Thoughts and Hope; An Owner's Manual

What a fantastic quote! "It's completely usual for me to get up in the morning, take a look around, and laugh out loud."
-Barbara Kingsolver

We all need a charge like this to start the day and realize our time is limited.

I love this poem as it reminds me of treasured memories, one being that my grandmother, Elie, always made me tapioca pudding for my birthday. Now whenever I have it, I think of her and the special times I had with her and my Grandfather. Treasure those special moments and try to make more of them in your daily life and with those who you cross paths with.

The ending poem of the Commencement Ceremony at Duke University, May 11, 2008 titled: "How to be Hopeful"

Hope; An Owner’s Manual

Look, you might as well know, this thing
is going to take endless repair: rubber bands,
crazy glue, tapioca, the square of the hypotenuse.
Nineteenth century novels. Heartstrings, sunrise:
all of these are useful. Also, feathers.

To keep it humming, sometimes you have to stand
on an incline, where everything looks possible;
on the line you drew yourself. Or in
the grocery line, making faces at a toddler
secretly, over his mother’s shoulder.

You might have to pop the clutch and run
past all the evidence. Past everyone who is
laughing or praying for you. Definitely you don’t
want to go directly to jail, but still, here you go,
passing time, passing strange. Don’t pass this up.

In the worst of times, you will have to pass it off.
Park it and fly by the seat of your pants. With nothing
in the bank, you’ll still want to take the express.
Tiptoe past the dogs of the apocalypse that are sleeping
in the shade of your future. Pay at the window.
Pass your hope like a bad check.
You might still have just enough time. To make a deposit.

Shuchu-Ryoku (Focused Power) and Multitasking

I came across this great article on multitasking by Ruth Pennebaker in the NY Times. The title is: "The Mediocre Multitasker" and

The opening reads as:

Read it and gloat. Last week, researchers at Stanford University published a study showing that the most persistent multitaskers perform badly in a variety of tasks. They don’t focus as well as non-multitaskers. They’re more distractible. They’re weaker at shifting from one task to another and at organizing information. They are, as a matter of fact, worse at multitasking than people who don’t ordinarily multitask.

This really connected with the Aikido concept of Shuchu-Ryoku or Focused Power.

Kancho Sensei wrote in Total Aikido:

By using shuchu-ryoku, all of the power that is brought together from the whole body can be sent out through one point.

In Aikido, as well as work or family life, if you are trying to focus on too many things, you lose being fully in the moment and appreciating the subtleties and feeling of connecting. As well as in Aikido, if you try focusing on too many Uke's at the same time during Jiyu-waza one will wind up connecting with a strike to punch.

Seken wa semai yo / It’s a small world

While preparing for an upcoming class I came across the quote Seken wa semai yo, which translates roughly to: It’s a small world.

It is interesting the things you remember from youth. One that I carry with me is when, in elementary school, we had yearly musical performances, I'm sure as all children do.

There are a couple of songs I remember singing ranging from Country Roads, Take Me Home by John Denver to High Hopes (Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant) by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn, but the one that has always carried a special memory is the Walt Disney song It's a Small World After All.

In years past I've traveled to a number of Walt Disney destinations and each time came across the same song.

The jingle always sticks in my mind...

it's a small world.
it's a small world.
it's a small world.

It's a world of laughter, a world of tears.
it's a world of hope and a world of fears.
there's so much that we share,
that it's time we're aware
it's a small world after all.

it's a small world after all
it's a small world after all
it's a small world after all
it's a small, small, small, small world.

There is just one moon, and one golden sun.
and a smile means friendship to everyone.
though the mountains be wide.
and the oceans are wide.
it's a small world after all.

it's a small world after all
it's a small world after all
it's a small world after all
it's a small, small world.

it's a small world after all
no matter if you're big or small
come on everybody let's bounce to this!
let's play some love with a little twist!

it's a small world after all
it's a small world after all
it's a small world after all
it's a small, small world.

After hearing the song I flash back from the present moment to the past when my class was singing on the stage. There are fond memories of friends I grew up with and played many games with, each has gone their separate ways, but when we cross paths, fond memories arise. It also makes me realize how fast time goes by and that time in school is a microcosm of the world we live in.

I flash back to the present moment and time seems to have stood still when I think of how fast it has been since I first started my training and study of Aikido. I smile when thoughts drift from the beautifully decorated, well appointed, and world known dojos to the tiny, unknown, “non-ventilated” training halls I’ve trained in and all the great Aikidoka and Budo practitioners I've had the privilege of meeting and training with.

All have contributed to who I am today and I realize that each of us is unique in our many ways and share our friendships and experiences with one another every time we get on the mat and train or sit and converse over a hot cup of tea or a cold beverage.

This would not have been possible had I not entered that first Aikido dojo, over twenty years ago.

