It's About the Practice

Fast Food Not!

Remember the movie 'Karate Kid', where Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), a teenager relocated from New Jersey to California, who, sadly, gets bullied about by local karate thugs, themselves victimized by an abusive karate instructor, meets Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), his savior, coming to his rescue, nullifying thug karate instructor's students at their own game?

Similar to aikido, much of what Miyagi taught Danny boy was unconventional. So much so, Daniel wondered if he would ever learn 'karate'.

Aikido, one of the most subltle and difficult of the martial arts, is unconventional in many ways. Many wonder about its effectiveness. Its approach. The attacks. The cooperation. The repitition. The foundation. The basics. The principles.

But...do you want to be a schrub bush, or an oak tree?

Schrubs come and go.

Oak trees overcome. They endure.

What is it about the lazy in America, deceived by instant gratification, and results without effort?

If you're a fast food martial artist wannabe...forget aikido!

In aikido, it's all about the practice.

In aikido, your biggest aggressor/enemy is you against you.

In aikido, your only hope is relentless, continuous practice, with like minded students on the path of mastery of this worthy adventure.

Unlike the thugies who abused the principles of budo in 'Karate Kid', frowns with frustration in their demeanor, in traditional aikido we experience joy, peace and fun in our study...pursuit of this uniqueist of martial arts--through frequent practice. Momentum building practice.

Yes, there is often discussion about principles and technique. But words only go so far.

In reality...you can only learn aikido through the practice.

The founder himself disliked teaching by words and preferred that each student realize their own learning through training and practice. In fact, he summarized it in this poem:

Ai-ki cannot be exhausted
By words written or spoken
Without dabbling in idle talk,
Understand through practice