Grading Essays – March 2022
Richard Kotey – 5th Kyu
I think it was in 1992 when I first heard about Aikido, after watching Steven Seagal’s movie Under Siege. A friend described him as an Aikido expert and that intrigued me. About 21 years ago I went to see an Aikido training session at Goldsmith University at New Cross. But it wasn’t until October 2021 when I first started my Aikido training.
Initially, my interest in Aikido was for self-defence. But now, it is all aimed at the benefits of relaxation, improved posture, self-discipline, self-confidence, mental strength amongst many other benefits in addition to the self-defence techniques.
Everyone at the dojo is friendly, welcoming and happy to train with (Onegaishimasu, as saying goes!). No matter how hard I try not to, I scream out and make a lot of noise especially when I uke for sensei. I strongly feel the impact of the Aikido technique even when he’s being gentle. I need to relax my body he says. I’ll get there, slow but sure! But I always enjoy the training sessions and delighted whenever I attend.
I was nervous during the weeks and days leading up to my first kyu grading. But it went well and I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the uke. I would also like to sincerely thank the teachers (Sensei) and everyone that practiced with me. You’re all amazing.
Osman Osman – 4th Kyu
Ai Ki Do – The way of unifying harmony (Ai: harmony, unifying, Ki: energy, spirit, Do: way, path)
Apart from the more obvious good reasons to practice “the way” such as fitness, social networking, having fun, I am enjoy it mostly for something which for me is fleeting and elusive; At least, at this stage of my journey though “the way” it’s still eludes me most of the time..
Let me explain:
The above translation is my preferred meaning, that is to say, I am always trying to find the “harmony” when “unifying” my motion with my training partner’s motion.
There have been rare moments during a practice / training session as tori that I have felt something which is hard to put into words exactly, but I’ll try. Physically I have felt almost nothing in my body or limbs but the effect on uke was as expected or prescribed for the technique being practiced. It as if uke has ended up in the expected position without me having done anything to him/her other than move gracefully with them, almost like floating together until one of us isn’t.
Is this the “harmony” achieved when tori’s and uke’s movements have “unified” during practice of aikido.?
I don’t know, but in none of the other martial arts I studied during my much younger days such as Taekwondo, Wing Chun, and Ju-Jitsu, have I felt that way or found those fleeting moments that give me so much inner joy/peace.
That is what I am always searching for when I practice the way. I want those moments of inner peace to be less elusive so I can be at peace more of the time. So I practice Aikido to see if I can achieve that peace more and more frequently as I progress.
William Ameyibor – 3rd Kyu
I have been practicing Aikido for the past 5 years now and I am really enjoying it. When I first started, there were techniques that I thought I would never be able to do but I now do them quite easily. I recently passed my 3rd kyu, which I was a bit worried about the amount of techniques I will have to remember but with help and encouragement from Bryan, Ako, Peter and Dave Leech who I trained with often towards my grading I went for it. Now I know to even work harder towards my 2nd kyu as I will need to learn even more techniques lol.
Apart from practicing Aikido, I have met some really nice people and made some very good friends. I enjoy our socialising like our cinema trips, barbecues at our Sensei Bryan’s house and having a laugh once in while in the pub.
Aikido has built my confidence a lot and helped me take on other activities like football management and coaching. I have taken on an under 11 football team for the last 8 months and there has been a lot of improvement in the boys which the parents are very pleased with. I have brought in my discipline from Aikido into football making the boys enjoy the game but reminding them hard work is the key and no pain no gain.
I would like to say a big thank you to my Aikido team for their help towards my grading. I wish you all good health and looking forward to more training sessions with you in my Aikido journey.