10-21-2006, 08:37 AM
Well, i have been doing Aikido for a few months and it seems to be compatible with some the the aims of becoming a warrior.
First, to deal with confrontation, avoid confrontation. The moves of the defender deflect the attacker's moves in order to use his energy "against" him. It is actually harmonizing with your attacker, letting them go by you.
Second (partly unexpected), i get a feeling of what it was like when i was 8 years old. Rolling around, being tossed, Laughing with complete abandon. Even after being thrown unexpectedly and pinned with my face glued to the floor. How wonderful it is! Now the unexpected part. While it has brought about feelings of joy, it has also caused feeling of frustration to resurface. Enough to make me almost cry (which is something i did often when i was 8). It has forced me to recognize that i have to deal with old feelings. Maybe my assemblage point is moving...
Third, i think i understand what discipline is now. Discipline is making a decision and taking action to realize that decision. If i say i am waking up early to going to class, i am waking up early and will be at class. Unless something happens that would prevent me from doing my best (such as bodily soreness). But discipline can be learned through infinite activities.
Fourth, dealing with teachers who threaten my self-importance. One teacher i am thinking of is just an ass. And yet in him, i've found a petty tyrant.
Now all that being said, i must say that one thing in Aikido that doesn't jive with the way of the Warrior is the bowing. i get that it is used to show respect, but in the time it takes to bow to the sensai after he helps you, i could have used those seconds to move toward getting the movement right. But hey, i'm not looking to make waves. It's like Naguals using the Church for cover.
First, to deal with confrontation, avoid confrontation. The moves of the defender deflect the attacker's moves in order to use his energy "against" him. It is actually harmonizing with your attacker, letting them go by you.
Second (partly unexpected), i get a feeling of what it was like when i was 8 years old. Rolling around, being tossed, Laughing with complete abandon. Even after being thrown unexpectedly and pinned with my face glued to the floor. How wonderful it is! Now the unexpected part. While it has brought about feelings of joy, it has also caused feeling of frustration to resurface. Enough to make me almost cry (which is something i did often when i was 8). It has forced me to recognize that i have to deal with old feelings. Maybe my assemblage point is moving...
Third, i think i understand what discipline is now. Discipline is making a decision and taking action to realize that decision. If i say i am waking up early to going to class, i am waking up early and will be at class. Unless something happens that would prevent me from doing my best (such as bodily soreness). But discipline can be learned through infinite activities.
Fourth, dealing with teachers who threaten my self-importance. One teacher i am thinking of is just an ass. And yet in him, i've found a petty tyrant.
Now all that being said, i must say that one thing in Aikido that doesn't jive with the way of the Warrior is the bowing. i get that it is used to show respect, but in the time it takes to bow to the sensai after he helps you, i could have used those seconds to move toward getting the movement right. But hey, i'm not looking to make waves. It's like Naguals using the Church for cover.