Leaving it all on the Mat

Today was spring test day at our Aikikai dojo. We are affiliated with the Midwest Aikido Center in Chicago, but that is not to say that they tested today. Sensei asked me several weeks ago which week I'd like to test, and I chose the one farthest out. I figured I needed as much time as I could get. Perhaps I was the only one asked, but I was certainly senior student being tested.

Regular class  was scheduled from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M., then we broke to take a new dojo photo for our web site. I was disappointed because one of our members sprained her ankle (somewhere else), and wasn't included in today's photo.

We had one student test for 6th kyu, four for 5th kyu, one for fourth, and I tested for third (san) kyu. While I was waiting for my test, I sat quietly on the mat thinking about my techniques. I was less nervous than I thought I'd be. So much so, that I got a good night's sleep last night, which was a surprise. I thought I'd be up most of the night stressing about today. While I was waiting for my test, I was almost what I might call calm.


One young woman who was one of my two ukes today was sad because she thought she was going to be passed over for being my uke. We both enjoy working with each other. She is the next rank above me, and she was hoping to be my uke today (that's tradition). When she asked me who was going to be my uke, I told her who I'd been working with. She has not been to class in nearly one month. She's been out riding horses instead. I think she was surprised when she was called out on the mat immediately after me.

When she knelt next to me I could tell she was raring to go, but I purposely took my time with my bows, giving each a bit more solemnity. It was my way of showing that I was taking this very seriously. Our chief instructor started calling techniques, and I went into each smoothly and without hesitation. My only big goof was in my nikkyo ura. I went into the first tenshin step, changed the handgrip to nikkyo, then went straight into the second tenshin step without doing the nikkyo move between. The second time I did the technique (the other side) I remembered that time and included it. About halfway through the test, I got a new uke. He is a first kyu, and as noted above I'd been working with him for several practice days, so I was expecting that change. He and I worked well together, too. He even did a couple of break falls for me.

Perhaps because there were so many test, and we'd been at it almost an hour, I wasn't asked to do many optional techniques, but I felt ready.

I was already feeling good about my test, but it was nice that so many people came up and told me what a good job I'd done, including both our instructors. My second uke said, "You started throwing me around, and I was wondering, 'where did this guy come from'?" Meaning I normally practice in a very soft, slow style, but I was going through the test today putting everything I had into it. He didn't expect me to use such a hard, fast style. The next student under me in rank said he wanted to start working with me on these techniques, as his test will probably come in the fall.

Last night was the annual Father/Daughter Girl Scout dance. My daughter and I went for the first time. It was terrific. I could tell how much my daughter appreciated going. I'm glad we went.

Two Weeks

My 3rd kyu test is two weeks from today. All the techniques I'm being tested on are really starting to come together. Today, however, was not a particularly good day. My work was fine, but I was feeling very "blah." I really didn't want to be at class today, but I feel pressure because of my test. This is nothing new, it seems that after each test, those being tested start to miss class again. Right now I'm feeling pretty overworked. I could use some rest days just to regroup, but that doesn't seem to be an option. There are two days before my next class. I hope my motivation returns by then.