Flash back again to that first class: the waning sunlight streaming through the windows, watching the small dust particles float in air. The feel of a fresh, stiff, new dogi; each movement eliciting a crackle. The sight of people swishing across the mat like they were skating; broken only by the soft slap of a hand to mat as others go rolling by.

Suddenly my nose picks up a strong, clearing scent of an overly bleached dogi offset by the welcoming smell of recently oiled trim work.

The thought and moment closes with the feel of a small bead of sweat rolling down my temple, followed by the command to line up, sit in seiza, and bow in for the class.

As the years and miles have rolled by, the true treasures are the friends I’ve made and training partners I’ve had the great privilege of working with and will always be with me, wherever I train or travel.

Gozo Shioda Kancho said during the first year of the IYAF (International Yoshinkan Aikido Federation) "My idea is that since the world has become such a small place we should move beyond thinking in terms of nationalities. The goal entrusted to this federation is to spread the harmony of the aikido spirit throughout the world. Its purpose is to create a peaceful world where it is possible to harmonize with anyone of any race. There is nothing as wonderful as the spirit of harmony and when I started this federation I thought about how we must all get along, how Americans and Soviets must become friends. I thought how the world is a single family and that we must make the world into a place filled with fine human beings."

It seems with those flash backs I’ve come full circle and the jingle is playing in my head again…

it's a small world after all
it's a small, small world.

To The One

I came across this wonderful writing by Paulo Coelho, author of many books including the The Alchemist

Such depth of writing in a tribute to a peace advocate and a guidepost to everyone on how to look at and live life.

TO THE ONE

To the one who understood her task and her purpose.
To the one who looked at the road ahead, and understood that it was a difficult journey.

To the one who did not make light of those difficulties,
but, on the contrary, made them manifest and visible.

To the one who makes the lonely feel they are not alone,
who satisfies those who hunger and thirst for justice, who makes the oppressor feel as bad as the oppressed.

To the one who always keeps her door open,
her ears listening, her hands working, her feet walking.

To the one who embodies the verses of another Persian poet,
Hafez, when he says: Not even seven thousand years of joy are worth seven days of sadness.

To the one who is here tonight, may she be one with all of us,
may her example multiply, may she still have difficult days ahead,
so that she can do whatever she needs to do,
so that the next generations will not have to strive
for what has already been accomplished.

And may she walk slowly,
because her peace is the peace of change,
and change, real change, always takes time.

Message from Paulo Coelho to honour Shirin Ebadi at the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony, Oslo, December 11th 2003.

Re-Drawing The Lines: Neurodiversity

The high-light of the YIPA Conference for me, was hearing and meeting Jonathan Mooney.

His speech was titled "Re-Drawing The Lines Neurodiversity: A Compass to a Changing World." Some of the highlights included citing extensive research and tying it to real life stories with ideas parents, students and educators can follow and use to transform learning environments into those that truly celebrate cognitive diversity.

Some wonderful ideas I found in his book, co-written with David Cole, Learning Outside the Lines: Two Ivy League Students with Learning Disabilities and ADHD Give You the Tools for Academic Success and Educational Revolution included:

"Learning outside the lines and living a life less ordinary is about moving beyond blackboards and academic success, to creating experiences that embrace and nurture the parts of our selves that are left unrealized by traditional education (pg. 247).

"Developing the Creative and Passionate Self"

"Too often, creativity and passion, two of the best things about being alive, get pushed out of our definition of self. Creativity is often restricted to art, when in fact it is a way of engaging with the world, a way of thinking and living. In fact, the imagination is the root of all change, because it allows us to imagine a world different from the one we live in. Pursuing creative endeavors, whether sculpting or writing essays, allows us to live fully in the world, drawing on our emotions, our personality, our intelligence, and our souls. Creativity is not concerned with solutions in a logical linear sense, but rather embraces the ironies, complexities, and humanity in our daily lives (pg. 251).

"In a world concerned with normalcy, the passionate self also gets the boot. Passion is threatening, and when we live with gusto, we take huge risks by rocking the boat. But a passion for things, for people, for ideas, is what we are all looking for, what this business of success is all about. Keep on the lookout for activities, classes, or the like that arouse your passion. These are the kinds of activities that when you start them, the restrictions placed on you fall away, and your life becomes like flying. You're gone, without knowing it and without having any control (pg. 251).

If you ever get the chance to see Jonathan, I highly recommend you take it. It will be a wonderful opportunity to realize that your efforts of working with others gives them great benefit, but the real reward is the gift you receive back when they smile.

The Power of People

Today Jim Sensei and I attended the 2009 Youth Intervention Conference, in St. Paul and represented the Shuharikan.

There were a great number of speakers at each of the break-out sessions ranging from Safe and Healthy Schools presented by Edward Marsman and Michael Coyne of the MN Institute of Public Health.

Their presentation's key message was:

The principal objective of school violence reduction strategies should be to create cultures and climates of safety, respect, and emotional support within educational institutions.

