This is going to sound funny, but I want you to focus on yourself during the month of July. I don’t mean for you to be selfish, but rather pay attention to yourself and how you treat other people. O‘Sensei sincerely believed that through Aikido we could help spread peace throughout the world. We can do this by treating other people with kindness and respect. Even in self-defense we do only what is necessary to escape, not inflict unnecessary harm. We blend with the energy that is around us and redirect it instead of clashing with it. We create a calm attitude within ourselves with deep breathing, always being aware and extending positive energy to everyone and everything around us. When we interact with other people we do so in a kind and respectful way. This will help us to always take the high road and do what is right. We only have control over ourselves. It makes no difference what others do, only that we control ourselves and act in an honorable way. We must remember that at all times. Make every action a good one, every word a kind one and every day full of good choices.
How we treat others shows us what kind of person we are. Be the best kind of person you can be. Make yourself proud! I am proud of you for studying Aikido. Keep up the hard work!
Teresa Mastison Sensei
The American Heritage Dictionary defines complacent as “Contented to a fault; self-satisfied”. Beware of becoming complacent in your training. This is an easy trap to fall into when you have been training a long time or if you’re part of a small group. When you get to know each other well or know the technique it is easy to allow yourself to anticipate the actions of the technique or how your partner will move. This, unfortunately, skews the technique and it’s effectiveness.
It’s a difficult thing to do but constant refocusing is necessary to get the most out of training. Search out a new uke (partner) every time you’re instructed to pair up with someone. Changing ukes forces you to adapt to the different shapes, sizes and energies of the other students. Since you are the only thing that remains constant when working with others, it only makes sense to focus on yourself. If you don’t have many people to choose from then pay special attention to yourself and how you are moving through the technique.
This is an age old problem with training. We get so comfortable doing what we are used to that we can lose our focus as well as our effectiveness. Unfortunately, this can happen without our knowledge if we allow it. Help each other by watching your partner. Make a comment if you notice them anticipating a movement or not attacking with energy. Keep each other on your toes by being the kind of partner you would want to have.
It’s easy to just go through the motions, but to really train takes a dedicated focus. If you find yourself becoming complacent, recommit to the fundamentals of Aikido – blend with and redirect the energy, lower your center, extend your energy. I find that when I focus on one of these basic principles the other issues tend to not be issues anymore.
I hope you all were able to enjoy the Fourth of July. I feel truly grateful and blessed to be a citizen of this great country. I want to thank all our military branches for defending and protecting us in the past, the present and in the future. You are patriots for your service and I appreciate you!
God bless America!
Teresa Mastison Sensei
Effective immediately Aikido of Phoenix has a new phone number. Please replace 480-699-2334 with 480-639- 4628. The old number will be effective for only a short while longer, however the new number is effective immediately. We made this change to better manage our business and hope it doesn’t cause too much inconvenience.
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