| When I started aikido as a child this question didn't | | | | energy in association to the various body-sizes |
| even enter my mind. It wasn't until I started | | | | and type. |
| practicing with adults that this came an issue, I | | | | I'll tell you a story of when I was about 10 or 11 |
| was 112 lbs skinny as a whippet and was thrown | | | | years old, I had an after school job helping out in |
| around like a rag doll. This I didn't mind at all I | | | | a pet store, I was 5 feet nothing weighing |
| considered it valuable training and welcomed it | | | | approximately 90 lbs and I had reach my 3kyu in |
| readily. Now I'm older, a little larger and somewhat | | | | aikido. The owner of this store was from |
| heavier my aikido has adapted. | | | | memory a few inches taller and a lot heavier than |
| I have trained with many people and the variation | | | | me. One day he tried to surprise me and put me |
| in size and shape has been astounding, I am 5' 9" | | | | in a bear-hug, (he knew I practised aikido and was |
| somewhat average I believe for height and in | | | | put up to it by one of the other older boy's |
| training when your shown and/ or told to perform | | | | working there) in a split second I had performed a |
| a particular technique on someone, size defiantly | | | | koshi-nage on him (A throw over your hip/back) |
| does matter. It's amazing how your technique, | | | | and he was presented there on the floor right in |
| posture, timing and mental state changes to | | | | front of me, I then reacted instinctively and ran |
| accommodate all the different partners you will | | | | for my life, (laugh). I must say he wasn't hurt and |
| practice with. In the physical practice of aikido we | | | | he never tried that again, I related this story as |
| try to study and learn the relationship between | | | | an example that in situations with aikido size |
| body size and type, learning how our bodies | | | | doesn't really have to matter. |
| behave when they come together and blend to | | | | We are not O sensei (The Founder) or masters |
| find a way, to reconcile the conflict harmoniously | | | | of aikido and for them size isn't an issue but this |
| (almost like dancing but with far greater | | | | is why we want to learn aikido and maybe after |
| consequence). And in this we learn of the | | | | sixty years of practice size may not be an issue |
| connection between leverage, motion, balance and | | | | for us. |