Dr. Marc Mannes who presented Sparks: It Starts with a Single Spark, his presentation highlighted that a "Spark" is something that gives your life meaning and purpose. It's an interest, a passion, or a gift. He asked the question: What do you bring to the world that is good, beautiful, and useful?

The keynote speaker was Dr. Verna Cornelia Price who spoke on The Power of People: Four Kinds of People Who Can Change A Youth's Life.

Her presentation asked the questions:

What is your calling or what were you born to do?
What have you learned working with kids or children?

All were excellent presentations and clearly expressed the conference themes of "promoting effective and efficient early intervention services for youth."

Leaves

The leaves are turning with the onset of Fall. Today it has been raining too. The smell of ozone and a little nip in the air - I love Fall!

A drive along Summit Avenue in St. Paul and listen to part of the poem by Lloyd Schwartz is favorite way to spend an afternoon.

"You'll be driving along depressed when suddenly
a cloud will move and the sun will muscle through
and ignite the hills. It may not last. Probably
won't last. But for a moment the whole world
comes to. Wakes up. Proves it lives. It lives—
red, yellow, orange, brown, russet, ocher, vermilion,
gold. Flame and rust. Flame and rust, the permutations
of burning. You're on fire. Your eyes are on fire.
It won't last, you don't want it to last. You
can't stand any more. But you don't want it to stop.
It's what you've come for. It's what you'll
come back for. It won't stay with you, but you'll
remember that it felt like nothing else you've felt
or something you've felt that also didn't last."
-Lloyd Schwartz

What do you like about Fall? Is it a sight, smell, or a sound?

Stop for a moment and picture it in your mind - hold it fast as Fall is going quick!

Personal Safety for Children

Safety - a condition of being or feeling safe; freedom from danger, risk, or injury.

As individuals, we should all have the feeling of safety. Be it safety at home, at school, or playing in the neighborhood; children most of all should have this feeling.

Unfortunately this is not always the case. The Shuharikan strives to provide students skills to deal with physical dangers as well as a number of ways to deal with conflict from others, often verbal in nature.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children created a wonderful resource guide, Personal Safety for Children, for parents to share and discuss concepts with their children.

SAFETY

Dear! of all happy in the hour, most blest
He who has found our hid security,
Assured in the dark tides of the world that rest,
And heard our word, "Who is so safe as we?"
We have found safety with all things undying,
The winds, and morning, tears of men and mirth,
The deep night, and birds singing, and clouds flying,
And sleep, and freedom, and the autumnal earth.

We have built a house that is not for Time's throwing.
We have gained a peace unshaken by pain for ever.
War knows no power. Safe shall be my going,
Secretly armed against all death's endeavour;
Safe though all safety's lost; safe where men fall;
And if these poor limbs die, safest of all.
-Rupert Brooke

How many dojo have you trained at?

Recently a young student at the Shuharikan asked me "How many dojo have you trained at during your time in the martial arts?"

Wow - what a great question! I don't know the actual number, but what I remember most is the variety and specialness in each one.

As I reflected more on the question, two wonderful descriptions come to mind, no matter the art style.

The first is from Richard Strozzi Heckler in his book Holding the Center: Sanctuary in a Time of Confusion.

"...layers of memory that take me through thirty years of training in dojos spread over a dozen countries. They've ranged from the traditional dojos of Japan with meticulously hand-crafted designs and highly polished wood to converted garages that were so small you had to wait against the wall for your turn. Dojos whose surfaces ranged from the classical fiber tatami mats to wooden floors, tire filings under canvas covers, rugs over cement, straw mattresses, and one that was laid out on hard-packed dirt beneath a flowering mango tree.

There were dojos dedicated to preserving the traditions of ancient fighting systems with the air of formality and erudition that one finds in the archives of great universities. Others were word-of-mouth dojos that collected tough guys and those in the profession of arms-special operations soldiers, secret service agents, bodyguards, law enforcement tactical units, street fighters looking to test themselves. In the small changing rooms you could hear the sound of boot knives handguns being unstrapped.

In one particular dojo I was unexpectedly gripped at the entrance by the luminosity that emanated from it. It was a work of art in its physical beauty but it was visceral feeling of the sacred that moved me. That evening a profound mood of reverence was present in the training. I felt like a small child holding a rare and priceless vase, and an emotionally charged sense of responsibility guided me. As I bowed out at the end of class, tears filled my eyes. I felt connected not only to those who had made this place possible, but to something weightless and eternal. In this dojo I understood the words of the poet, John Keats, when he said, 'Beauty is truth and truth is beauty.' And there was everything in between."

The second is from Dave Lowry in his book Persimmon Wind: A Martial Artist's Journey in Japan.

