The Gentle Giant
Big people often get the reputation of being rough, muscly and resistant. A lot of people feel intimidated by big partners because of their size and weight. They are considered difficult partners to train with. Is it really true? Is this a fair characterization? One great Aikido instructor I know -- the late Ichihashi Sensei of Hombu Dojo -- was a tall, big guy. He was very strong and had powerful Aikido. Yet, he offered a very gentle touch. My experience with Ichihashi Sensei on the mat was always smooth and enjoyable. We had a student, Frankie, who is a muscular hunk. He could casually pick up a tatami mat and make it fly vertically up 15 feet from the basement of a church for us to catch on the ground level. He was also super gentle and sensitive. It was a pleasure to practice with him. Every time we praised him on his gentleness, he would say, "I come here to learn the techniques. If it is all about muscle and...
