Sunday, May 25, 2008

Nice Guys Finish Last

Today was a good lesson at King George dojo. Most important advice that Ramlan-sensei gave me was on Zanshin. Zanshin is the moment of total concentration at the beginning and end of any martial arts technique. I was lacking a bit today and this was the biggest thing he corrected.

During Jiyuwaza, the zanshin has a very important part to play, since it is like the glue holding the techniques together and creating flow. Uke attacks; shite responds, ending in zanshin, which flows into kamae (and the next technique). Without zanshin, jiyuwaza becomes just a set of mechanical movements, without the grace that makes aikido so beautiful (and so powerful). As Ramlan-sensei says "without zanshin, you practice jiyuwaza for 20 years and progress very little."

so remember, nice guys finish last - with zanshin.

Osu!

PS: looks like my test is 1 August, with Joe-sensei doing the grading...PANIC!

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