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| Beginner Information | |||||
| AOVB > Training > Beginner Information | |||||
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| Welcome to Aikido! | |||||
| A journey of 10,000 miles begins with the first step. You have taken that first step by being here and by reading this. This brief introduction will serve as your guide from the time you take your first step into the dojo. | |||||
| Beginner's Mind | |||||
| Everything you are about to learn will probably be new to you. If you have a glass full of water and you try to add more water, the excess will simply run off. If you come to Aikido with a head full of ideas and fixed beliefs, you will find it difficult to accept new teaching. Let your mind be empty. Aikido is a very natural art. Most of your training will be learning to let go of unnatural habits and reactions. This may seem difficult at first, since you may have spent your whole life learning unnatural ways to do things. You will notice-maybe even in the first class-that when your body starts feeling a natural flow, you will learn faster and easier. | |||||
| Be Non-judgmental | |||||
| As we grow up we learn to compare ourselves constantly with others or with the expectations that we have for ourselves. You are already a perfect Aikido student. We have a saying that there are no mistakes in Aikido. Everything that you do in class is correct, meaning that your action is simply an expression of your state of being right now. Don't hamper yourself by constantly judging whether you are right or wrong. Many students are so frightened of making mistakes that they are afraid to practice the arts. Strive for perfection, all the time realizing that whatever you can do at the moment is perfectly alright. | |||||
| Have Fun! | |||||
| Aikido is natural, flowing, beautiful, and loving. Don't turn in into work. If you aren't enjoying your Aikido practice, you are probably taking it too seriously. This can create tension. Don't be in a big hurry to master Aikido. You have the whole of the rest of your life to train. It's your responsibility to make every minute of your Aikido training enjoyable. | |||||
| Be Safety Conscious | |||||
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Respect your body and protect it from injury. Your instructors will guide you at a controlled rate. Don't attempt to jump ahead (especially with regard to rolling). You will automatically learn to do beautiful rolls on any surface without discomfort. However, if you try to learn too fast you are inviting serious injury. More people quit Aikido because of injuries than for any other reason. It's especially sad, because in nearly every case the injuries could have been avoided simply by following the guidelines we present here. REMEMBER: Pain is a sign that something is wrong. If you are hurting, stop and consult with your Sensei. Nobody can feel your pain but you. If you are hurting, stop until you are sure you've corrected the problem. NEVER practice with non-students. Resist the temptation to go home and see if the arts work on your husband, wife, best friend, worst enemy, etc. In classes the Sensei is very cautious in making sure that the uke (the attacker) understands his or her part and can flow safely with the art. The first thing a non-student will do is try to resist by flinching or pulling away. Don't be surprised if his arm comes off in your hands. |
