“No man is an island.” – John Donne

Now isn’t that the truth. Training has made me realize this once again.

Here I am on the east coast of Vancouver Island, Lighthouse country. Love this area! I found a great spot not far from where I’m staying right on the beautiful, rocky and fairly secluded section of the shoreline. Did various undo’s and stretches looking out over the water and breathing in that salt air. Then I got the idea of doing tenkan, irimi tenkan, and kaiten on a washed up log. Keeping my balance sure was a challenge :) Managed to keep upright about 50% of the time ( okay maybe I’m being a bit generous), I’m going back tomorrow morning and do all my exercises on the log. I do miss practice with y’all. I think I may be able to get at least one session in at the Nanaimo dojo.

I enjoy Sunday class and today was no exception.  We took a bit of a different approach from the norm by practicing some different variations on a few techniques and having a lot more discussion about what works, what doesn’t work, why it does or doesn’t, body mechanics, you name it. A great chance to see things in action that you may have heard mentioned but haven’t seen.

People are missing out. Sunday class is supplemental to what we learn in regular practice. It is an opportunity to devote extra time to techniques we’re having a little more trouble with, seeing something new, and helping each other gain greater understanding.

Test day is coming up, less than a week.  We’ve been training a lot over the last few weeks, dare I say with noticeable improvement.

I just like to thank everyone at Calgary Aikikai for helping us prepare, sharing their knowledge and making us feel at home.  Lord knows I needed that  ;)

A special thanks to Eric Draken and Eric Josue for epitomizing the role of senior student, guiding us along the Way.

In gassho,

Rayleen

This is one of my favourite quotes originally coined by Professor Raymond Calvel from THE textbook on artisan bread baking, The Taste of Bread, pg. 58.

This is a quality that skilled bakers and Aikidoists have in common.  Bread dough (and the baker for that matter) and a good Aikidoist have to be relaxed to withstand the manipulation and retain integrity. If bread dough is shaped before it is relaxed, then it’s being ‘muscled’, and the results are obviously inferior (extra energy is expended too). Same with our practice. I know I am still pretty stiff, however I’ve had some great moments and know when it feels good. We must be firm and gentle with our Ukes and bread doughs :)

Thoughts from a baker.

Dropped in at the Calgary Aikikai for the first time tonight and had my first weapons class. That was an unexpected surprise, I enjoyed it immensely. You can definitely see the how the hand techniques evolved from the weapons techniques.For those interested there is a weapons class every other Wednesday.

Thank you to the Aikikai for being so welcoming. I look forward to future visits.

 Well I had not given this any thought until tonight. Testing time is coming up next month and it was suggested that a few of us test. It’s something to think about, I have to ask myself if I’m ready. I feel like I’ve made a lot of progress, just doing something so foreign and doing it under close scrutiny, sometimes in front of the class was really nerve-wracking. I’m much calmer now and I think I’m starting to pick it up.

 I was never very studious, this is really the first time that I have been so thoroughly intrigued with something as to actually make a study of it. That’s how I look at it. I need to slow down the reading though and get more mat time in. Being thrown around, I find that a pretty effective learning tool ;) I don’t know what it is, it’s like ‘Whoa! That’s my wrist being bent like that. Cool. Or just being thrown, learning how to fall, being more graceful, Ha!’

Relax and focus. Never thought I would have a difficult time with either one, little did I know. Only thing to do-put my head down and keep working at it.

This Aikido journey I’ve begun is proving to be a real mind opener, I am learning more about myself  all the time.