Aikido Response Journal

Yes, this is what we have here; an Aikido response journal. I just decided that this morning. I was reviewing some earlier posts, and noticed that the "quick writes" that fill both my blogs are not subject to the formal writing process that I teach at school. I edit on the fly. Ideas that sound fine and fluent in my head read here as if they were written very quickly - and in most cases that is true. In other words, it reads like a first draft - or like a response journal. One way we can respond to something - anything - in the classroom is by writing our thoughts down in a composition book. The ideas there are sometimes shared, but never judged. It's a safe place to be free to write down ideas of any sort. I've always included a composition book on my classroom supply list, because I love their compact size and sturdy construction. It helps, too, that I/we can read from the "Amelia's Notebook" series, and these books mimic the size and look of a composition book. The students can make immediate connections, and Amelia's writing style and the way in which she illustrates her own writing gives the students lots of terrific ideas.

The phone rang last night at about 6:30. It was Carlos, our soon-to-be shodan (1st degree black belt). He asked if I was going to be at class last night, and did I have a key? "Yes," I said, proud of the fact that I was now being somewhat included in the Dojo's "inner circle." It isn't like the Inner Circle does anything special, it's more of an acknowledgement that I take my Aikido seriously enough that the instructors see that I will be a black belt one day. Considering it can take between five and ten years to become a black belt, one needs to be pretty serious to stick around for that length of time, and put in the effort to get there.

Last night's class was pretty rough for me. The weather has turned cold, and my aging body feels it. My joints are stiff, even if my muscles are relaxed. I am still stretching well, and improving my flexibility slowly and consistently. My joints are a different matter all together. We were working in the Iwama style of Aikido that Carlos has studied for most of his training "life." There were at least two techniques that could end in break falls. Of all the opportunities I had while uke, I managed one decent break fall. My joints kept me from doing any others. It was even difficult to get up from sitting seiza; my knees ached all night.

It's not that I love the Iwama style, but I do like learning these new techniques with Carlos. The Iwama techniques seem more directly connected to the weapon's techniques we study on most Saturdays. I like that there is such a clear connection. It especially helps that I love working with weapons, especially the bokken (wooden practice version of the Samurai's Katana). I also like that the Iwama techniques are mostly new to all of the students in the Dojo. Despite rank, we are all searching for what to do next, and working hard to maintain center. Iwama is, at our Dojo, the great equalizer. Black to white belt, we are reminded that we are all beginners all the time.