Harmonic Centre Way (Aikido)
Sep. 24th, 2002 10:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
learnedaxI just took my 4th kyu test in Aikido, and although my results won't formally be back until next week, I know that I did quite well. Which means I've progressed upwards in the realm of violence. Well, actually, Aikido is all about blending with and controlling your counterpart, rather than pummeling them. But none the less, I am now a higher rank of certified dangerous. Really. In another 6-8 years I should be able to survive fighting a heavily drugged opponent.
Sometimes I wonder why I keep practicing Aikido, given that a major goal of it, as with most serious martial arts, is to avoid ever actually getting in a fight. I know that I started because I wanted something to get me away from staring at computer screens 16 hours a day and put my body to some real use. As an added bonus, I figured it would come in more handy in Real Life than, say, tennis. (It probably filled the hole left after I stopped training as a Lifeguard, now that I think about it.)
But in fact, I probably would have given up on it if I hadn't gotten more out of it than simple exercise. What I got was focus. Specifically, the almost meditative ability to let go of everything else that comes from putting all your energy into truly complex physical activity.
I think probably everyone needs a similar outlet, some hobby towards which they can focus all their mental (and/or physical) faculties. Losing yourself in something is probably vital to staying sane. Of course, not all such hobbies leave quite so many bruises.
Recently I've been wondering if I'm secretly a masochist. In a weird way I enjoy the getting-flung-across-the-room aspect. I think it's the same detached part of my brain that watches bad things happen to me and says "Huh. Now I know what that feels like." Of course, I kind of get the same thought with any bizarre experience, almost soaking up the reality. ("Now I'll honestly be able say I've had a car drive over my foot.") Maybe what I'm really looking for is any real emotional reaction form an all-too-jaded psyche. Or maybe it's just adrenaline.
Sometimes I wonder why I keep practicing Aikido, given that a major goal of it, as with most serious martial arts, is to avoid ever actually getting in a fight. I know that I started because I wanted something to get me away from staring at computer screens 16 hours a day and put my body to some real use. As an added bonus, I figured it would come in more handy in Real Life than, say, tennis. (It probably filled the hole left after I stopped training as a Lifeguard, now that I think about it.)
But in fact, I probably would have given up on it if I hadn't gotten more out of it than simple exercise. What I got was focus. Specifically, the almost meditative ability to let go of everything else that comes from putting all your energy into truly complex physical activity.
I think probably everyone needs a similar outlet, some hobby towards which they can focus all their mental (and/or physical) faculties. Losing yourself in something is probably vital to staying sane. Of course, not all such hobbies leave quite so many bruises.
Recently I've been wondering if I'm secretly a masochist. In a weird way I enjoy the getting-flung-across-the-room aspect. I think it's the same detached part of my brain that watches bad things happen to me and says "Huh. Now I know what that feels like." Of course, I kind of get the same thought with any bizarre experience, almost soaking up the reality. ("Now I'll honestly be able say I've had a car drive over my foot.") Maybe what I'm really looking for is any real emotional reaction form an all-too-jaded psyche. Or maybe it's just adrenaline.
no subject
Date: 2002-09-24 08:39 pm (UTC)