It’s easy to struggle with a sense of correctness on the
mat. Our training is guided by principles
and habits that our fundamental to the art.
Our first task is to respect and have faith in them. To learn anything you have to give yourself
up to new ways and to train in Aikido means giving yourself up to new ways of
moving, thinking, breathing, and self-conceiving. The habits of training, such as bowing, support
this transformation to a more powerful and relaxed manner of engagement with
the world and with the people around us.
Especially when we struggle with new habits, we tend to
become rigidly attached to our first notions of clarity; the first moment when
it feels like we understand can become a concrete understanding. But as Aikidoka committed to both stability
(balance) and flow we have to recognize rigidity within our understanding as
the next opportunity for further study.
Each day on the mat offers each individual exactly the
challenge he/she needs to progress. The
overly submissive have the opportunity to learn extension. The overly aggressive have the opportunity to
learn acceptance. Arrogance, the
greatest impediment to clarity, has the opportunity to learn humility. At any
given time we all have the opportunity to work on all three (among others)
simultaneously.
