Who Would Have Thought?

August is here.  Normally, the highlight of the month was to pack our gear to see friends and throw each other around at Aikido Summer Camp.  Unfortunately, due to COVID, once again, this much anticipated annual event is not happening this year. Thinking about Summer Camp, it brings back the memory of an incident from a few years ago . . . 

It was Summer Camp 2019.  On the crowded mat, I met a blind Aikido partner for the first time.  That year, we actually had two non-seeing participants on the mat.  Meeting them and practicing with them was very inspiring.  One of them was going to take her shodan (first degree black belt) test at camp.  People were very excited.  We all looked forward to seeing her test.  

After practice one day, the young lady and her dojo mates were practicing for her test.  In addition to the regular one-on-one techniques, they decided to practice also randori (multi-attacker free style).  

Despite her inability to see, this young lady actually moved pretty well.  Her form was good and she projected a good level of confidence.  To the contrary, her ukes (attackers) seemed slow and hesitant.  

There were four of them.  One would think that the four seeing ukes should be more ready for action than the blind nage.  It was quite the contrary.  There was a lot of stop and go without a clear rhythm.  Because of the uneven attacks and sporadic pauses, it left the nage wondering where her friends were and that, in turn, threw her rhythm off.  

To my eyes, the fix was quite simple:  If the ukes are more aware and vigilant about what the nage's next move is going to be, then position themselves by the upcoming opening, they should be able to provide the nage a constant and steady stream of attacks to work with.  This way, she will be able to maintain a good, even flow effortlessly.  

I have met these folks before and I knew that they were a tight-knit group.  These young people were all pretty good friends.  The attackers truly wanted to help their friend do a good test.  However, their reluctance to go at her and the way they held back their attacks had become the most difficult part of the test.

While it is good to be kind and caring for our loved ones, sometimes, the best thing we can do is to have faith in their abilities and give them the chance to just do it by themselves.  In this case, strange enough, being a great friend is to keep attacking a blind girl without giving her too much of a break.

Sigh.

Who would have thought?