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Whirl in circles around a stable center.
May. 19th, 2014 03:38 pmNow that the girls--well, the older two, anyway--are old enough to be taking lessons and classes, it seems fair that Heather and I should indulge ourselves in similar things a little too, right? She started first, taking ice-skating lessons along with Hallie. Though I haven't actually gone through with any of it, I've mentioned wanting to do a few little things here and there, like an outdoors survival class, maybe some photography skill boosters. She's supportive, of course, I just need to get off my butt and find things to sign up for.
But probably the main thing I want to do long-term is to start training in aikido. It's been an idea I've had in the back of my mind for years, ever since I came across the writings of the founder of the art, Morihei Ueshiba. The man was an absolute badass, but I also really love his philosophies, and the ideas underlying aikido in general. It's not about being aggressive and meeting blow with blow; it's not about attacking and retaliating. It's about reacting, absorbing and redirecting the energy of an attack to neutralize the attacker, usually without seeking to injure them. If you watch videos of aikido masters, they don't bounce around like other martial artists, they don't assume defensive stances with their hands up around their face, and they don't charge in punching and kicking. They stand still, hands lowered but ready, and when an attack comes they brush it off and put the attacker on the floor like it's nothing. In fact, as I understand it, a significant part of aikido training is avoiding physical conflict entirely--but being ready for it if it happens, of course. That approach just really speaks to me, and always has. So I want to learn a martial art as a form of exercise, and hopefully so I feel a bit more comfortable and able to defend myself and my family if I needed to. And really aikido is the only one I'm interested in. There's an aikikai about 15 minutes from home, and I think I'm going to stop in and observe a class sometime soon, see how the lessons work and maybe sign up. It's about time.
But probably the main thing I want to do long-term is to start training in aikido. It's been an idea I've had in the back of my mind for years, ever since I came across the writings of the founder of the art, Morihei Ueshiba. The man was an absolute badass, but I also really love his philosophies, and the ideas underlying aikido in general. It's not about being aggressive and meeting blow with blow; it's not about attacking and retaliating. It's about reacting, absorbing and redirecting the energy of an attack to neutralize the attacker, usually without seeking to injure them. If you watch videos of aikido masters, they don't bounce around like other martial artists, they don't assume defensive stances with their hands up around their face, and they don't charge in punching and kicking. They stand still, hands lowered but ready, and when an attack comes they brush it off and put the attacker on the floor like it's nothing. In fact, as I understand it, a significant part of aikido training is avoiding physical conflict entirely--but being ready for it if it happens, of course. That approach just really speaks to me, and always has. So I want to learn a martial art as a form of exercise, and hopefully so I feel a bit more comfortable and able to defend myself and my family if I needed to. And really aikido is the only one I'm interested in. There's an aikikai about 15 minutes from home, and I think I'm going to stop in and observe a class sometime soon, see how the lessons work and maybe sign up. It's about time.
