East Bay Aikido - Oakland, California

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How to Get the Most Out of Training at the Dojo

Nicky Roosevelt

   You've probably thought of most of the following, but I thought I'd share some of the ways I've gotten the most out of my training over the last 9 and a half years.

     Watching Sensei has been the foundation of my training, in the Japanese tradition of "stealing the technique." Listening to his explanations of how things work, what he's working on, and especially the spirit and principles of Aikido has given me much to think about and work on.

     I pay special attention when I get to be thrown by Sensei because I get even more information about how the technique works than by watching. Working on my ukemi has been a high priority because it allows him to throw me as fully as I can be thrown, giving me an experience of the technique that I want to emulate. By the same token, paying attention to being thrown by training partners can inform me as to what seems to work and what doesn't work quite so well. I'll try to learn from either situation.

     For my examinations, I've tried to chose a variety of ukes whose Aikido I respect. They've given me so much help and insight and challenged me to rise above my fears and self-limitations. The differences in their Aikido also showed me the various ways Aikido can look and feel. Being an uke for exams has helped me because there are plenty of questions to which I'm not sure of the answers. It gives me an opportunity to get more clear about them when listening to Sensei's answers. One can get these indirectly, as well, by paying attention when Sensei is instructing someone else.

    I've gone through times when I had specific things I was eager to get to the dojo to work on, and there have been times when I would just show up because it was on my schedule or I wanted to see my friends on the mat. I think Sensei says that most of the practice is just showing up, because once you're there, you're going to learn something. The thing I remember most about my first year is that at every training session, it seemed that I learned something new, I was getting "the secret of Aikido."

    Now there are fewer really new things; the revelations are on a different level, the challenges are more subtle, but the satisfaction remains because there is still so much to learn and work on, and I know more about how to do that. My confidence comes from remembering my earliest days on the mat, knowing that I can trust the process; I'll get it if I keep showing up. It will happen even faster if I pay close attention and work diligently.

I look forward to seeing you on the mat!