The end of the pandemic seems to be on the horizon – which is a relief — but it also introduces a new concern: how much has our physical stamina diminished over the past year, and how long will it take for us to get back to where we were? The Aiki Fit class is a great idea if you’ve been wondering the same.
Sensei’s workout plan for the Aiki Fit class is designed to mimic what a Shodan test feels like and the stamina required for it. With the goal of maintaining good form over a number of reps the workout remains challenging, with maximum benefit, and ideal for each body.
Coming to the dojo is an important aspect too: its space made for training with no interruptions by family or work. By committing to being at a certain place and time you’re more likely to show up and work out. There’s also the benefit of working together in a group: we encourage each other to keep going and to go further than we would at home.
Modern Day Otomo
Let’s discuss a Modern Day Otomo. In an Aikido dojo, you may hear different terminology identifying a certain student, instructor, or group of aikidoka. Such as Uchideshi, Sotodeshi, Kenshusei, Sempai, & Otomo. Otomo is a Japanese tradition among martial arts masters. It is very often confused with Uchideshi (private disciple) because it is often one…
Is Aikido a hobby?
One of the internal questions I ask myself weekly is how do I keep my students engaged in Aikido? First, it’s probably important to classify what Aikido is and what it means to people. Some may call it a hobby. Well by definition, Hobby means, “an activity done regularly in one’s leisure time for pleasure.”…
Teacher versus Instructor.
Teacher versus Instructor. In Aikido, I feel both of these terms tend to be used interchangeably. I beg to differ. An active, serious aikido student — someone with 3+ years of consistent 3-4 X a week practice and seminar attendance (2-3X a year) — can achieve 2nd Kyu and maybe even 1st Kyu. Depending on…