The following tips are offered based on my own experiences as a pioneer student of the Field Aikido distance training program, commencing in 1992. I began as a white belt with no martial arts experience and no knowledge of Iwama Ryu Aikido. I had to seek out others to train and teach them what little I knew.
I hope you will find they are of value to your own journey.
Christopher Noller
1. Balance in Life
There will be no right time to start training other than now. There will always be challenges – family, work, health, financial….
Make a start and allow the journey to unfold. There will be easier times and harder times. This is aligned with the concepts of Awaze, Ukemi and responding to Atemi. [We can discuss this later on if you stick around].
2. Trust your Sensei and the process
There were many times I was going to quit. It was all too hard; no one would train with me. Persist. Seek out and talk with your Sensei and senpai. You will progress and succeed.
3. Your progress adds value to those around you
Each time you progress one step – your Sensei grows 10 steps
Saburo Takayasu Sensei
Making a genuine effort is a contribution to the clan. Don’t waste your Sensei’s time. Be serious about your training. Ask senpai to assist you. Help out with chores. Be a contributor to show you understand how a clan works. Your training will benefit your family and work environment also.
4. Your health or age are not barriers
Iwama Ryu Aikido is for all, regardless of age, health status and gender. There is a way to train if you want to. For example, weapons training is a low impact option to get started. Your health and age are not an excuse or a barrier unless you want to let them be.
NO BARRIERS – NO EXCUSES
5.Set goals and make a plan
“If you aim for mediocrity – you are bound to achieve it.”
My goals were to learn techniques rather than grade. When I saw a technique I did not know (especially the action stuff) then I wanted to learn that. This usually related to techniques well above the next belt level. One day, Field Sensei said “we are doing grading’s next weekend, you should grade”. [It was a statement of expectation rather than a comment]. And so I did my first grading. In the end I set the goal of becoming a blackbelt (shodan). And it went from there.
6. Be prepared
Randomly, Sensei would test me to see what I knew. “Chris san – you show them how to do…”
I would always endeavour to know techniques and requirements for a couple of grading’s or more ahead.
7. Learn the etiquette and Japanese names as a priority
It only takes one generation to lose the transmission of knowledge, including that which is unspoken and the traditions which are valuable.
8. Create a schedule – weekly/annual
Become disciplined and self reliant. Think ahead and demonstrate a warrior mind-set. I would plan how to attend all the seminars I could, maximise the times I could go to Melbourne and stay over to train. From 2001 and for many years following, an annual seminar was planned and arranged locally which served my purposes in terms of techniques I wanted to study with Field Sensei and supportive senpai.
Field Sensei’s, Olinda 1996
Grampians Seminar Ballarat 2006
9. Learn to breathe and KIAI
On-the-mat training should be about positive energy. Turning up and training is key, even when you have had a hard day at work, a difficult time with the children at home, or after facing any other challenges of life. Kokyu means breath power and extension. If you don’t breathe – you die. If you don’t breathe in – you can’t breathe out. Learn to KIAI and reap the positive benefits of this.
“Waza wa kibishiku, nage wa shizuka ni”
Apply the technique severely, but execute the throw softly
Saito Sensei
10. Train hard, have FUN and celebrate the achievements
Sensei Group, June Seminar 2017
Last Grampians Seminar with Field Sensei & 70th birthday celebration, Ararat – January 2017