More tea, Vicar?

Dydd Mawrth, Pedwerydd Chwefror 2014   Tuesday 4th. February 2014 

I lied, this has nothing to do with beverages from the Indian subcontinent or gentlemen of the cloth.

All Aikido technique ends up with someone on the floor. But that’s not the point. Because there is a measurable physical result we can determine if our understanding and attitude towards others is good. We don’t have to ‘wonder’ in a philosophical sense. There will always be the ‘What if?’ questions, especially from beginners. Most of those ‘what if’s’ are about hypothetical situations where one might be attacked in the street by one or more assailants. It is a waste of time to dwell on these questions.

I would describe Aikido as a Japanese martial art which strives to create situations where attack cannot happen, or, if it is already happening, will cease quickly, without harm to any person.

Whatever you’re state of fitness or expertise, if you are attacked, there are two possibilities; you will do something or you won’t. If you do something, there are two possibilities; what you do will work or it won’t. No one knows what will happen or what they will do. My hope would be to avoid potentially dangerous situations by developing a greater sense of perception; e.g. Don’t go into Pontypridd Rugby Clubhouse and shout out, ‘Up the Blues’, …well, you could shout, ‘UP the Blues!’, but maybe not, ‘The Blues got the cash and Ponty are trash.’ I’m sure you get my drift.

Cofion, fi fach.

Sorry, I don't have the time.

Dydd Llun, Trydydd Chwefror 2014   Monday 3rd. Fedruary 2014 

Three weeks. Three weeks since I took the time to do this.

Why? Stock answer: I haven’t had the time.

We all have the same time. We choose what we do with it. For the last twenty-four years I have told people that I’m not usually available on a Tuesday and Friday evening (and quite a lot of weekends) because I have chosen to train on those evenings. I have seen many students begin but discontinue their study very soon after. There is a theory, which seems to have been supported by my observation, that if you do something ten times, same day, same time, each week, it becomes a habit.

So, when a new student joins the class, I can’t help counting the first classes they attend. For me, at least, Tuesdays and Fridays have been a good habit.

When I first studied Aikido, it was usual for the teacher or one of the students to read one of the Ki Sayings of Koichi Tohei Sensei. That practice has generally ceased now. Perhaps because they seem a bit mystical, which I don’t believe Tohei Sensei was. There is bound to be some difficulty understanding something which has been translated from Japanese and written by someone from a different generation and culture and, as far as I’m concerned, having an immensely greater understanding of life. However, you may find these words worth reflecting on.

‘THE UNITY OF CALM AND ACTION

Just as tops spinning violently and rapidly become steady, the most rapid movement results in calm.

Like the eye of the typhoon, which is always peaceful, inner calm results in great strength of action.   Calm and action are exactly one. Only when we keep one point and unify our mind and body, can we find spare time even when busy.

Keep a calm mind and you will be able to perform to the best of your ability even in an emergency or when facing important tasks.’

Cofion cynnes, fi fach.