was delighted that it was $35. It is much heavier than the dobok and the jacket opens like a robe. So, I am forced to wear some kind of tank top under it. I am already predicting that when the weather heats up, so will I. It doesn’t help that I already have hot flashes (thanks to perimenopause).

3/24/10

Today was the first Aikido class. The first thing that was very striking about this particular martial art is the extreme formality. To begin the class we are taught a bowing ceremony. After that, we are informed that we bow to the instructor, our classmates before working on our training, our classmates after switching techniques, our instructor after every instruction and then a bowing ceremony at the end of the class and then another exit ceremony where we bow to the instructor and (I assume) the top two people in the class. It made the first class pretty confusing.

We learned some footwork, wrist stretching exercises and the beginnings to one move. It was difficult learning the complicated moves. I can see that after practicing the moves, they will be effective. So, my advice for anyone wanting to get into Aikido; make sure to practice!

Taekwondo Training

3/6/10

We have not had class the past two weeks due to illness and other life events. Here we are missing class and wanting to learn more. So, what do we do with our time? We practice all the moves that we are not so sure about. I made sure to practice the form and the kicks. I know the more I practice the more balance I will get. I would like to get to the point where I don’t feel like I am going to fall over every time I learn a new kick.

At this point in my training, I still feel like the moves are pretty foreign. I am also having trouble wrapping my brain around the principle of pushing your attacker away from you. I want to get close and control my opponent, not push them away. Taekwondo works from the goal of getting your opponent away from you so that you can run away or something else. I am not sure, at this point, what that other thing is.

If you are the kind of person who is uncomfortable with the thought of touching your opponent, then Taekwondo will probably be a great choice.

3/13/10

This class was great! We worked on all the things we have learned so far. We also learned the round kick, a kick that I really like. This kick is going into my “favorite moves” file. I should make a page with my favorite moves… hmm.

Master Sue talked about the forms and I found out that I was doing one of the moves wrong. So, when I practice my form I have to remember to do one of the turns differently.

I just looked back through the Taekwondo entries and noticed that I have not really explained what forms are. Many of the martial arts have some kind of form. It is actually like a dance that you rehearse over and over again until you can demonstrate it to the instructor. There are many reasons to learn forms; discipline, improving muscle memory, improving follow through and lastly to bond with your martial art. I will be writing an article on this for the site and filming the forms that we are required to learn in our trainings. So, make sure to check the site and watch for these.

Aikido Training

Aikido training starts next week. It will be interesting to see the differences in styles and in training methods. I am looking forward to working with the instructor. I am probably going to say that about all of the instructors.