Self Defense Demo

Self Defense Demo

At a school festival in Yokohama, there were probably around 50 people in the audience (many senior people) and they seemed to like people being beating up, GO AIKIDO : )

It went okay...although I have to say that I was saved by Okamoto san, far better than me person doing the attacker (he had to go down!).

Self defense hurts pretty badly if you do it right...as its supposed to be the purpose...DUH! 

I couldn't hide the hesitation of the fear of hurting the attacker, which really was a silly thing even to think since he knows better, he can take care of himself even better than I could have...

I guess the biggest lesson I learned from this demo was that how difficult but important to make the right move at the right time without hesitation.

And of course...the feeling of that I am not YET no where near from these people far better than me... ; )

55th All Japan Yoshinkan Embu

第55回全日本養神館合気道演武大会

We are given 2 minutes to do these demos, 2 minutes comes out of so much minutes of practice...

I don't dislike nor love doing this embu thing, to be honest...but it sure gives something we can take home when its done...and its every time, I guarantee...; )

I started training Yoshinkan Aikido in the summer of 2004, came onto the mat without knowing a thing about it...and now, 6 years later...I was representing a dojo to fill the spot for Instructors' demo for the teachers who unfortunately weren't available on this day.

Of course, I wouldn't hide the fact I trained insanely to get here...it wasn't an easy way to come, but it was surely worth the way.

And this demonstration, it's an annual event for all Yoshinkan Aikido world. I have been participating since 2005, and it was my 6th! Yet the first time participating not as a student, I wouldn't talk much about the pressure I was feeling here though, but there was...a lot!)

Anyway, I had to give the demo as instructors way...It was so different!! It was so hard to make the difference!! I did not know what to expect when teachers asked (or told...) me to fill their spot for them...

The biggest difference I find is the mind set. The different mind set shows the different attitude and all that..., but let's stick to this one big difference for now.

As a student, I always thought the only thing to do is just whatever you can push out from what you got. But as an instructor, you are supposed to show how you manage/control the mat, you can't be the follower, you have to lead whats going on. And of course, the throws has to have a meaning, even for the demo set...

What I figured what I needed to learn was how to look scary, how to keep the intent, the mind/attitude that I lead whats happening in this 2 minutes...

Taking videos so many times and watching how I move did help a big deal...When its really over, I felt relieved (not making mistakes!) and yet I could have done it better at the same time. This feeling, "I could have done it better", is one of the motivation you can carry home to get better, I think ;)