Dog Power!

Ok guys, let’s face it! There is so much to do on Saturday mornings from 10am-noon than just sleeping in, waiting for the hang over to erode!

Some of you already know this. We’ve been holding weekly Aikido practice sessions for almost six months now, and by we I mean Steve O’Hara (from the Computer Vision group), Kate, and myself. Now we feel it’s time to open it up for others to join us in practicing this peaceful and really superior Japanese martial art. Here are some facts about Aikido for you to see if it might be your type of thing:

1. It is different than any other martial art. You don’t need to be strong, tall, huge, or tough. With those requirements left out, it is really the right choice for everyone: kids, young, old, men, women, short, tall, heavy, light, slim, or obese.
2. In Aikido, you won’t learn to beat others or “win” a fight. Aikido’s philosophy is anything but. Aikido teaches you to defend yourself against any kind of attack, conducted by any number of attackers in the same time (and I’m not kidding), armed or unarmed. That’s why there are no Aikido competitions. Simply because Aikido is specifically designed to help people learn how to live peacefully without the idea of winning or losing. It’s all about coexistence and conflict resolution. In fact many conflict resolution courses around the world use Aikido techniques as the practical part of the course, to help demonstrate how it is possible to absorb an opponent’s attack, anger, or assault in a peaceful way that will not cause any harm to him or to the person under attack.
3. One might be curious to ask: If I’m short, thin, and weak, how on earth is it possible to defend myself against an attacker who is carrying a knife, taller, huge, and much stronger than me? Well, the answer is very simple and logical. Aikido is not based on strength at all. It is merely founded on using the laws of physics and gravity, in addition to knowing how to use the weak points in any human body. In fact, the stronger the attacker is, the better for you as an aikidoka to defend yourself. Seems like it doesn’t  make sense, right? Wrong. See, since you are not learning to attack anybody, but merely to defend yourself, so all you need is for the attacker to set forth her attack, and that is when the attack will be history, because what you practice in Aikido is how to use the attacker’s energy against her. Yes, it’s as simple as that. And the truth is there isn’t gonna be a fight at all. All Aikido techniques are one-shot methods. As soon as an act of violence begins against you, you finish the whole thing in one single technique and that’s it. The attacker will need to give up the fight ASAP.  
4. That’s not all. People around the world have been practicing Aikido for reasons other than just learning how to stop others from causing you harm. The philosophy of Aikido is transformational. With Aikido practice, you strengthen your self-esteem, learn how to handle difficult situations graciously, develop a different view of the world and people around you, and you also develop your 360 and 3D vision and become more aware of things around you. You become calmer, feel more in control, learn how to deal with whatever lies ahead, and become more capable of getting things done.
5. Aikido is not Yoga, but we do have few basic breathing exercises to help you find your Ki, or inner energy.
6. Aikido is not  “working out”. You don’t need that energy drink before or some time to rest afterwards. After 2 hours of Aikido, you won’t feel exhausted or even a little bit tired. On the contrary, you will feel relaxed and calm. You will be ready to get back to work.
7. Aikido is not violent at all. No injuries or blood or broken bones like what is the “norm” with other martial arts. No punching, kicking, hitting, or whatever. We simply “dance” with the energy of the universe, and we perform the techniques as friends, not opponents; so smiling while we practice is the norm. 

If you feel like you and/or your friend or partner might be into this kind of “Why fight? Let’s enjoy this world together!” attitude, please give this a shot. We are practicing at the Senior Center (on S. Shields) on Saturdays from 10am-noon. Please contact me or Steve O’Hara if you’re interested or have questions.