"The community dojo nearest Sensei's house was called the Genyokan. It was about four miles away by foot or car, along a narrow prefectural road, then another three-quarters of a mile after that by a seriously vertical hike. The first time I visited it, before I'd even reached the dojo itself I had already decided that if any martial artist came to Japan looking for the ideal training hall, the dojo of his dreams, there would be no way he could be disappointed in the Genyokan.

More gracefully rendered in Japanese than in an English translation, the kanji characters for 'Genyokan' mean 'the hall of the source of evening's twilight.' It was an entirely appropriate name if ever there was one. I am certain that only the most determined or lucky or badly strayed beams of sunlight could ever have filtered their way through the evergreen canopy that enveloped the dojo. The forest around it was so intense that it was quite invisible from no more than fifty feet away from its front gate. At that distance, there were only the great round pillars of cryptomeria trunks, their piney scent tinting the shadowy, motionless air. The dojo was approached by a path of set stones that ran through the gate, its wood whitened with age. There was no fence, only this gate with its thick oak panels and above it, a Shinto torii arch. When the gates were closed, so was the dojo. Opened, they signalled that training was going on and members passed through them to the dojo structure itself.

The Genyokan was built in the shindenzukuri style of architecture, as are most traditional dojo in Japan. The walls were low, topped with wide-eaved roofs. The roof was hipped and fluted upward at the corners where it met the underhang. Roof-tiles, once shiny blue were now a rich azure that showed through here and there where the moss and fallen rusty cryptomeria needles had not completely covered it. The outer walls were creamy plaster and supported by a framework of dark, age-stained wood. There were no windows, just ventilation openings set high up on the walls and covered with wooden shutters. When the shutters were slid back, there were thin slats that protected the windows and kept birds out. These openings were also far up enough along the walls to frustrate any view in from the outside. In the old days, matters in the dojo were private. It would not do for an outsider, possibly a spy or enemy, to learn the secrets of the arts being taught within. This concern for secrecy is reflected in the architecture of all traditional dojo."

What is the best memory you have of training or the most unique dojo you've trained at?

Tenchi Nage or Heaven and Earth

In tonight's class we worked on Tenchi Nage also known as Heaven and Earth throw. It is a study of where one hand travels upward towards "heaven" while the other hand travels downward towards the "earth." This set of movements provides Shite or the "Doer of the technique" with the study of taking Uke's "receiver of the technique" center of gravity off-line and creating an unbalancing with a minimum amount of effort.

I recently read this "Aikido-like" poem and shared it with the class. I hope you enjoy it!

Heaven On Earth
Author Unknown
I could not define it exactly--the thing I felt about this home. But I could feel it and it warmed my soul. It was the manner in which everyone addressed everyone else. There was no shouting, not even a raising of the voice. Sure, there were disagreements, but I can still remember the reasonable way in which they talked them out. I somehow knew that it would have been very painful to all if someone had spoken sharply because, you see, they loved each other. And how can you harm someone you love?

I remember one day when the father had to take a trip out of town over the weekend. As he left the door that morning, everyone was there to bid him "good-bye", and it was right there I learned the meaning of that expression.
To them, as tears gathered in their eyes, it meant literally "God be with you until we meet again."

I always say that you can tell about a home by observing the apparent "little" every-day events. In this home every event was important. To them each day was the most important day in eternity.

I can still see the scene when we all kneeled down to pray. You know how some people pray; it gets to be more or less a matter of form and has something of the mechanical in it--something you do because it's your duty. But not here. They all joined hands as they prayed, and it seemed to me as if angels were talking to each other. Such sentiments of thankfulness, such please for wisdom, such feelings of Divinity.

I suppose you could say there was a distinctive kind of Spirit in this home. Yes, I'm sure there was. It was the spirit of kindness, patience, loveliness, beauty, and love itself. The thought occurred to me as I left, that to these people
Heaven itself would not be strange when they went there, because they had a corner of it right on earth.
http://www.scrapbook.com/poems/doc/254/49.html

Future

Today was fun watching the kids in class as Glen Sensei taught.

The many smiles and sense of accomplishment in learning something is extremely rewarding to realize we are continuing a tradition.

As the Shuharikan, in St. Paul, we are teaching what we learned and sharing what came first from Japan and with these students; will continue the lineage of Aikido into the future.

What was past, becomes present and the present becomes the future. The idea brings to mind part of TS Eliot's Four Quartets poem Burnt Norton

"Time present and time past
Are both perhaps present in time future,
And time future contained in time past."

Dave Lowry wrote in Permission Wind: A Martial Artist's Journey in Japan

"The way of the bugeisha culminates only at the conclusion of his life. All else is a journey to ever-receding destinations. There can be no final lesson, no ultimate secret to reveal."

It reminds one that the journey as a student and teacher is never done.

Goshin Waza

The idea of self-defense or Goshin Waza should be thought of in a broader sense than just physical techniques. In our Kids Class this idea has been expanded by each instructor high-lighting a different aspect of self-defense. Some have included the use of one's voice and general area awareness.

