The instructor demonstrated an Aikido technique with very little explanation (none of which I understood), and we went to work. My first partner was also my favorite partner that I practiced with all week. He was an older man who spoke fair English and was very happy to see me. He smiled the entire time we practiced, and he was very patient.
Every class I took I looked out at the 40-50 other students and was amazed. The vast majority of students were 60 or older, and I could tell many had been practicing for decades. They fell and returned to their feet smoothly. Everyone executed their throws deftly with hardly a word spoken. Just a smile on their face.
After a few techniques and what seemed like not nearly enough time, class was over. We bowed out and everyone scattered to begin cleaning. Some vacuumed, while others wiped down the mats and wood with wet clothes on hands and knees. This scene reminded me of the picture that Sifu Brown has up of a nameless student he met during his trip to the Hombu Dojo to practice Aikido. The picture is of a white-haired man sitting in seiza on the wooden floor with his cleaning rag in front of him. He was described as a student who had been practicing for many years, yet didn’t get lots of attention or recognition. He came to class, practiced techniques, cleaned the dojo, went home, came back the next day and repeated. I saw and practiced with many students just like this man during my week in Tokyo. The dedication by such a huge group of students humbled and inspired me.
My vision for our dojo is similar. We might have to move to a bigger location and definitely get a bigger shoe rack. Yet I think we are on the right track with practice. Our goal shouldn’t be to become perfect at technique, though we try. Our goal might not even be to perfect ourselves through technique, though we try. Our goal, for now, is to show up. It’s like Shunryu Suzuki says in Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind about meditation. Sitting is enough. If we say to ourselves, “I have to sit for this long” or “I have to get this deep,” then we are focused on some sort of outcome. This distracts us from the work at hand. All we really have to do is sit.
When I look at the Aikido students at Hombu Dojo, I see this same sentiment. Few people are there for ego gratification of getting a higher rank. Some have even come to terms with the idea that their physical technique has reached its plateau for this life. They just practice to practice because they love it.
