Relaxation

Learning any new skill challenges us to set aside what we think we know about the world and offers us the opportunity to become vulnerable, to trust ourselves in a new set of circumstances. When I was working on the tall ship HMS Rose, I was asked by the captain to go aloft and bring down a pennant that had gotten caught in the mast stays. A storm was rolling in and what felt like a slight rocking on the deck became the crazy swing of the free end of the pendulum when I was 120′ in the air. It was incredibly uncomfortable and relaxing enough to let go with one hand to grab the pennant was downright frightening. I retrieved the pennant and climbed back down on deck. Later that night a thought hit me, “you won’t let yourself fall.”

It’s in our nature to become tense and stiffen up when we know we are going to fall, are approached with uncomfortable circumstances or taken off guard. Today in class we were practicing Iriminage, and I remembered that lesson…I won’t let myself fall. I allowed myself to fully trust my nage and relaxed through the entire move, and when I fell I barely felt it. My muscle memory of proper falling technique, watching where I was going to fall and allowing myself to relax resulted in excellent uke execution. I left class feeling great both physically (I didn’t ache or feel stiff) and spiritually (a lesson had come to life). Relaxing is the key to being fluid in Aikido, and maybe more importantly, keeping yourself and your partner safe during practice. It is my personal goal and challenge to focus on relaxing so I can live in the moment of a technique and become both a better uke and nage.