In my recent class I high-lighted fire safety and the idea of: Stop, Drop and Roll. The North Spokane County Fire Department in Eastern Washington have a wonderful image, see below, describing what to do in case your clothes catch fire.





With the week of October 4 to 10 being Fire Safety Week, the timing was most appropriate.

What are some ways you practice self-defense on a regular basis?

Simplicity

"Simplicity in all things is the secret of the wilderness and one of its most valuable lessons. It is what we leave behind that is important. I think the matter of simplicity goes further than just food, equipment, and unnecessary gadgets; it goes into the matter of thoughts and objectives as well. When in the wilds, we must not carry our problems with us or the joy is lost."
-Sigurd F. Olson, Naturalist and Author of The Singing Wilderness

“People will do what is comfortable for them. So if you allow them to, they will just make it up for themselves. That is why, you must always return to the basics. This is what is important.”
-Gozo Shioda Total Aikido

The Yoshinkan Aikido Kihon Dosa consists of a set of six basic movements which are considered the foundation of the art. They were created to teach the correct position of the body as they relate to the basic Aikido techniques. They can each be performed solo or with a partner, empty handed or with a sword.

From the core or trunk, each branch sprouts and more and more growth is possible; but we always return to the core.

Pohoda

"a harmonious state of contentment that manifests itself, for example, when friends get together over a drink to enjoy each other's company and let life's hassles fade away."

Eric Smillie wrote of pohoda (\po-ho-da\) in AFAR magazine. It perfectly describes a Saturday coffee and breakfast at the Downtowner Woodfire Grill in St. Paul following the Adult and Kids classes.

Autumn Song

One of the beauties of living in the Midwest is the change of seasons. Fall for me is my favorite season of all; you smell the crispness in the air, the leaves changing color and the beautiful sunsets.

Van Morrison wrote "Autumn Song" on the album Hard Nose the Highway

Leaves of brown they fall to the ground
And it's here, over there leaves around
Shut the door, dim the lights and relax
What is more, your desire or the facts

Pitter patter the rain falling down
Little glamor sun coming round
Take a walk when autumn comes to town

Little stroll past the house on the hill
Some more coal on the fire will do well
And in a week or two it'll be Halloween
Set the page and the stage for the scene

Little game the children will play
And as we watch them while time away
Look at me and take my breath away yeah

You'll be smiling eyes beguilding
And the song on the breeze
Will call my name out and your dream

Chestnuts roasting outside as you walk
With your love by your side
The old accordion man plays mellow and bright
And you go home in the crispness of the night

Little later friends will be along
And if you feel like joining the throng
Just might feel like singing Autumn song
Just may feel like singing Autumn song

You'll be smiling
Eyes beguilding
And the song on the breeze
Calls my name out in your dream

Chestnuts roasting outside
As you walk with your love by your side
And the old accordion plays mellow and bright
And you go home in the crispness of the night


Richard R. Powell's book Wabi Sabi Simple: Create Beauty, Value Imperfection, Live Deeply
summarizes the changes and life simply by saying "wabi sabi nurtures all that is authentic in life by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect."

As we progress in our training, we go through changes as well. The first class, the first month, the first year and suddenly it has been 20 years. The annual cycle of executing the techniques during Kan Geiko (Winter Training) and as we cover all of the Kihon Waza techniques, we go through life's cycles.

Thoughts/questions to ponder:
Does your training or approach to training change with the seasons? If so, in what ways?
Have your techniques evolved since you started training in Aikido? If so, how and why?
How do you create balance for yourself in your training, studies, home or work?

Foundations

Noted physicist David Bohm said "Individuality is only possible if it unfolds from wholeness."
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marciowelb/show/with/2364375096/

This is a wonderful quote that conceptualizes Aikido, through regular training, your individual personality will emerge.

The training one does in the dojo: physical, mental, social, etc., provides one the ability to interact with others from many walks of life and in the long-term provides one a way to become 'whole.'

By availing oneself to the incredible individuals you cross paths at the dojo, and in daily life, deepens your journey.

What and who are your foundations?

Hakama Pleat: Yuki

A Hakama is a dark skirt-like pant worn by Aikidoka. It is a traditional piece of samurai clothing that is worn over the pants of a dogi.

Historically the Hakama was meant to protect a horseman's legs from brush, similar to a cowboy's leather 'chaps.' Horse-bound samurai continued to wear the Hakama as it was distinctive and set them apart from the common foot-soldiers.

There are often seven pleats identified in the Hakama and have been given symbolic meaning, often identified as:

Yuki - courage, valor, bravery
Jin - humanity, charity, benevolence
Gi - justice, righteousness, integrity
Rei - etiquette, courtesy, civility
Makoto - sincerity, honesty, reality
Chugi - loyalty, fidelity, devotion
Meiyo - honor, reputation, dignity

I read an article in today's edition of USA Today titled "Football hero replays tackle of armed girl." It described an incident where a young man displayed the true Samurai value of Yuki when he put his own safety at risk when he tried to calm an agitated young girl waving a gun on a bus and then tackled her and took away the gun before anyone was injured.

