I have seen many students come and go over the years and if I had a pound for everyone who entered the dojo and left soon after I would be a very wealthy person indeed.
The martial arts need serious study and dedication and some people find out very quickly that maybe aikido is not for them. It is not a problem, it is very much horses for courses. Different individuals suit varying styles of martial arts, some are not compatible with martial arts at all despite their wish to learn one.
All new students must remember that whatever they study has to be fun and enjoyable otherwise it really is not worth torturing yourself. Find something you do like doing.
And what should a new student expect when they enter a dojo as a complete novice? All instructors and students should think back to when they were a new entrant. Remember the nerves and the awkwardness, the lack of knowledge and of what is and is not expected of you. It is quite daunting and I commend anyone, especially an adult (children tend to have no fear), for taking the courageous first step across the dojo threshold.
'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step' goes the popular saying but never a truer word was spoken. In an aikido school you will find people from all walks of life, it is a colourful and eclectic mix of professional people, manual workers, shop staff, mothers, fathers, academic students, bankers, restaurant workers, you name a job and I have seen them in the dojo at some time during my thirty plus years on the tatame.
You are taught alien movements to perform which prove difficult to comprehend. You realise very quickly that although you ordinarily know your left from your right, can stand up without falling over (unless alcohol has been added to the equation), can breath unaided and turn in a circle without collapsing in a heap, when this is transferred to an aikido dojo, normal earthly rules go straight out of the proverbial window. You inexplicably hold your breath until you turn a weird shade of cobalt or until Sensei reminds you to breath out, your legs and feet resemble a herd of bambi's on acid, your balance is as good as a drunken sailor and to remind you which is your left or right foot you are inclined towards writing L and R on your feet with an indelible marker pen.
At the end of your first lesson you will have so many questions buzzing around your head. That is if you do not have a few bumps on the head from starting to learn how to fall over when asked. Like a performing dolphin, you dutifully attempt an elegant role only for it to turn into an elephant role with all the finesse of that fine big trunked animal. Your first attempts seem to catch every sharp part of your body on the way over, knee, elbow, shoulder blade, head, bum, knee again and toe, it's a full house ! Eventually, you become smoother, due mainly to self preservation more than anything else. Roll like a ball not like a dice you are told. Ouch !
Finally when you get to leave the dojo after the session you subconsciously count your limbs to make sure they're all there. Head - check, arms - check, torso - check, oh, and TWO LEFT FEET !
No comments:
Post a Comment