Today, I’m speaking with Casey Roadcap, 6th Kyu
Weiner Sensei: What led you to Aikido?
Casey-san:I have a young daughter and I strongly believe she needs to learn and be proficient at self-defense. I became friends with an Aikido of Charlotte student who shared how Aikido is an excellent martial art for women because you do not have to overpower the attacker but rather use their momentum and energy against them. I have always been interested in self-defense and martial arts so I decided to try it and see if it would be a good fit for my daughter. I regret not starting earlier and I hope to have my daughter training soon too.
Weiner Sensei: How would you describe class at our dojo?
Casey-san: The first thing I noticed was how welcoming and friendly everyone is. Starting out is intimidating. You have to learn a new language. You have to learn to fall without hurting yourself. And you have to learn the techniques and to coordinate and synchronize foot and hand movements. The senior students really make an effort to help make the experience less overwhelming.
Weiner Sensei: What are your short term goals as a student?
Casey-san: Hopefully this goal is never tested and I don’t ever have to find out; I’d like to be able to successfully apply Aikido techniques if a real life self-defense situation arises.
Weiner Sensei: What are your long term goals as a student?
Casey-san: Longevity and development. I want to be an Aikido student for a long time so I need to maintain a healthy balance of my family, work, and social commitments. If I don’t get overzealous I should be able to steadily improve and progress through the ranks.
Weiner Sensei: What does it take to be a committed student?
Casey-san: I think commitment is relative to each student. Commitment when I was young and single looks much different than it is for me now that I am married with a young daughter. As with any skill, you need to practice to improve. Consistency is the key. Create a training schedule that comfortably fits your life’s balance and be consistent. Don’t over-commit and burn out.
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