Having the wherewithal to remain calm under such duress, showing concern for others and finding a way to resolve a serious situation reminds you that there are wonderful and caring young individuals in the world!

Discipline at the Core, Creativity at the Edge

I came across this quote some time ago while watching a business presentation hosted by the University of Washington. It featured Robert Herbold, a former Chief Operating Officer at Microsoft Corporation, who discussed how profitability and agility can be achieved when businesses balance discipline with creativity.

The quote stayed with me more than what the presenter had to say in that it perfectly described the use of Kamae, Kihon Dosa and Kihon Waza as the basis for one's ability to study and further reveal a deeper understanding of the Aikido techniques in the Yoshinkan style.

It also struck a cord as to why a musician plays the scales to warm up or a painter starts with a color wheel, each using a core discipline to create their works of art. A solid foundation provides the basis for one to grow.

Often times I find returning to the core reveals the excitement of why I continue my study and training in Aikido; I realize I'll never fully know everything about Aikido or life, but that is the fun and challenge of enjoying what you do and continuing to learn and grow. As Carlos Castaneda said "you need to know if it is a path with heart. If it is, follow it."

Irene Hixson Whitney Bridge and John Ashbery

One of the neatest places to visit is the bridge crossing over Hennepin Avenue, between Loring Park and the Sculpture Garden.

A commissioned poem for the bridge was written by John Ashbery.

"And now I cannot remember how I would have had it.
It is not a conduit (confluence?) but a place.
The place, of movement and an order.
The place of old order.
But the tail end of the movement is new.
Driving us to say what we are thinking.
It is so much like a beach after all,
where you stand and think of going no further.
And it is good when you get to no further.
It is like a reason that picks you up and places you
where you always wanted to be.
This far, it is fair to be crossing, to
have crossed.
Then there is no promise in the other.
Here it is. Steel and air, a
mottled presence, small panacea and lucky for us.
And then it got very cool."

Whenever I see the bridge, walk across it, or read the poem, it takes me back to when I first started training in Aikido; as I lived in Uptown and would often ride my bike to the dojo.

Many of the lines stir thoughts of Aikido training such as "The place, of movement and an order" remind me of the structure of class, the lining up, warm-ups, basic movements and training.

It also reminds me of the seasonal cycles we experience so well in Minnesota, as well as the cycles we go through in our individual lives.

Look for connections in the many experiences of your life and there will always be a poem or stanza that evokes wonderful thoughts and memories.

shi wa deshi nari, deshi wa ni nari

Gordie Sensei recently wrote an article "Who's the Teacher? Who's the Student?" as a following piece to Ando Sensei's July 2009 newsletter Yoshinkan Aikido Ryu. In it he noted Ando Sensei quoted Shioda Sensei as frequently using the proverb 'shi wa deshi nari, deshi wa ni nari' or 'The teacher becomes the student; the student becomes the teacher.' Ando indicated that Shioda often told his students, "You must become teachers!"

This brought back wonderful memories of my time staying with Fred Haynes Sensei and his family and training for my San Dan (3rd Degree) exam in Georgetown, Ontario. Fred Sensei noted his job is to share the art and train people to become teachers.

A lineage or passing of tradition from O'Sensei to Shioda Sensei, Ando Sensei and Fred Sensei has been passed and onto the instructors at the Shuharikan and continues with us sharing the art and training people to become teachers.

The May 1999 edition of Utne included an article titled "The 20th Century: What's Worth Saving?" listed Aikido as one to take into the 21st century.
Another highlight was in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, where the security chief, Tasha Yar (played by Denise Crosby), gave an exhibition of the "ancient Earth art called Aikido." This in the 24th century! I hope this story becomes reality.

I owe a great deal to my Aikido Sensei (teachers); the first being Kris Nelson and then Kathy and Alvin McClure, and in the last 15 years, Alistair Thompson, Fred Haynes and Jim Stewart, as they've all helped me start and continue my training.
The Shuharikan is proud to continue the tradition and has promoted multiple individuals to Black Belt and Instructor rankings.

I will always be a student of the art and will continue my training and have the opportunity, responsibility and privilege of teaching and sharing the art with those who will carry on the tradition.

A wonderful friend and mentor, Mary Texer, shared with me an insightful article by Chris Luebkeman, Director of the Foresight and Innovation Group at Arup Group, which perfectly captures the idea of tradition and lineage.

He said, "'A hundred years after we're gone and forgotten, those who have never heard of us will be living with the results of our actions.' It is extremely important for us to remember...that we decisions every day that are going to impact so many others."

