Jim Lock

The first time that I was requested by my Sensei to demonstrate some moves for part of the Aikido class I immediately realized the different role it is that the Sensei has in the dojo to that of a student. From always having been in a seiza position watching my Sensei demonstrate, here I suddenly was racking my brains for something to demonstrate, something that I felt I could demonstrate properly with a certain amount of confidence. I had this certain feeling that if I attempted something too difficult then I may make a mess of it myself and would end feeling about six inches tall. I can't remember what exactly it was in the end that I demonstrated, but I expect that it was something relatively easy.

When we first start practicing Aikido we often start with fairly basic principles, nothing too clever in order to begin to learn the basic movements and correct one's breathing as well as getting a "feel" of the dojo. The same thing I feel must apply to teaching. If someone has never taught before then they are also beginner. As with a new student, they will possibly feel more comfortable beginning with things that they feel confident in demonstrating and then, in their own time build up to other complex movements as experience is gained and they get used to teaching. After all teaching is an art form of it's own.

So what exactly is it that I intend to demonstrate? What are the important points that I am trying to emphasize when illustrating a movement.....? Is it posture....? Distance....? Breathing....? Use of hips.....? There are so many things that can be deemed important that it would not be practical to mention them on every single occasion a technique was shown. It would become boring for the students to have to listen to me going through all the important aspects each time it may not register with them. Linking movements together could be a good way of overcoming this, starting off with a simple movement, emphasizing one or two points, then as the training session moves on adding to that initial movement, maybe introducing countering movements, each time emphasizing a new point.

The amount of time which is spent on each movement I feel is dependant on how well the class are coping with what has been demonstrated to them. There would be little point moving on to a more advanced movement until the initial basic ones has been grasped. At the same time, maybe it is worth considering that if too long were spent doing the same thing then perhaps the student would get bored with what is going on and training will become a chore for them. It is really a matter of how the Sensei feels the class is going at that particular time.

The first principle of Aikido - Ikkyo, is I feel a particular important move to spend sufficient time on. Performed from the first form, this relatively simple movement is the base to all Aikido techniques. From this one can learn and hopefully begin to understand the importance of certain things. A correctness on etiquette the importance of distance between two partners, Uke making a proper spirited "attack", Nage should not clash but accept the attack, Uke's balance should be broken and they should not be allowed to fully regain their posture, breathing, use of hips are all to emphasized in the performing of this relatively simple principle - all of which remain essential throughout our training.

As no two people are the same, changes of partners on a regular basis give one the chance to experience working with different people. This provides the opportunity of working with people of different physical abilities as well as with different amounts of experience. Attention should be given to ensure that no individual is training with only certain students and that they are trying to avoid working with others. If this is the case then the reason for this should be ascertained at an appropriate time, perhaps after training with those concerned. If there are reasons given why someone doesn't want to work with someone else, perhaps because with a clash of personalities or if they feel intimidated then, as far as possible these matters should be resolve with the individuals concerned. Training will not be pleasurable between the individuals if there are any problems and any negative or bad feelings may extend to the rest of the class. There will always be times when disagreements will occur within a group, as indeed they will between two people, but most will agree that it always preferable to resolve any such disagreements for a more harmonious environment.

As mentioned earlier, linking movements together is I feel an important part of teaching. A book is linked together by chapters, this is what makes it interesting. It is not just a collection of different sentences or paragraphs jumbled together. When teaching, I feel one has a duty to their students to make training interesting and enjoyable as well as educational. Getting the right balance is important here. Explaining the parts which it is felt are relevant to what you are demonstrating at that particular moment. Not talking for too long, which has the danger of becoming boring. Humor has a place in teaching, this can make training enjoyable. If a student is enjoying something, then there is a good chance that what is being taught will register and they will become wiser for the training session. A small mention I feel is important with regard to humor, making things humorous is an art form in it's own right, not many of us are natural stand-up comedians, by all means bring humor into teaching, but don't over-do it.

A stand-up comic has to learn how to talk to his audience, he has to make himself heard to everybody. For our requirements, the students are our audience, we don't have microphone to make ourselves heard, so we must remember that along with the actual physical aspects of training,we must be able to communicate with our "audience". I must admit to falling into this trap myself, in concentrating with the actual Aikido movements I forget that I have to make myself heard by my fellow students, I must remember to speak up and to speak clearly. It is also important to look and sound confident in order to gain respect and trust of students.

In being honest and admitting that despite starting off with good intentions of speaking clearly, I often end up mumbling. These are the times that I consider that I am teaching myself, telling myself to remember to talk clearly. The same can be said of the techniques themselves. Whilst I am demonstrating a movement I tend to say; " now, it is important to remember to do this", "remember not to do that". This honestly I find can be very educational for myself. Also, educational to me are the times when working with a newcomer, all the physical movements and breathing is new to them, in going over these points it is like going over the very basics myself, which in my case I feel it is a good thing to do. This I find refreshing that I can learn from an absolute beginners. Other students may discover something that you have not.

Time and patience are very important virtues to have in teaching, particularly with the beginner or indeed anyone who is having one of those days that from time to time we all have and nothing seems to be going right. If there is insufficient attention paid to newcomers then they may feel they are not welcomed to the club. Diplomatically telling a student they are doing something wrong, not making them feel bad. Understanding the abilities and limitations of students, making a student work hard within their limitations, but also giving them the chance to work things out for themselves. The first time student of today is the Sensei of the future.

During the periods that I have taken part of the class I have nearly always found this to be very fulfilling and educational for myself and hopefully my fellow students have learned something as well. The most satisfying thing for me though is being able to share my knowledge of Aikido with others.

At times, at the end of a training session in Aikido we advised that although the physical training has finished, the philosophy of Aikido continues outside the dojo. So how can we put this into practice?

In our everyday lives we come across different situations at all times when we need to act. Although, hopefully these situations are unlikely to be physical attacks there is often a need for us act in some way. These situations really can occur at any moment. At work, at home, shopping or walking along the road. The course of our actions depends on the situation and the person or persons concerned.

During the training, if an attack is made on us, we have to act, it is no good just standing there and doing nothing as we stand the risk of injury to ourselves. The action we take can either be an immobilizing movement, projecting our partner, or simple deflecting the on coming strike or punch. We always try to avoid clashing or coming into conflict with our training partner.

During practice, we have to be aware of the space around us as well as taking into consideration the individual that we are training with. In everyday life we may well have to be aware of the actual situation and with regard to individuals that there may be certain things we do or say as well as actions that we take. Every one is different. In training we "accept" the attack, we don’t block it or fight against it. So could this not be the case in everyday life? Having accepted the situation could we not try and work with it rather than against it as we do in training.

Something that we are always told in training is the importance of distance. It is certainly good to be close to people, but at certain times people can appreciate their own space, and we have to be aware at times of keeping the correct distance from those around us. This may include certain times when it is best not to become too involved in something so that we can keep a clearer, more general and balanced view.

The above are just some thoughts of my own and all of us are different and have different views and indeed different experiences others may or may not agree with these thoughts.

The idea of Aikido is to unite the world and universe in harmony, and in today’s troubled times what a great incentive this is for putting it into everyday life.