| What is the true essence of Aikido, and how are | | | | same treatment in return. |
| you going to reach your goal of developing | | | | Some instructors, without even realising it, end up |
| advanced Aikido skills? Well, it's not going to be | | | | just coaching and hardly ever training. Many don't |
| easy for you because anything worth achieving | | | | allow their students to get near to their own level, |
| takes concentrated effort and full commitment. | | | | so focus more on trivial details to bog them |
| To get to the essence of Aikido you will have to | | | | down. |
| spend many years practising the basic techniques. | | | | As you move towards the essence of Aikido, |
| It also depends on how much time you are willing | | | | you may notice the important principles that run |
| to devote to your training. If only a couple of | | | | through every technique. There are dozens of |
| classes a week, it will take you many years. But, | | | | principles that practising the techniques teach you. |
| if you are willing to practise several times a week | | | | In fact many of them you already know, but not |
| or even every day, then you will reach your goal | | | | consciously. |
| much quicker. | | | | A relaxed mind and body, your mind focused on |
| You will have to find an experienced instructor to | | | | your centre of gravity, the flexibility to go with |
| teach you the basic techniques in a Dojo setting. | | | | the flow, mental and physical circles, |
| You'll definitely need to work on these basics, | | | | non-resistance, weight shifting, weight moving, |
| thousands of times to move on to an advanced | | | | avoid direct conflict, 360 degree awareness of |
| level. You can help the process along physically | | | | your environment, the list goes on... |
| and mentally by going slowly through each detail, | | | | Once you have reached this level, you may now |
| at home, in your own time. | | | | be using the art, in the dojo and daily life. There is |
| After a while your instructor will teach you | | | | so much good work you can do to benefit your |
| several ways of practising the basic techniques. | | | | family, friends, members of your community, and |
| This will gradually develop your ability to practise | | | | the world. |
| and move in a more natural way. Gradually you | | | | To enhance this advanced Aikido level you should |
| will move closer and closer to advanced Aikido | | | | be getting well into breathing, meditation and |
| skills and the essence of the art. | | | | contemplation practise to develop in you a love |
| Meanwhile, during your training, you will have been | | | | for all beings, and a desire to help others... in any |
| working on ukemi, which is the art of receiving | | | | way you can. As you go out into the world more |
| techniques. This will help you develop the skill to | | | | focused on helping others you will experience |
| be physically and mentally relaxed, flexible and | | | | more relaxation, peace and happiness. |
| allow the techniques to happen to you. You will | | | | Your hard training comes together within yourself, |
| learn how to fall safely, even if you are thrown | | | | and you experience harmony and balance in the |
| hard, or taken by surprise. | | | | moment - right now. Having achieved personal |
| During your Aikido training you will be working on | | | | realisation, you can take your Aiki life skills and |
| many different ways of experiencing the art. This | | | | give them out to all living creatures on the planet... |
| will introduce you to the study of Aiki principles. | | | | this is the essence of Aikido. |
| Gradually you will begin to know what the main | | | | Master Morihei Ueshiba O'Sensei - the founder of |
| points of the techniques are, and the underlying | | | | Aikido, saw the essence of Aikido as health, |
| principles that run through every technique. | | | | happiness and World Peace! So, you may be |
| If you have reached this far in your training... | | | | thinking, this is going to take a little while. Well, yes |
| congratulations. | | | | a lifetime in fact... but what a fantastic journey! |
| Many students get bogged down in the physical | | | | You can aim high and achieve your dreams, |
| techniques, and attempt to be superior to others. | | | | desires, and life goals. |
| This is where ego takes over and can bring up | | | | Of course, if you just want your physical |
| the never ending argument over which instructor | | | | techniques to be slightly better than average, you |
| teaches the correct way. Some students become | | | | should be able to achieve this in about 5 years! |
| too rough, and bully their training partners, but | | | | Daily Training Leads to Advanced Aikido, and the |
| often they can't take it, when they receive the | | | | Essence of Aikido. |