ADDIE for Kid's Fall 2009 Session

Summer is nearly done and it is time to finalize the Kid’s Class format.

In preparation for the session, I elected to use the ADDIE model. It is process traditionally used by Organizational Effectiveness developers and trainers.

I first used the model when I created training materials as an Innovation Analyst and found it to be easy to implement and flexible for a variety of projects.

The five phases are: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation.

Analysis

The class focuses on children between the ages of 5 to 14 and be conducted using the one (1) hour class format, eight (8) week program cycle, as used in the past.

The outcomes will be on increasing and expanding an individuals spatial awareness and physical dexterity capabilities.

The second outcome will focus on increasing the individuals sense of confidence in the mastery of new material and be able to execute the technique or movement, as called.

The class time will be supplemented and reinforced with take home hand-outs highlighting concepts performed in class.

Design

The classes will be designed as single, stand-alone sessions, as well as be integrated into the larger, comprehensive Shuharikan Dojo's Yoshinkan Aikido program curriculum, to expand the student's exposure to a variety of principles, concepts and techniques.

Focus will be on physical and behavioral understandings of the Yoshinkan Aikido style and Japanese etiquette structure as it relates to martial arts training.

The physical class content will utilize the Aikido Basic Stance (Kamae), Basic Movements (Kihon Dosa), Basic Techniques (Kihon Waza) and safe/controlled falling (Ukemi Waza).

The behavioral class content will focus on group work and protocols as they relate to dojo (school or training hall) trainings and include, but not limited to, dogi (training uniform), belt tying, lining up and bowing.

Development

The eight week training progression will be built as a single storyboard and then be expanded into the individual class session hand-outs and other supplemental information pieces.

The storyboard will highlight and focus on the key concepts or learning deliverables for each class. A detailed walk-through of the eight week cycle will be performed with all of the instructors two weeks before the start of the session.

Following the walk-through, the lead-time will provide the individual instructors time to research and plan additional techniques or supplements. The lead-time will also provide a period for questions or clarifications for those new to the instructor role.

Implementation

The instructors engaged for the Fall session have taught with this plan in the past and are all familiar with the overall teaching protocols. All of the Shuharikan Instructors hold Black Belt rankings and are internationally certified and licensed instructors in Yoshinkan Aikido.

Course corrections or supplements will be made to the existing curriculum if the students are progressing faster or slower, depending on the students mastery of the material.

Based on the individual students participating and their current ranks, a Kyu (colored belt) test may be administered at the end of the eight week cycle.

If a determination is made by instructors that additional time is needed to show proficiency in the material, a test will be held in a future cycle.

Exams are held on a quarterly basis and follow the required components as noted in the Children's Class Handbook.

Evaluation

An end of session demonstration of material learned will be performed during the last two class sessions.

Individuals and pairs will be called on to present the Basic Movements and Techniques.

If a Kyu exam is held, the grading will follow the Kyu rank material found in the Children's Class Handbook and each component will be graded on a 1 to 5 basis with passing being at 70%.

Two additional components will be required of the testing candidates. They are: Aikido Attitude and an Aikido Project.

The Aikido Attitude component is the acknowledgement by a parent or guardian that the student is ready and deserving of testing for their next rank. Ideals around Aikido Attitude include: listening to your parents, helping with household chores, doing your homework and doing the best you can in all endeavors.

The Aikido Project balances the physical techniques with the ideal that a Samurai needed balance between studying the "Sword and the Brush." The student is asked to create a piece of art, a poem, story, or other creative piece and present it to the other class members.

Following each cycle, a review is made with the instructors and takes into account feedback from the students and parents. New ideas and activities are added to successive class cycles based on how the students master the material and what generates the most interest.

See you all on the 12th of September!

Practice

Malcolm Gladwell's newest book Outliers cites research finding the "magic number for true expertise" is 10,000 hours of practice.

He notes "Practice isn't the thing you do once you're good, it's the thing you do that makes you good."

An excellent quote and idea - a true reflection on the things you do in life that are either your profession, passion or pursuits!

Some definitions of practice on the Internet include:

• drill: learn by repetition; "Pianists practice scales"


• exercise: systematic training by multiple repetitions; "practice makes
  perfect"


• rehearse: engage in a rehearsal (of)


• translating an idea into action; " a hard theory to put into
  practice"

Aikido Practice
It has been said that traditionally it took 1,200 to 1,500 hours of practice and training to be ready to test for a Shodan (1st Degree) Black Belt.

This can be broken out approximately with an individual training in two to three classes per week, with an average class running 60 to 90 minutes. Resulting in an annual training time of 225 hours; placing the individual ready to test for Shodan in four to five years.


Questions

• How do you define practice?


• Does your definition take into account the 10,000 hour rule for true expertise?


• What have you practiced for 10,000 hours?

Enjoy all your passions and pursuits with Practice!

