Life Aikido and Everything
or
"Three Secrets of Aikido"
by Bob Martini

I have been practicing Aikido for almost five years and during that time have discovered three of its secrets that I would like to share with you. I'm sure that there are many more secrets to be discovered and I plan to try and learn them over the next 20 or 30 years. Those of you who know me and do the math, my age plus 20 or 30 years, know that I plan to practice Aikido into my seventies or eighties!

As I come to understand these three secrets I realize that I already knew them and that in various forms I have attempted to use them in everyday life over the last 50 years.

The first secret that I learned in Aikido is that you can only measure your personal success and growth against yourself. In Aikido as in life whether you are going faster or doing better than someone else has no bearing on your own progress.

The second secret of Aikido that I discovered was just keep coming back to practice. This translates in life to never give up, keep trying, and work harder and continuously no matter what life throws your way.

The last and perhaps most important secret for me, was coming to understand that I needed to have fun while both practicing Aikido and living life. I cannot overstate this lesson. I would say it's more than just having fun, rather is a real absolute joy that comes from within. For me in Aikido this most often happens when I am being thrown correctly. I believe for me the joy comes in part from the fact that in Aikido a 50 year-old fat man can fly and land safely over and over and over again!!!

In life as an Aikido you must find joy in what you are doing or you should ask yourself what is the sense of being here? Once you find that joy, life is worth living just as Aikido is worth practicing.

As you have already figured out I knew these secrets long before I started practicing Aikido but it was during practice that I came to understand them in a more personal way. The questions I would like you to consider are: Does Aikido imitate life? Does life imitate Aikido? Or is it something else altogether? I think I know the answer for me, but I would like you to comment on what the answer is for you. Please send your answers to robertmartini@rochester.rr.com and we will put them in a future issue. Thanks.

I Slept and Dreamt
by Judy Warner

It is widely accepted in the field of personal development that service to others brings joy and fulfillment. I have taught the concept for years but it still catches me by surprise when I experience it firsthand.

Last Winter Camp had many memorable moments for me - watching our students test, being shown a technique by Sensei, being coached by senior students. However, in retrospect I realized a high point was feedback from a black belt from another dojo that a suggestion I made during practice opened up a new vista on his technique. He even wrote a thank you after Camp.

As I thought about this, it gave me another perspective on Camp. I realize I probably divide my time at Camp between practicing with my seniors whom I know can help me along in my development and working with lower ranked students whom perhaps I can help. Ironically, many of the times that Sensei has come over to teach me have been when I have been working with my juniors. So, in effect, in the process of helping others, I have been helped.

Anyone who practices aikido is making an investment both in terms of time and money. Traveling to a Camp is even more of an investment. So it is natural to want to get the most out of your experience. I have thought for a long time that the direction in our lives is determined by the questions we ask ourselves. For example, the odds of a learning experience from a conflict or issue are greatly increased if we ask ourselves, 'What can I learn here?' rather then dwell on 'What can I say or do to prove I am right?'

So, perhaps, one of the questions you might ask yourself before Summer Camp is 'How can I best be of help to others at this Camp?' In doing so, you may find you have the best Camp ever.

Congratulations to all those in our dojo who recently tested and were promoted to their next rank: Robert Weatherup II tested for 4th kyu, Ryan Twitchell for 6th and Anna Smorodina tested for 5th kyu in teen class. All did a fine job.

Test Prep - All test prep classes begin at 8:00 pm, Thurs. 6/2, Tues. 6/7, Thurs. 6/16, Tues. 6/21, Mon. 6/27
Black Belt Practice - Thurs., 6/23 at 8:00 pm
Summer Camp - July 14-17, Villa Nova, PA, see the bulletin board for more details