My thoughts and ideas ...

Learning to Apply

I have understood that there are two important parts to personal development and growth; “Learning” and “Action”. It is also very important to note that there is a binding agent for these two ingredients, namely “Application”. The ability to apply what you have learned is crucial. Many people go on to learn such great things and techniques, but fail to make the jump to sustained action, because they simply don’t apply what they have learned. Consequently, they become perpetual students, and are constantly on the lookout for the next thing that will be the magic ingredient that will transform their lives. If only they would just apply a fraction of what they already know.

I have found in Aikido, a great amalgam of many of the things that interest me, and to me it is also dynamic metaphor for coaching and learning (and a fantastic physical activity). In the Aikido dojo (practice area), it is not sufficient to listen to the Sensei (teacher) and focus on what she is saying and showing (and making you feel), it is important to make sure you apply what you have learned, when it is your turn to perform the technique. It is important to also note that your learning is still ongoing when you are also watching other student attempt the technique, especially when they make a hack of it, and you then attempt it, only to find yourself making the same mistakes.

At this point, the greatest learning opportunities present themselves. Do you get annoyed, upset, and disheartened, that you “just can’t get it right”? or do you simply observe the facts, and resist the temptation to give them meaning, other than you did not get the result you wanted. Do you let such a thing as performance anxiety and ego, get in the way of actually learning to do the technique. Do you hear such dialogue as “what if they think I am an idiot!?” or do you say to yourself “that is interesting, I wonder what I need to do to have the outcome I want?”

Are you on posture?

The Sensei is constantly reminding us to be “on-posture”. Whenever you are performing a technique, be sure that you are aware of your posture, and you are balanced. This is important because while you are focused on what you are doing with your hands, if you are off-posture, you may easily find yourself on the floor instead of your attacker, as this is the weakness he will be trying to find and take advantage of. I wonder what parallels you can draw from this to your own life scenarios of posture.

Are you over extended?

The attacker comes in with a determined attack, and you are confident of your defensive Aikido technique, and as you perform the technique, you find yourself on the floor. What happened?! Is it possible that you over extended yourself beyond your grounded and centred self? Did you spread yourself further than your balance? Did you take the fight to him, and forget about your primary goal of self defence and harmony? Did you get sucked into his agenda, and forget about yours?