Cirque du Soleil's KOOZA in St. Paul

Last evening I attended the Cirque du Soleil show, KOOZA, in St. Paul! It was fantastic and as good as the previous Cirque shows I've attended.

The Cirque du Soleil website states "KOOZA tells the story of The Innocent, a melancholy loner in search of his place in the world.

KOOZA is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil: It combines two circus traditions - acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful melange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor.

The Innocent's journey brings him into contact with a panoply of comic characters such as the King, the Trickster, the Pickpocket, and the Obnoxious Tourist and his Bad Dog.

Between strength and fragility, laughter and smiles, turmoil and harmony, KOOZA explores themes of fear, identity, recognition and power. The show is set in an electrifying and exotic visual world full of surprises, thrills, chills, audacity and total involvement."

Over the past couple of weeks, as the show drew closer, and my anticipation and excitement grew, I reread the book Spark - Igniting the Creative Fire that Lives within Us All by John U. Bacon and Lyn Heward.

Some highlights that remind me of the magic Cirque performs comes about by diligent planning, attention to details and having fun:

"Every journey inward begins with technique, but it can only progress if you allow yourself to move beyond the mechanics and into the moment."

"In a Cirque show, anything you can imagine, you can do. But this incredible freedom is both the problem and the solution. It requires you to think differently, and that can be difficult."

"To truly enter the world of the imagination, you must first humor these tricksters, but ultimately, you must find your own way in."

"Most of our life we're put in a cage, where we sing the same song day in and day out. But life is not about being caged, life is about flying."

After I see a show, my creative energies are super recharged and my thoughts gravitate to how I can apply the ideas into my personal life, my work life and projects, to teaching the Adult classes as well as in the creation of the Kid's Class format.

If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend attending one of the Cirque shows and be swept up in the magic!

Mind the Gap

When I first saw this picture on the website: onlineaikido.com, I thought cool!


It reminded me of my travels to London and traveling via the Tube. It then made me think of this concept more generally as it relates to my Aikido training and life in general.

Wikipedia notes "Mind the Gap" is a warning to train passengers of the sometimes significant gap between the train door and the station platform. It was introduced in 1969 by the London Underground rapid transit system.

Some platforms on the Underground curve. Since the cars are straight, the distance from the platform to the car at certain points is greater and "mind the gap" is painted in capitals along the edge of such platforms. A recorded announcement is played when a train arrives, "mind the gap" repeated several times followed by "stand clear of the doors, please," and then "this train is now ready to depart."’

So you ask, how does this fit into my Aikido training…well, think about where you have potential gaps:

• In stretching your hand and wrist during 2nd Control warm-ups


• or controlling the wrist or elbow during Front Strike 1st Control Pin #1
  

If a gap exists:

• Is there greater or less control in your technique? What happens if you increase or decrease the gap between you and your partner?


• Are there any others that you can think of?

Do you experience gaps in any other areas of your life? If so, how are you addressing them or what actions are researching or taking to make your life the one you want?

Charles Bukowski wrote "What matters most is how well you walk through the fire."

'Leave Your Ego at the Door'

One of the wonderful things about training in Aikido is the opportunity to share the art with others. Recently the Dan Shumaker of the St. Paul Community Reporter paper wrote an article on the Dojo called 'Leave Your Ego at the Door.'

The idea of the Training Scholarship is wonderfully described by Ray Bradbury in Fahrenheit 451, when he writes:

"Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you're there. It doesn't matter what you do, he said, so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that's like you after you take your hands away. The difference between the man who just cuts lawns and a real gardener is in the touching, he said. The lawn-cutter might just as well not have been there at all; the gardener will be there a lifetime."

What will you "leave behind" as your legacy?

Convergence-Con 2009 demo

On Sunday, July 5, the Shuharikan performed a demo at the 2009 Convergence-Con in Bloomington. The event is held as an annual convention attracting fans of Science Fiction and Fantasy and attracts between 2,500 and 3,000+.

Mark-sensei coordinated the event and acted as emcee. A job well done! Maggie, Gil, Jeff, Andy, Mary Beth, Angie, Louie and I participated. Some of the high-lights included a first: "Beer-waza" by Jeff, Gill and Mark. Self-defense was lead by Maggie-sensei and we also did buki (bokken, jo and tanto). Last was the Jiyu-waza or free-style techniques. Mark-sensei then held a great Q&A session with a lot of insightful questions raised from the audience. The audience was estimated to be between 100 to 150 people! As soon as the photos are available, I will add them to a future post.

Greetings from St. Paul!

Greetings from St. Paul, Minnesota, USA! This blog: Aikido in St. Paul, will be a place to collect and share my explorations, revelations and learnings in the art of Aikido. It will be my personal journal and place to organize my thoughts. I started training in Yoshinkan Aikido in February 1990. The dojo where I train and teach is the Shuharikan: www.shuharikan.org.